Donetsk’s Shakhtar prepares for crucial match against Turkish Besiktas in UEFA Europa League qualifiers
On Thursday, July 31, Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk will learn their opponent in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, when they face Turkish club Besiktas in a decisive match.
This significant encounter, held on a neutral stadium in Krakow, Poland, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, will be pivotal for both teams aiming to advance further in the European football tournament.
The live broadcast of the match will be available on the Ukrainian channel UPL.TV, featuring an expert studio analyzing the game in real-time.
Besides Ukraine, the match will also be broadcast in Turkey, Brazil, Norway, Croatia, and several other countries worldwide.
Although nominally a home game for the ‘miners,’ the game will take place at the Henry Reiman Municipal Stadium in Krakow because of the war and the unstable situation at home.
The kickoff is scheduled for 21:00 Kyiv time.
The first leg of the tie took place in Istanbul on July 24, where under the guidance of Turkish coach Arda Turan, Donetsk team secured a strong 4-2 victory.
The winner of this fixture will advance to the third qualifying round of the Europa League, where they will face the winner of the Champions League duel between Rangers (Scotland) and Panathinaikos (Greece).
The losing team will fall into the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification, where they will meet the strongest of the pairing between St Patrick’s (Ireland) and Nõmme Kalju (Estonia).
This match is a significant event for Ukrainian and Turkish football communities as it symbolizes resilience and the relentless pursuit of progress despite challenging circumstances.
Fans anticipate an intense contest filled with excitement and suspense, as bookmakers have already named the favorite of the return match, but football's unpredictability can always bring surprises.