The first leg of the 2025/26 Europa Conference League qualification playoff between Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) and Servette (Switzerland) will take place on August 21 at the Miejski Stadium in Krakow, Poland. Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Servette: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Shakhtar Donetsk
As the Ukrainian Cup winners, the club started in the Europa League. The Miners easily passed two qualification stages, defeating Ilves and Besiktas. However, in the previous round of the Europa League qualifiers, they were weaker than Panathinaikos: after exchanging goalless draws, the Donetsk side lost in the penalty shootout (3-4). As a result, the team exited the second-tier European competition, despite not suffering a single defeat in regular time in the qualifiers – 3 wins and 3 draws. Thus, Shakhtar will play in the Europa Conference League for the first time in their history.
- The Ukrainians have not conceded in 5 of their last 6 Europa League games within 90 minutes.
- The team is unbeaten in regular time in their last 4 home matches in European competitions (3 wins and 1 draw).
- The Miners have scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 90 minutes in 10 of their last 12 home encounters in European competitions.
Predicted lineup for Shakhtar Donetsk (4-3-3)
Dmytro Riznyk – Mykola Matvienko, Pedro Henrique Azevedo, Valeriy Bondar, Yefim Konoplya – Oleh Ocheretko, Artem Bondarenko, Georgiy Sudakov – Nevertton, Pedrinho, Alisson.
Servette
Jocelyn Gourvennec's side, as the runners-up of their championship, started from the second qualifying round of the Champions League. There, the team immediately lost on aggregate to Viktoria Plzen (1-0 and 1-3). The Swiss did not linger in the Europa League either, losing to Utrecht in both matches – 1-3 and 1-2. The club has played in the Europa Conference League before, and in 2023, they managed to reach the group stage. However, last season, Servette lost to Chelsea in the playoff for the main stage of the Conference League (0-2 and 2-1).
- The team has not lost in regular time in 6 of their last 7 Europa Conference League games (3 wins and 3 draws).
- At least one team failed to score in 90 minutes in 7 of Servette's last 8 matches in this tournament.
- In their last 4 away matches in this European competition, the club scored only 1 goal in regular time.
Predicted lineup for Servette (4-2-3-1)
Joël Mall – Anthony Baron, Bradley Mazikou, Dylan Bronn, Lounis Srdjanovic – Lamine Fomba, Timothé Cognat – Alexis Antunes, Miroslav Stevanovic, Gaëtan Morandi – Keyan Varela.
Referee
Nicolas Walsh (Scotland)
Matches – 11 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 66;
Average yellow cards per match – 6;
Red cards shown – 5;
Average fouls per match – 29;
Penalties – 27%.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Servette: Match Prediction
The Miners, almost a regular participant in the Champions League, unexpectedly appeared in the early stages of the qualifiers this season, and in the Europa League. However, even in the second-tier European competition, the team could not reach the group stage, and as a result, they will play in the Europa Conference League for the first time. The Ukrainian club is significantly stronger and more experienced than the Swiss and should defeat this opponent at least on their home turf.
I believe that at least in Poland, Shakhtar will be able to keep a clean sheet. Despite their exit from the Europa League, the team did not concede in 5 of their 6 matches in the current European qualifiers. Also, in their last 4 home matches in the Europa League and the Champions League, the club has not conceded a single goal. Meanwhile, the Swiss have managed to score only 1 goal in their last 4 away matches in the Conference League – against Ludogorets.
My prediction – Servette individual total under 0.5
