FC Ilves vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | UEFA Europa League 2025-26 Qualifiers 1st Round

The Ukrainian giants dominated the first leg.

FC Ilves are ready to host Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League 2025-26 first round of the qualifiers. The high-stakes contest between the two teams will take place at the Tammelan Stadion.

The Finland-based club FC Ilves will be under immense pressure as they have a massive mountain to climb. It is not an impossible task, but they will have to come up with their best performance ever against the Ukrainian club. They are six goals down and have to play some really good attacking football here.

Shakhtar Donetsk will be playing away from home, but expect them to be coming in with full confidence. They secured an easy win in the first leg, and they can now just lie back with a good defence. The visitors do have an advantage in terms of goals and will be looking to score some more to ease their way through.

Kick-off:

• Location: Tampere, Finland
• Stadium: Tammelan Stadion
• Date: Thursday, July 17
• Kick-off Time: 21:30 IST/ 16:00 GMT/ 12:00 ET/ 09:00 PT
• Referee: Mohammad Usman Aslam
• VAR: Not in use

Form:

FC Ilves: W-W-D-L-W

Shakhtar Donetsk: D-D-W-D-W

Players to Watch

Marius Soderback (FC Ilves)

Marius Soderback will be looking to step up here. The 21-year-old Finland midfielder is coming in after scoring a match-winning goal for Ilves. He will have an important role to play if they want to take down Shakhtar.

Even though it is not going to be an easy game, the hosts will surely rely on Soderback.

Alisson Santana (Shakhtar Donetsk)

The 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder, who can also play as a winger, scored a brace for his side in the first leg of the Europa League qualifying game. Alisson Santana is going to play a crucial part in the attacking front for the visitors. He will also be the one to put pressure on the opponent’s defence from the start.

Match Facts

• Shakhtar Donetsk are unbeaten in their last eight games.
• This will be the second-ever meeting between FC Ilves and Shakhtar Donetsk.
• FC Ilves have only won one of their last three games.

FC Ilves vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Betting Tips and Odds

• Shakhtar Donetsk to win
• Alisson Santana to score
• Goals over 3.5

Injury and Team News

All of the squad members for both FC Ilves and Shakhtar Donetsk are fit and set to be in action.

Head-to-Head

Total matches: 1

FC Ilves won: 0

Shakhtar Donetsk won: 1

Draws: 0

Predicted Lineups

FC Ilves predicted lineup (3-4-3)

Virtanen (GK); Mäenpää, Väisänen, Rale; Wallius, Popovitch, Veteli, Jukkola; Söderbäck, Riski, Stjopin

Shakhtar Donetsk predicted lineup (4-1-4-1)

Riznyk (GK); Konoplia, Bondar, Matviyenko, Pedrinho; Gomes; Santana, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Kevin; Kauã Elias

Match Prediction

The hosts are six goals down, and there is hardly a chance for them here. Shakhtar Donetsk are likely to come out on top as the better team against FC Ilves in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers.

Prediction: FC Ilves 1-3 Shakhtar Donetsk

Telecast Details

TBD

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