Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk | UEFA Europa Conference League Preview

Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park for the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk, carrying a commanding 3-1 advantage from last week's impressive away performance in Krakow. The Eagles put in a clinical display to overturn their underdog status and now stand 90 minutes away from a European final.

Palace's recent form has been a mixed bag, with their last five matches showing three wins, one draw and one loss. Their overall Conference League campaign tells a more positive story though, with eight wins from 15 fixtures and an impressive defensive record that has seen them concede just 11 goals across the competition. At home in this tournament, they've been particularly solid with four wins from seven matches at Selhurst Park, scoring 11 and conceding only four.

Shakhtar arrive in London knowing they need to produce something special to overturn the deficit. The Ukrainian side has been in decent form recently with three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five outings. Their away record in the Conference League has actually been stronger than their home form, picking up five wins from six away fixtures. They've shown they can score goals on their travels too, netting 14 times in those six matches, which gives them genuine hope of mounting a comeback.

The first leg result was somewhat surprising given Shakhtar's superior league position and European pedigree. Palace took the lead before halftime and never looked back, adding two more goals to put themselves in the driving seat. It was a performance that suggested Oliver Glasner's side have found their rhythm at exactly the right time in this competition.

Both teams have been managing heavy fixture loads, with Palace having played 15 Conference League matches compared to Shakhtar's 13. The difference isn't significant enough to be a major factor, though Palace's players might feel the accumulated fatigue of their European run as they approach what could be their biggest match in years.

Palace have typically lined up in a 3-4-3 formation throughout this campaign, using it in 11 of their 15 matches, though they've occasionally switched to 3-4-2-1. Shakhtar have been more consistent tactically, deploying a 4-1-4-1 system in 12 of their 13 Conference League fixtures. The Ukrainian side's tactical discipline has served them well, particularly in their strong away performances.

Unfortunately, no referee has been assigned to this crucial semi-final second leg yet, which is unusual given the proximity of the match. When appointed, the official's approach to card distribution and game management could prove crucial in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

Shakhtar will need to be aggressive from the first whistle, but Palace have shown throughout this competition that they're defensively resilient and dangerous on the counter-attack. The home crowd at Selhurst Park should provide an intimidating atmosphere that could help see Palace over the line.

With their two-goal cushion and home advantage, Crystal Palace should have enough quality to manage the game and secure their place in the final. A 1-1 draw feels like the most likely outcome, with Palace advancing 4-2 on aggregate to reach their first major European final.