On the back of winning a historical double, Shamrock Rovers return to action to take on Shakhtar Donetsk. In the latest instalment of the UEFA Conference League, the Hoops welcome a renowned outfit from Ukraine.
Stephen Bradley and his side are on the back of winning both the League of Ireland Premier Division and the FAI Cup. It will have been 18 days since Rovers were last in action when kick-off approaches as they aim to further themselves into Europe. So far, the Hoops have drawn one and lost two in the League Phase after the halfway mark had been reached.
High-flying Shakhtar Donetsk are on the back of two comprehensive victories. They won their two recent fixtures by scorelines of 6-0 and 7-1. They are also on a four-game winning run.
Recent form
Shamrock Rovers are on the back of beating Cork City 2-0 to lift their 26th FAI Cup title. Two and a half weeks ago, Rory Gaffney’s double was enough to down the opposition, guiding the Hoops to history. He will need to be in form again to challenge this Shakhtar side, who sit top of the Ukrainian Premier League, clear by four points.
Both sides are at different stages of the season. Rovers have just completed the 2025 domestic season against a side that only began their league campaign three months ago. The hope for Bradley and his side is that rust has yet to gather on his side and that they will be prepared to face top European opposition.
Shakhtar sit 10th in the UEFA Conference League as well as leading their league. In Europe, they came through the UEFA Europa League qualifiers before losing to Panathinaikos on penalties. They have beaten Aberdeen and Breidablik in the League Phase, losing to Legia Warsaw via a 94th-minute goal.
Opposition
The Ukrainian Premier League leaders began life in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, making it to the third round. After defeat, they faced Servette in the playoffs of the UEFA Conference League, winning 3-2 over two legs. After competing in the UEFA Champions League last season, they will be hopeful of progressing far into this competition.Â
Shakhtar missed out on progressing past the initial phase of the UEFA Champions League last season by four points. Throughout the campaign, they beat Young Boys and Brest, and narrowly lost to Arsenal.
Despite being only 13 games into their league campaign, Shakhtar have played 25 competitive matches since 10 July. They will be hoping to continue their form of late and carry it into Thursday’s showdown at Tallaght Stadium. In the 25 games played by this side, they have only lost three times after 90 minutes, one coming from a penalty shootout against Panathinaikos.
Team news
Shamrock Rovers head into the all-important clash without three names. Daniel Mandroiu, Aaron McEneff, and Max Kovalevskis have all been ruled out. Mandroiu recently took to social media to address his ACL reconstruction surgery that will rule him out for a long spell. The injury appeared to be sustained during his appearance in the FAI Cup final.
Stephen Bradley, speaking to club media, ruled out both McEneff and Kovalevskis for the European tie. He told of how the former had picked up a knock during training, and it was enough to see him miss out. For Kovalevskis he was a part of the Ireland U17 squad that made a sizable impact on the FIFA World Cup. He picked up a concussion and, in turn, will miss the game. The Ireland U17 made it as far as the Round of 16 before losing 3-1 to Switzerland in Qatar.
The visiting side is expected to be without both Alisson Santana and Danylo Udod. Shakhtar, managed by Arda Turan, had a prolonged journey to get to Dublin and may opt to slightly rotate the starting 11. They take on Kryvbas on Monday in the Ukrainian Premier League, who are fifth in the league, just nine points behind.
Key battles
Similar to the trip to AEK Athens, Shamrock Rovers will be expected to concede possession. It can be expected that Shakhtar will dictate the game and try to break down a low block from Bradley’s side. A point in Greece was invaluable to the Hoops, and the same again would provide an array of confidence heading into the final two fixtures.
Shakhtar may lack a prolific goalscorer within their ranks, but they have various players who can provide at crucial times. Kauã Elias is a name to be considered when nominating one to threaten the backline of Rovers. The 19-year-old has seven goals and two assists in all competitions. Elias is 5’9 and may cause issues for Roberto Lopes and co. If given the space to roam and create opportunities.
Impact of outcome
Rovers continue to search for their first victory in the League Phase of this competition. The large expectation will be that the search will continue past full-time in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night. Bradley’s players will head into the tie with confidence after recent success, not just in Ireland. The well-earned 1-1 draw with AEK Athens shows how capable the side can be against top opposition. It had appeared Rovers were headed for victory until a late penalty altered the direction in which the game was heading.
A draw, similar to AEK, would be of enormous magnitude for Shamrock Rovers as they head into two must-win games. They conclude the League Phase away to Breidablik and home to Hamrun Spartans.
Shakhtar will anticipate a victory in Dublin. However, a draw in the Ukrainian camp will likely not bring catastrophic repercussions. They conclude this phase of the competition with a trip to Hamrun Spartans before hosting HNK Rijeka. The feeling for Arda Turan’s side is that they will finish in a top-eight position.
Final word
On the back of historic double success, there will be continued celebration if Rovers were to progress. After the draw in Greece, it may be seen as a doable defeat should Shakhtar take the spoils. The benchmark from last season’s League Phase is seven points, which is still attainable even if Rovers leave with nothing on Thursday.
The primary concern for this Rovers side will be the goal difference. After three games, Rovers have a goal difference of minus five. They may need two sizable victories to progress into the knockout phase if they are beaten by Shakhtar.