Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Shakhtar Donetsk
Match Time & Date:
21 August 2025
19:00
Prediction: 2-1
Servette
After suffering a painful elimination to Panathinaikos in the Europa League third qualifying round, Shakhtar Donetsk will look to give fans some cheer when they face Servette in their Conference League opener. The Miners have regained a much-needed confidence thanks to a 2-0 win over Veres-Rivne at the weekend and they are seen as favourites to win Thursday’s encounter as well. Talented midfielder Oleg Ocheretko is banned for the first leg, while both Alisson and Konoplya are major doubts after picking up knocks in the aforementioned league match.
Servette, on the other hand, have been handed a tough draw in the Conference League playoffs and given the number of high-profile players in the home team, we predict that the visitors are going to return to Switzerland empty-handed. Defender Dylan Bronn is only one yellow card away from suspension, while midfielder David Douline remains in the Servette treatment room.
Highlighted Team (Shakhtar Donetsk):
Despite the fact that they were founded back in 1936, Shakhtar Donetsk were struggling to win the Ukrainian Premier League trophy until 2002. The Miners have established themselves as the dominant force in Ukrainian football and it has to be noted that they won their ninth domestic trophy in 2014.
Shakhtar Donetsk were playing at Donbass Arena in the past, but due to war in Donbass the club temporarily moved to Arena Lviv. In 2009 the Miners won the UEFA Cup trophy under Romanian boss Mircea Lucescu, beating Werder Bremen in the title game. Croatian full back Dario Srna was named the man of the match. Dynamo Kiev are considered Shakhtar Donetsk’s main rivals and there have always been fireworks in meetings between the two sides.
Shakhtar have a rivalry with Metalurh Donetsk as well and the two local rivals face each other in the Donetsk Derby. Chelsea ace Willian, Manchester United star Mkhitaryan and Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho all played for Shakhtar in the past.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Dynamo Kyiv 
Zrinjski 
Utrecht 
Lausanne 
Besiktas 
Lech Poznan 
Genk 
Aberdeen 
FCSB 
Rijeka 
PAOK
