Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk | UEFA Europa Conference League Preview

Crystal Palace welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to Selhurst Park on Thursday evening for what promises to be a fascinating Europa Conference League encounter between two sides showing contrasting recent form patterns.

The Eagles have been somewhat inconsistent in their last five outings, managing two wins, two draws and one defeat. Their overall Conference League campaign tells a more positive story though, with eight victories from 15 matches across all competitions in this tournament. Palace have been solid defensively, conceding just 11 goals in those 15 games while finding the net 24 times. Their home form at Selhurst Park has been particularly encouraging, winning four of seven matches and keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Shakhtar arrive in London carrying slightly better recent momentum, having secured three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five matches. The Ukrainian side have been more prolific going forward, netting 23 goals in 13 Conference League fixtures, though they've also been more porous at the back with 15 goals conceded. Interestingly, Shakhtar have been far more effective away from home, winning five of six road trips compared to just two victories in seven home matches.

The fixture load could play a significant factor here, with Palace having contested 15 matches in this competition compared to Shakhtar's 13. That additional workload might begin to tell, particularly given the intensity that Conference League knockout football demands. Palace manager will need to carefully manage his squad's energy levels as they push for European glory.

These sides met just a week ago in the reverse fixture in Krakow, where Palace delivered an impressive 3-1 victory to take control of this semi-final tie. That result will give the London club tremendous confidence, having shown they can handle Shakhtar's attacking threats while exploiting weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead into halftime before adding two more goals after the break, suggesting they grew stronger as the match progressed.

Palace have predominantly lined up in a 3-4-3 formation throughout this European campaign, using that system in 11 of their 15 matches. This setup has allowed them to maintain defensive solidity while providing width through their wing-backs. Shakhtar have been more consistent tactically, employing a 4-1-4-1 formation in 12 of their 13 Conference League appearances, suggesting they've found a system that works for their personnel.

The current league standings show both teams well-positioned for progression, with Shakhtar sitting sixth and Palace tenth in the overall Conference League table. Both sides have already secured their spots in the knockout rounds, making this semi-final clash even more significant as they chase a place in the final.

Neither squad appears to be dealing with significant injury concerns based on available information, meaning both managers should have close to full-strength teams to choose from. This could make for an open, attacking encounter as both sides look to impose their preferred style of play.

Given Palace's recent victory over Shakhtar and their strong home record in this competition, they should have enough quality and confidence to secure another positive result. Expect the Eagles to advance to the final with a 2-1 victory that sees them through on aggregate.