Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·7 Mei 2026

Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Predicted lineup and team news

Crystal Palace aim to become the third English club to reach a Conference League final when they host Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.

The Eagles hold a significant 3–1 aggregate advantage after a ruthless performance in the first leg. Palace have won both previous European ties in which they were victorious in the opening game. A final place in Leipzig looks to be within their grasp if they maintain their strong home form.

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Palace have lost only three of their fifteen Conference League matches this season. The hosts excel at exploiting space when opponents press high, a tactic Shakhtar are likely to employ. The Eagles will rely on a rearguard that has kept three consecutive clean sheets at Selhurst Park in Europe.

Crystal Palace team news

Oliver Glasner is expected to restore his primary starters after rotating heavily during the weekend loss at Bournemouth. Borna Sosa and Will Hughes are both pushing for a return to the squad after missing the trip to the Dorset coast.

Evann Guessand could feature as he nears a full recovery from a knee injury. Eddie Nketiah remains sidelined for the rest of the campaign, and the availability of Cheick Doucoure is still unconfirmed. Maxence Lacroix will anchor a defence that restricted Shakhtar to a few clear chances in Poland.

Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton are poised to return to the starting XI after being rested. Ismaïla Sarr is set to lead the attack after scoring in four consecutive Conference League matches. He currently sits as the competition’s joint-top scorer with eight goals. Jørgen Strand Larsen provided a vital goal as a substitute in the first leg and remains a key option.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta.

When will the match kick off?

The Conference League semi-final second leg at Selhurst Park kicks off at 20:00 BST on Thursday, 7th May 2026.

How to watch Crystal Palace vs Shakhtar Donetsk?

Fans in the United Kingdom can catch the action live on TNT Sports 2. Streaming is also available through the HBO Max app and website for subscribers.