Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rijeka Prediction & Betting Tips (18 December)

Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of the Ukraine-Russia war had lost almost all of its foreigners, more precisely all of its Brazilians. After a few difficult years to negotiate, the Ukrainian club returns, with a group designed to play the last four of the competition like this 2nd place, temporarily acquired thanks to 4 successes and 1 defeat. Second in the local championship before Sunday's reception of Epitsentr to come, Donetsk beat Hamrun Spartans 0-2 last Thursday in C4. Rijeka occupies 14th place in the Europa Conference League standings, close to qualification, with the firm intention of making a move in Ukraine in order to think of the top 8 directly qualifying for the 1/8 finals.

Surprise champion in Croatia last season, Rijeka 6th, 21 points completely behind Dynamo Zagreb 1st, 32 points who obviously don't want to joke this year, before Sunday's match against Istra to come. Rijeka finally beat the Slovenians from Celje 3 goals to 0. 

Promising Alisson (striker) will not play due to a foot injury. Absences also of the Burkinabé Lassina Traore who remained at the time of the incidents with Russia, and the young defender Danylo Udod, but also the central defender Marlon Santos (ex-Nice, Sassuolo). The Brazilian delegation leaves its mark on the Ukrainian collective as it does every year. Among the most prolific, Kaua Elias (19 years old, 5 goals, 2 assists in the league - 3 goals in C4), Newerton (3 goals in the league), Isaque Silva scorer against the Hamrun Spartans in his team's last match (+ 3 goals, 1 assist in the league), the very strong midfielder Marlon Gomes (3 assists in C4) and the young 18-year-old talent Luca Meirelles (2 goals, 1 offering in the championship) arrived from A.Mineiro last summer.

 Rijeka prepared for this fifth European meeting without the long-term absentees Skoric and Kreilach. Versatile striker Jankovic, after serving a three-match suspension, is finally back in the squad. Announced on Arsenal's shelves, Croatian international Toni Fruk is the spearhead of this team, the metronome, the best player, nothing more, nothing less. With no less than 8 goals, he is by far his team's top scorer in the league, plus 2 goals in 5 C4 matches. 

• Summary: Shakhtar Donetsk is going head to head with HNK Rijeka starting on 18 Dec 2025 at 20:00 UTC at Henryk-Reyman-Stadium stadium, Krakow city, Poland. The match is a part of the UEFA Conference League .
• Referee: Anthony Taylor
• Shakhtar Donetsk Feedinco Rating: 6.90
• Rijeka Feedinco Rating: 6.89