Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk | UEFA Europa Conference League Preview

Crystal Palace will be looking to complete the job when they welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Selhurst Park for the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final. The Eagles hold a commanding 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Krakow last week, putting them firmly in the driver's seat to reach their first major European final.

Palace's recent form has been a mixed bag, with their last five matches showing three wins, one draw and one loss. However, that defeat came in the first leg against Shakhtar, which tells only part of the story given their emphatic 3-1 victory. Over their 15 Conference League matches this season, Palace have been solid with eight wins, four draws and just three defeats. Their attacking output has been consistent at 1.6 goals per game, while defensively they've been impressive, conceding less than a goal per match on average.

The Ukrainian side arrives in London with their backs against the wall but carrying some momentum from their domestic form. Shakhtar's recent run shows four wins and one draw from their last five outings, demonstrating resilience despite that first leg setback. They've actually been more prolific in attack than Palace, averaging 1.8 goals per game across their Conference League campaign, though they've been slightly more porous at the back. Their away record in this competition has been particularly strong, winning five of six matches on the road.

Fixture congestion doesn't appear to be a major concern for either side. Palace have played 15 matches in this competition compared to Shakhtar's 13, but the difference is minimal and both teams have had adequate recovery time since the first leg. The physical demands of European competition haven't seemed to take their toll on either squad.

The head-to-head record between these teams is limited, with only that first leg encounter to judge by. Palace's comprehensive 3-1 victory in Krakow showcased their ability to hurt Shakhtar on the counter-attack while remaining disciplined defensively. The Ukrainian side will need to find a different approach if they're to overturn this deficit.

Palace have predominantly used a 3-4-3 formation throughout this campaign, playing it in 11 of their 15 matches, with occasional switches to 3-4-2-1. This system has allowed them to maintain defensive solidity while providing width in attack. Shakhtar have been more consistent tactically, employing a 4-1-4-1 setup in 12 of their 13 matches, only deviating once to a 4-3-3.

Unfortunately, no referee has been assigned to this fixture yet, making it difficult to assess how the official might influence the game's flow. Both teams have shown reasonable discipline this season, though Palace picked up a red card late in one match, while Shakhtar received their dismissal in extra time.

Shakhtar will need to score at least three goals without reply to progress, a tall order against a Palace side that has kept seven clean sheets in 15 matches. The Ukrainians' superior away record gives them hope, but Palace's home advantage and that crucial first-leg cushion should see them through. Expect Palace to advance to the final with a narrow victory or draw on the night, completing a 4-2 or 3-1 aggregate triumph.