Shakhtar Donetsk vs HNK Rijeka Predictions

• Rijeka have just one point to show from two Conference League trips to Armenia and Gibraltar.
• Shakhtar are unbeaten in nine (W7, D2).
• Shakhtar have just one defeat in five home European games this season including qualifiers.

Top spot the target for Shakhtar

The final round of league phase games in the Conference League takes place on Thursday and Shakhtar Donetsk have a chance to finish at the top of the pile when they host Rijeka.

The visitors are the team in greater need of the points, a win could see them claim an automatic spot in the last 16 without the need for a play-off but a defeat may mean an early exit – albeit that scenario does look unlikely.

Shakhtar may have already done enough to avoid a play-off and a point would guarantee their place in the last 16 irrespective of results elsewhere, while a victory could see them replace Strasbourg at the top of the pile.

The visitors may be the team who need the points more but the form suggests a Shakhtar win and that looks a solid option for our main bet. Shakhtar have been playing their European home games at neutral venues but have a good record with just one loss in five games at home including qualifiers, and they are unbeaten in nine overall with seven wins.

Rijeka have been poor on the road in this competition as they lost to Noah in Armenia and Lincoln in Gibraltar, and this trip to Shakhtar may be too big of an ask.

Shakhtar have kept three consecutive clean sheets and they can make it four in a row with a 2-0 win on Thursday. Rijeka have scored just once across their two league phase trips so far and Shakhtar have scored more than one goal in eight of their last nine games.