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Crystal Palace have made it through to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, and next up for the Eagles is a two-legged affair with Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Ukrainian giants have been regulars in UEFA competitions since the turn of the century, but since 2022, they have played their home matches in Europe away from Ukraine.
The ‘home' leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Crystal Palace will take place at the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow, Poland. Why there? Let's find out.
Why are Shakhtar Donetsk not playing Crystal Palace in Ukraine?
Although Shakhtar are back playing matches at the Arena Lviv domestically, UEFA have taken a safety-first approach due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. As such, since 2022, they have ruled that Shakhtar and all other Ukrainian teams must play ‘home' matches away from Ukraine.
It is unlikely that Shakhtar Donetsk will be allowed to play their home European matches in Ukraine until there is a definitive conclusion to the conflict.
🇺🇦Szachtar Donieck awansował do półfinału Ligi Konferencji Europy!
— Bartłomiej Banasiewicz (@babanasiewicz) April 16, 2026
Dziś zremisowali z AZ Alkmaar 2:2. Tydzień wcześniej, na stadionie Henryka Reymana w Krakowie ukraińska drużyna wygrała z Holendrami 3:0. Awans był więc łatwiejszy, niż można było przed dwumeczem przypuszczać.… pic.twitter.com/5a4DU7gOlT
Why are Shakhtar Donetsk playing in Poland?
Shakhtar have had several temporary homes since being forced to move away from Ukraine in 2022. For the 2025/26 season, the club announced that their home for all European fixtures would be the Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium in Krakow.
Explaining the decision to make this their European home, the club's CEO, Serhii Palkin, said:
“We are glad to return to Poland, where we’ve had a positive experience hosting UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches. The choice of Krakow was no coincidence – for us, it is a convenient location logistically, and most importantly, it’s a city that loves football, so we hope for a warm welcome from the local fans.
“We also understand that many Ukrainians, including refugees, currently live in Poland, and we count on their strong support and energy.”
The decision to play their home matches here was also beneficial to Wisla Krakow, the football club in Poland that owns the stadium. Their president has stated that the deal has helped to increase revenues while also acknowledging that helping Shakhtar was the right thing to do given the circumstances.
Where else have Shakhtar Donetsk played since 2022?
The Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium is the fifth stadium that Shakhtar have called home since being forced out of Ukraine. Their full list of temporary European homes is as follows:
- 2022/23: Stadion Wojska Polskiego, Warsaw
- 2023/24: Volksparkstadion, Hamburg
- 2024/25: Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen
- 2025/26: Stozice Stadium, Ljublijana
- 2025/26: Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium, Krakow.
FGG says: An incredible achievement to reach the semi-finals
For Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA competition when they haven't played a proper home match in over four years is a remarkable achievement. They effectively start each two-legged tie with a hand tied behind their back, but they have come this far, so why can't they now go all their way?