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 UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final. The Eagles hold a commanding 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Krakow, putting them firmly in the driving 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, their overall Conference League campaign tells a more positive story, with eight wins from 15 fixtures and an impressive defensive record that has seen them concede just 11 goals. At home in this competition, they've been particularly solid with four wins from seven matches and only four goals conceded on their own patch. Their 1.6 goals per game average shows they're finding the net regularly, though they'll need to be wary of Shakhtar's attacking threat.

The Ukrainian side arrives in London with their backs against the wall but carrying some dangerous form. Shakhtar have won seven of their 13 Conference League matches and boast a stronger attacking output with 1.8 goals per game compared to Palace's 1.6. What's particularly concerning for the hosts is Shakhtar's away record in Europe, where they've won five of six matches and scored 14 goals. Their recent run shows three wins from five, and they'll be desperate to overturn that first leg deficit.

The fixture load could play into Palace's hands here. The Eagles have played 15 matches in this competition compared to Shakhtar's 13, but more tellingly, Palace have had the luxury of playing seven home games to Shakhtar's six. The Ukrainian club's travels across Europe may have taken more of a physical toll, especially given the logistical challenges they face due to the ongoing situation in their homeland.

The head-to-head record between these sides is limited to their recent first leg encounter, where Palace's 3-1 victory in Krakow demonstrated their ability to hurt Shakhtar on the counter-attack. That performance will give Oliver Glasner's side enormous confidence that they can finish the job at home.

Palace have predominantly used a 3-4-3 formation in 11 of their 15 Conference League matches, switching to 3-4-2-1 on four occasions. This tactical flexibility has served them well, particularly in big matches. Shakhtar, meanwhile, have been more consistent with their 4-1-4-1 setup, using it in 12 of their 13 European outings.

The disciplinary records suggest this could be a feisty encounter. Palace have picked up one red card in their European campaign, coming in the final quarter-hour of matches when tensions typically run highest. Shakhtar have also seen one red card, theirs coming in extra time. Both sides average similar yellow card accumulation, so expect a competitive battle in the middle of the park.

With a two-goal cushion and home advantage, Palace should have enough quality to see this tie through. Shakhtar will throw everything at them in the opening 30 minutes, but if the Eagles can weather that early storm and perhaps grab a goal of their own, they'll be celebrating a place in the Conference League final. Palace to win 2-1 on the night and advance 5-2 on aggregate.