Today, December 18, 2025, as part of the 6th round of the UEFA Conference League, Donetsk's Shakhtar will host Croatian Rijeka at the Henryk Reyman City Stadium in Krakow. The match kicks off at 22:00 Kyiv time. The main intrigue of this match lies in the battle to advance to the top 8 of the Conference League.
Rijeka's History and Its Path to the Conference League
The Rijeka Football Club appeared on the football map in 1906 in the Croatian city of the same name. Having won six Croatian Cups and twice claimed the national championship (2017, 2025), Rijeka established itself as a powerful force in Croatian football. Despite a tough start in the Champions League qualifiers, where the club lost to Bulgarian Ludogorets, Rijeka found its place in the UEFA Conference League thanks to its performances in the Europa League.
The Importance of the Match for Shakhtar
Shakhtar has already secured its participation in the European spring, but the goal of reaching the top 8 of the tournament remains a priority. Arda Turan, the head coach of the Donetsk club, emphasized the importance of avoiding additional matches in January and ensuring direct qualification to the round of 16. The "Miners" need a win or at least a draw to stay in the fight for the main stage of the Champions League.
Team Lineup and Key Players
In Rijeka's lineup, players like team captain Martin Zlomislic, and the top-scoring midfielder Tony Fruk, who has scored 11 goals this season, are worth noting. Team coach Victor Sanchez is determined to continue the winning streak.
Shakhtar's lineup for this game is led by goalkeeper Kyrylo Fesyura. Defenders Valeriy Bondar and Mykola Matviyenko will join the defense. Oleg Ocheretko and Yehor Nazaryna will play in the central positions.
Predictions and Expectations
Bookmakers favor Shakhtar, valuing their victory at odds of 1.95. Despite Rijeka fighting for playoff qualification, experts predict success for the Donetsk team, though they believe the match could be challenging.
