Shakhtar Donetsk take on the visitors Servette in the first leg of UEFA Conference League Qualification final round. The match will be played on Thursday, August 21st at Miejski im. Henryka Reymana (Kraków).
Shakhtar Donetsk always set the highest goals. But last season turned into the club’s deepest decline in a quarter of a century — they only finished 3rd. Even though they won the Ukrainian Cup (beating archrivals Dynamo Kyiv on penalties after a draw in the final), it was already clear by then that Pusic’s time was up and he would be replaced by Arda Turan. Turan had a promising start — opening the UPL campaign with a win and kicking off the Europa League confidently with 6-0 and 0-0 against Ilves and, most importantly, 4-2 and 2-0 against supposedly dangerous Besiktas. But the following matches caused disappointment. In the domestic league they let a win slip against Karpaty, finishing 3-3. And most importantly, both matches with Panathinaikos ended in goalless draws, and Shakhtar lost the penalty shootout — meaning they now drop into the Conference League, and will have to play without Turan, who was sent off in the last match. On top of that, their defense has looked shaky, conceding cheap goals in stoppage time. The inconsistency makes it difficult to predict stability, even against weaker European opposition.
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Servette have looked dreadful so far this summer. The "garnets" are a historic giant (17-time Swiss champions!) who endured a long decline at the start of this century due to financial issues. Only in recent years have they returned among the true contenders. They haven’t managed to claim the league title yet, but in 2024 they lifted the Cup and twice in the last three seasons finished runners-up. But right now things look bleak. In the Swiss Super League they managed only a draw on their third attempt — after defeats to Young Boys and St. Gallen, they tied 1-1 at home with Grasshoppers. And on the international stage the results have been just as poor: in the Champions League they lost 1-0 and 1-3 to Viktoria Plzen, and after dropping to the Europa League they suffered 1-3 and 1-2 defeats to Utrecht. Their attack has lacked creativity, managing just three goals in their last four games. With confidence low and the squad stretched, they look vulnerable even against sides not in peak form.
Only once, in 2012, did the teams face off in a friendly. Back then Shakhtar won comfortably, 4-0. The nominal hosts have started stronger, and even without the suspended Turan they should win convincingly — expect Shakhtar to cover the -1.5 handicap.
Prediction for the match: Shakhtar to win with -1.5 handicap.
