Conference League

2026-04-30 - Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Shakhtar Donetsk v Crystal Palace
Football: UEFA Conference League Semi Final First Leg
Thursday 30th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Shakhtar Donetsk

Over the last few weeks, Shakhtar Donetsk have put together some solid results which have cracked open the domestic title race. Just like that, Shakhtar Donetsk are 8 points clear at the top of the Ukrainian League and they are on course for a return to the Champions League.

This advantage means Shakhtar Donetsk can focus on trying to win the Conference League to really put an exclamation point on the campaign put together. Back in 2009, Shakhtar Donetsk won the UEFA Cup and adding this trophy to those earned in European Football would be a huge success for a club that has not played at home in a long time. Hosting UEFA games on neutral field is a challenge and Shakhtar Donetsk have won 2 of the 5 games played in that situation this season, whilst also being beaten twice.

Shakhtar Donetsk are unbeaten in 7 games in all competitions and they have won 5 of those matches, including a thumping win over AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League Quarter Final in the 'home' Leg. After returning from the Winter Break, Shakhtar Donetsk have won 6 of the 7 games they have hosted in all competitions.

Crystal Palace

The manager may have stated that he still wants to see his Crystal Palace team put in a strong kick to end the Premier League season, but there is no hiding from the fact that the Conference League is the priority. A strong Crystal Palace team played well at Anfield before coming away with 3-1 loss, but they have retained decent momentum of late and winning this competition is more than within the realms of possibility.

Two of the four Conference League titles have been won by English clubs and that will not be lost on Oliver Glasner who has won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles did win 2 of 3 away Conference League games in the League Phase, but Crystal Palace have drawn 2 and lost 1 when travelling in the Knock Out Rounds.

Crystal Palace had been unbeaten in 6 games in all competitions before losing 2 of the last 3 games played. However, the performances have remained decent and Crystal Palace should be playing with some confidence, despite losing the last 2 away games in a row.

Tyrick Mitchell had to come off with an injury at Anfield and Crystal Palace will be hoping he is not a long-term absentee.

Head to Head

This is the first time Shakhtar Donetsk and Crystal Palace are meeting in a competitive fixture.

Prediction

No disrespect to the other two teams still involved in the Conference League, but there will be plenty who believe the winner of this Semi Final will be a significant favourite to win the trophy when all is said and done.

Merely getting to the Semi Final will feel like some achievement for Shakhtar Donetsk who effectively play all of the games in UEFA competition away from home. They may be hosting in neutral settings, but that is extremely challenging for teams and Shakhtar Donetsk have been inconsistent in that situation in this competition.

However, the form since the Winter Break has been impressive and Shakhtar Donetsk will have confidence in their ability to upset the odds.

The First Leg means important- if Shakhtar Donetsk have something to defend in South London, you do have to believe they can offer enough resilience to beat Crystal Palace.

In saying that, Oliver Glasner has to be confident his team will have too much for Shakhtar Donetsk if they can continue to play at the current level, but with more composure in the final third. There are some inconsistent players earning plenty of minutes in attacking areas for Crystal Palace, but they continue to create big chances and that will lead to successes more often than not.

Oliver Glasner's experience is impossible to ignore and Crystal Palace do have quality players who can make the difference.

They may actually be suited by Shakhtar Donetsk trying to get forward and Crystal Palace can earn the away win and place one foot in the Conference League Final with a victory in this First Leg. The squad is getting healthier at a good time and Crystal Palace have been producing enough in the final third at both ends of the pitch to believe they should have more wins secured.

Focus has clearly been on the Conference League for some time and they can display all of that in this First Leg of this Semi Final.