The long season continues to wind down to a conclusion as Palace have an awful lot to play for heading into a two legged Conference League semi final.
For a second time in the competition, the opponents are from Ukraine with the first leg being played in the lovely city of Krakow in Poland.
Seasoned European competitors Shakhtar Donetsk are an interesting proposition, sitting 46th in the current UEFA coefficient rankings, their lowest since the 2006/07 season. They currently sit top of the Ukrainian Premier League, several points clear of second placed LNZ. Their squad this season is made up of a mix of Ukrainian and Brazilian players.
The game takes place at the home of Wisla Krakow, Stadion Miejski im Henryka Reymana, or Synersie Arena Krakow for short. The venue was renamed in 2008 after legendary Wisla player Henryk Tomasz Reyman.
Palace should feel very welcome in the stadium which has a red and blue colour scheme.
With a good number of Palace fans heading to the Popular Polish city, Krakow have become hosts to Shakthar Donetsk European games due to the conflict currently taking place in their home land, much like Lublin have been for Dynamo Kiev who the Eagles faced early on in the competition.
Oliver Glasner is expected to have a near fully fit squad to pick from after Adam Wharton returned to the side in the defeat to Liverpool at the weekend. Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand are the two key absentees, but the latter is potentially targetting a return for the second leg next week. Tyrick Mitchell continues to struggle with a problematic achilles but is expected to feature.
The mood in the pre-match press conference was upbeat and positive as Tyrick Mitchell joined manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian who experienced defeat to Shakhtar while boss of Wolfsburg was keen to highlight the many threats the Ukrainian side possess.
There is no doubt that this is a huge moment for the club who take part in their very first European semi-final. Victory over the two legs will ensure a place in the final that takes place in Leipzig in a little over a months time.
📅 Match Details
- UEFA Europa Conference League – Semi‑final (1st Leg)
- Date: Thursday, 30 April 2026
- Kick‑off: 8:00pm BST
- Venue: Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, Kraków, Poland
(neutral venue due to Shakhtar’s relocation)
📺 TV & Live Stream (UK)
- TV: TNT Sports 2
- Live stream: TNT Sports / HBO Max
🔍 Match Context
- This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.
- Crystal Palace are playing in their first-ever European semi-final, just one season after winning the FA Cup.
- Shakhtar Donetsk are chasing a potential domestic league and European double, having lost only once in all competitions since February.
🟣 Crystal Palace – Key Notes
- Progressed past Fiorentina (4‑2 on aggregate) in the quarter-finals.
- Slight dip in league form but remain Conference League favourites.
- Injuries:
- ❌ Eddie Nketiah (season‑ending hamstring)
- ❌ Evann Guessand (knee)
- ❓ Tyrick Mitchell (achilles – doubt)
Player to watch: Jean‑Philippe Mateta – leading Palace’s European push with consistent goals.
🟠 Shakhtar Donetsk – Key Notes
- Eliminated AZ Alkmaar (5‑3 aggregate) in the quarter‑finals.
- Unbeaten in 19 of their last 20 matches across all competitions.
- Packed with attacking Brazilian talent under coach Arda Turan.
Player to watch: Alisson Santana – influential in Europe, especially in the last round.
Officials
- Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
- Assistants: Robert Kempter (GER), Christian Dietz (GER)
- Fourth official: Sven Jablonski (GER)
- VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
- Assistant VAR: Soren Storks (GER)
🔮 Prediction Snapshot
- Neutral venue reduces Shakhtar’s home edge.
- Palace’s European composure may prove decisive over two legs.
Common prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1–2 Crystal Palace
