- Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- UEFA Conference League semi-final first-leg
- Game starts at 20:00 GMT
It doesn’t get any bigger for Crystal Palace than tonight’s encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk at Henryk-Reyman-Stadium in Krakow, Poland. On second thoughts, a trip to Leipzig for a first-ever European final would possibly trump it.
To get there, Oliver Glasner’s men must prevail over the Ukrainian Premier League leaders. A historic European campaign has been full of twists and turns and there’s likely to be more in store tonight.
Palace head into the game off the back of a 3-1 loss away to Liverpool at Anfield. But were plenty of positives to take from the defeat, which Maxence Lacroix has since pointed out.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace – How to Watch
The first leg encounter between Shakhtar Donetsk and Crystal Palace is available to UK viewers on TNT Sports and HBO Max. The coverage will begin at 19:00 BST on TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max with a kick-off at 20:00 BST.
For those in Australia wanting to watch the game, it will be broadcast on Stan Sport. If you are looking to catch the action in the USA, it’s available on Paramount+ and ViX.
Crystal Palace Team News
Glasner has confirmed that Evann Guessand will be unavailable for the game due to a knee injury. The Ivorian has been out of action since the 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
The Aston Villa loanee is joined on the injury list by Eddie Nketiah who has played his last game under Glasner. The English striker won’t feature again this season due to a hamstring problem.
Cheick Doucoure wasn’t included in Palace’s squad for the Conference League as he has been rehabilitating an ACL injury. The Malian isn’t an option despite returning to action with the youth team as he steps up his recovery.
Glasner will have Tyrick Mitchell fit and ready for the game after the English wing-back was forced off last Saturday. An Achilles problem led to his withdrawal at half-time of the 3-1 loss to Liverpool, but he’s set to face Shakhtar and even joined his manager in the pre-match press conference.
Expected XI
Palace should line up how they were against Fiorentina in Florence a week ago. Dean Henderson in goal, with Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot in central defence.
Daniel Munoz and Mitchell should be selected at wing-back, with Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada in central midfield. Out on the right, Ismaila Sarr will replace Brennan Johnson, who started the Liverpool loss.
Jean-Philippe Mateta should continue to lead the line and get the nod over Jorgen Strand Larsen. Yeremy Pino, who could be one to watch in Krakow, will likely take the left wing as he has during Guessand’s absence.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace – Prediction
Palace are up against a team at the top of the Ukrainian league and they cruised through to the semi-finals with a 5-2 win on aggregate over AZ Alkmaar. Coached by former Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan, they are a tough nut to crack.
Glasner’s men are slight favourites to beat Turan’s side not just in the tie but in Krakow. There’s something special about this European campaign, and another famous victory could be on the cards.
We’re going for a 2-1 Palace win, with the visitors coming from behind. Kaua Elias opens the scoring but the Eagles fly with strikes from Mateta and Sarr.
Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Crystal Palace
