In the final sixth round of the UEFA Conference League, the playoff participants were determined. Donetsk "Shakhtar," thanks to a goalless draw with Croatian "Rijeka," secured a direct ticket to the round of 16. Meanwhile, Kyiv "Dynamo," by defeating "Noah" with a score of 2:0, concluded their participation in this year's tournament.
In the "Shakhtar" vs. "Rijeka" match, both teams aimed to control the ball and create chances near the opponent's goal. Notably, Oleg Ocheretko created the most dangerous moment for the Donetsk team, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Martin Zlomislic. After six rounds, "Shakhtar" accumulated 13 points and took sixth place in the standings, securing them a spot in the round of 16.
Kyiv "Dynamo," under the new leadership of head coach Igor Kostyuk, demonstrated a strong performance against the Armenian champion "Noah." Goals by Vladyslav Kabayev in the 27th minute and by Matviy Ponomarenko with a header at the start of the second half ensured the victory for the Kyiv team. Nevertheless, this victory did not allow "Dynamo" to advance further in the tournament, and the team concluded their participation with 6 points.
In addition to "Shakhtar," teams such as "Strasbourg," "Rakow," AEK Athens, and other participants also advanced to the round of 16 in the Conference League. The draw for the playoff matches for the round of 32 will take place on January 16, 2026.
It was an important stage for Ukrainian football, and although "Dynamo" concluded their performance, the team showed the potential of young players under the leadership of Igor Kostyuk.
