Shakhtar Donetsk vs Ilves Preview & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Europa League Qualifying | First Qualifying Round

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Shakhtar Donetsk endured a very difficult domestic campaign in the Ukrainian Premier League last season, as they now take on Ilves Tampere in the UEFA Europa League.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – Cannot be streamed

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Ilves prediction

Shakhtar Donetsk have been the dominant force in Ukrainian football for quite some time but they endured a very difficult campaign last season, finishing third. As recently as last season, they were in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, but they now begin in the first qualifying round of the second-tier European competition.

Ilves Tampere come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw against SJK in the Finnish Veikausliiga in their most recent outing last weekend. That result means that they have now suffered just one defeat in their last five matches. They have only ever won one European tie and that came last year against Austria Vienna.

That defeat of the Austrians was a major upset but they still lost the away leg and, albeit this is on neutral territory, Shakhtar will still be expected to win this one comfortably.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Ilves tip: Shakhtar Donetsk to win -1 handicap