Shakhtar Donetsk continue their pursuit of the Conference League trophy, having been written off time and again in the tournament's earlier stages. But the upcoming challenge is none other than Crystal Palace, the reigning FA Cup champions.
The Miners heroically overcame the far more experienced AZ Alkmaar and are now just three matches away from winning their first European trophy since the 2008/09 UEFA Cup.
The team is virtually guaranteed to be champions in Ukraine and can certainly afford to put their full effort into the matches against Palace.
The Eagles are a far cry from what they were a year ago, as they are set to finish the season in the bottom half of the Premier League this time around. So their only chance to play in Europe again next year is to win the Conference League.
The team had just regained its form and was winning regularly, at least until early April. This month, they have two away losses and one draw across all competitions.
This could be a key factor and give Shakhtar a boost, as they have been nearly flawless at home all season, though they are not playing in Ukraine and the home advantage does not carry the same weight.
How the bookies view it: They back the Eagles with confidence
The difference in class between the two teams is clear, and we can back that up with the numbers. Shakhtar’s squad is valued at around €169 million, while Crystal Palace’s squad is valued at €541 million.
The bookmakers are well aware of this and are offering only 1/1 odds on Palace to win away, while Shakhtar are available at 3/1. Meanwhile, the draw is priced at around 12/5.
Recent head-to-head: Palace beat Shakhtar's biggest domestic rivals
It comes as no surprise that these two teams have never faced each other before, given that this is Palace’s first appearance in a UEFA competition since the Intertoto Cup in 1998.
But we can provide additional context, such as the fact that Crystal Palace beat Dynamo Kyiv earlier this season. Additionally, Shakhtar have a strong track record against England’s top clubs, with five wins in nine matches.
Players to watch: Sarr can be the difference maker
Ismaila Sarr may not be the most consistent player in the world, but he’s certainly shining in the Conference League. In 12 matches, he has seven goals, the same number he has in the Premier League, but in 23 matches.
Sarr needs two more goals to finish the season as the tournament’s top scorer.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Probable line-ups
Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk, Henrique, Matviienko, Bondar, Tobias, Isaque, Nazaryna, Ocheretko, Allison, Elias, Newerton
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Canvot, Lacroix, Richards, Hughes, Wharton, Munoz, Sosa, Pino, Sarr, Larsen
Anything else catch the eye?
Shakhtar have proven to be a tough opponent and are extremely difficult to beat. They also score a lot of goals, having found the net at least once in every match in the tournament except one.
Crystal Palace are by far the better team, but they are currently struggling defensively. They also lost their away match against Fiorentina in the last round, and La Viola are going through their most crisis-ridden season in decades.
Palace have managed to win only two of their six away matches in the UECL in regulation time, so we like the idea of a draw in this match. Additionally, we have to back BTTS based on the performances of the two teams.
GambleAware