Crystal Palace Close In on Conference League Final Spot

UEFA Conference League  -  Crystal Palace VS FC Shakhtar Donetsk
Match Time:08-05-2026 03:00 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips

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Crystal Palace will face Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League semifinal at Selhurst Park. The match is expected to be intense as both sides compete for a place in the final.

Team Analysis:

Crystal Palace head into the second leg with confidence after securing a 3–1 advantage in the first meeting, giving them a strong opportunity to reach the UEFA Conference League final despite their recent Premier League defeat against AFC Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk face heavy pressure away from home and must produce a much stronger performance to overturn the two-goal deficit.

Player Situation:

Crystal Palace will miss several key players, including Edward Nketiah, Evann Guessand, Cheick Oumar Doucoure, and Chadi Riad due to injuries, while Will Hughes remains doubtful because of fitness concerns. In contrast, Shakhtar Donetsk are expected to have a fully fit squad available for the semifinal clash.

Result Prediction:

Crystal Palace will enter the semifinal second leg with strong confidence thanks to their two-goal advantage and home support at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk face a difficult challenge as Crystal Palace are favored to advance comfortably to the UEFA Conference League final.

Predicted Result: Crystal Palace 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk.