Shakhtar vs Crystal Palace: introducing the opponents
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
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Shakhtar to face English side Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League semi-finals
April 30, Kraków, Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, 22:00
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
History and path to the Conference League
Crystal Palace FC was founded on September 10, 1905 in the Croydon area of South London. Throughout the club’s history, the team have competed both in the top division and been relegated to the third or fourth tier. The highest finish in the English Premier League was third spot in the 1990/91 season. At the start of the new millennium, the London side moved between the Premier League and the Championship, before securing a return to the Premier League in 2013 – and the Eagles have remained in the top flight ever since. Crystal Palace achieved their major successes in the 2024/25 season, when they won the first two trophies: the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final (1-0), and the FA Community Shield, defeating Liverpool on penalties. Thanks to this success, the team qualified for a major European competition for the first time in history.
2025/26 season performance
Crystal Palace began their campaign in the current UEFA Conference League with the final qualifying round, where they overcame Norway’s Fredrikstad (1-0, 0-0). In the group stage, the Eagles opened with a win over Dynamo Kyiv (2-0), followed by a defeat to Cyprus’ AEK (0-1), a victory against AZ Alkmaar (3-1), another loss to Strasbourg (1-2) and decisive results against Shelbourne (3-0) and KuPS (2-2). In the final standings, the London side collected 10 points (goal difference: 10-6), finishing 10th and progressing to the play-offs. In the knockout phase, they eliminated Bosnia’s Zrinjski (1-1, 2-0), needed extra time to overcome AEK in the round of 16 (1-1, 2-1) and beat Fiorentina in the quarter-finals (3-0, 1-2).
In the Premier League, Crystal Palace have 11 wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats after 34 matches (with one game in hand). They are currently 13th in the table with 43 points (goal difference: 36-39). They lost away to Liverpool (1-3) in their most recent match.
Squad and leaders
Crystal Palace are currently led by 51-year-old Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, who has been in charge since February 2024. Earlier in his career, he managed Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, with whom he won the UEFA Europa League in 2022. The London side have played 113 matches to date under his leadership (50 wins, 31 draws and 32 defeats). The team captain is 29-year-old goalkeeper Dean Henderson, now in his third season with the Eagles. The most prolific players are Senegalese winger Ismaïla Sarr (17 goals and 2 assists in 37 matches) and French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta (13 goals and 2 assists). The club’s most valuable player according to Transfermarkt is 22-year-old central midfielder Adam Wharton (estimated value is EUR 60 million).
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and Crystal Palace have not previously met at competitive level. Overall, the Miners have played 19 matches against English teams (5 wins, 4 draws, 10 defeats). For the Orange-and-Blacks, this is their third knockout tie against EPL opposition in European competitions. In the 2008/09 UEFA Cup round of 32, the Pitmen eliminated Tottenham (2-0, 1-1) and went on to win the trophy. A year later, at the same stage of the inaugural Europa League, they were defeated by Fulham (1-2, 1-1). Crystal Palace’s only match against a Ukrainian club took place on matchday one of this season’s UEL league phase, when they beat Dynamo Kyiv (2-0).
The Shakhtar vs Crystal Palace match will be officiated by a German refereeing team: referee – Felix Zwayer, assistant referees – Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. VAR – Bastian Dankert, assistant VAR – Sören Storks.
The live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO
History and path to the Conference League
Crystal Palace FC was founded on September 10, 1905 in the Croydon area of South London. Throughout the club’s history, the team have competed both in the top division and been relegated to the third or fourth tier. The highest finish in the English Premier League was third spot in the 1990/91 season. At the start of the new millennium, the London side moved between the Premier League and the Championship, before securing a return to the Premier League in 2013 – and the Eagles have remained in the top flight ever since. Crystal Palace achieved their major successes in the 2024/25 season, when they won the first two trophies: the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the final (1-0), and the FA Community Shield, defeating Liverpool on penalties. Thanks to this success, the team qualified for a major European competition for the first time in history.
2025/26 season performance
Crystal Palace began their campaign in the current UEFA Conference League with the final qualifying round, where they overcame Norway’s Fredrikstad (1-0, 0-0). In the group stage, the Eagles opened with a win over Dynamo Kyiv (2-0), followed by a defeat to Cyprus’ AEK (0-1), a victory against AZ Alkmaar (3-1), another loss to Strasbourg (1-2) and decisive results against Shelbourne (3-0) and KuPS (2-2). In the final standings, the London side collected 10 points (goal difference: 10-6), finishing 10th and progressing to the play-offs. In the knockout phase, they eliminated Bosnia’s Zrinjski (1-1, 2-0), needed extra time to overcome AEK in the round of 16 (1-1, 2-1) and beat Fiorentina in the quarter-finals (3-0, 1-2).
In the Premier League, Crystal Palace have 11 wins, 10 draws and 12 defeats after 34 matches (with one game in hand). They are currently 13th in the table with 43 points (goal difference: 36-39). They lost away to Liverpool (1-3) in their most recent match.
Squad and leaders
Crystal Palace are currently led by 51-year-old Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, who has been in charge since February 2024. Earlier in his career, he managed Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany, with whom he won the UEFA Europa League in 2022. The London side have played 113 matches to date under his leadership (50 wins, 31 draws and 32 defeats). The team captain is 29-year-old goalkeeper Dean Henderson, now in his third season with the Eagles. The most prolific players are Senegalese winger Ismaïla Sarr (17 goals and 2 assists in 37 matches) and French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta (13 goals and 2 assists). The club’s most valuable player according to Transfermarkt is 22-year-old central midfielder Adam Wharton (estimated value is EUR 60 million).
Head-to-head record
Shakhtar and Crystal Palace have not previously met at competitive level. Overall, the Miners have played 19 matches against English teams (5 wins, 4 draws, 10 defeats). For the Orange-and-Blacks, this is their third knockout tie against EPL opposition in European competitions. In the 2008/09 UEFA Cup round of 32, the Pitmen eliminated Tottenham (2-0, 1-1) and went on to win the trophy. A year later, at the same stage of the inaugural Europa League, they were defeated by Fulham (1-2, 1-1). Crystal Palace’s only match against a Ukrainian club took place on matchday one of this season’s UEL league phase, when they beat Dynamo Kyiv (2-0).
The Shakhtar vs Crystal Palace match will be officiated by a German refereeing team: referee – Felix Zwayer, assistant referees – Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. VAR – Bastian Dankert, assistant VAR – Sören Storks.