Donetsk's Shakhtar are set to clash with Finland's Ilves Tampere today, July 10th, in a thrilling UEFA Europa League qualifying round match. Kick-off is at 9:00 PM in Slovenia, where the match will be held.
Shakhtar's Road to Europa League
Shakhtar secured their spot in the Europa League qualifiers after a triumphant victory against Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Cup final. This marks the beginning of their European campaign, starting from the first qualifying round.
Team Updates and Transfers
The summer off-season saw Shakhtar appoint Arda Turan as their new head coach, signing him to a two-year contract. However, Israeli defender Stav Lemkin departed for Dutch side Twente in a €1.5 million deal. On a positive note, young talents Oleh Ochereťko and Eduard Kozik have returned from their loan spells, bolstering the squad.
Pre-Season Form
During their training camp, Shakhtar played two friendly matches, securing a 1-0 victory against Croatian side Gorica and drawing 1-1 with Czech team Slovacko. These matches provided valuable preparation for the upcoming Europa League qualifiers.
About Ilves Tampere
Ilves Tampere, founded in 1931, is a Finnish football club based in Tampere. They compete in the Veikkausliiga, the top tier of Finnish football. Their home ground is the Tammela stadium, which has a capacity of 8,000. Ilves have a rich history, winning the Finnish championship once in 1983 and the Finnish Cup four times, most recently in 2023. They finished second in the 2024 season.
Where to Watch in South Africa
The match will be broadcast on UPL-TB. Check your local listings for availability in South Africa. Unfortunately, specific South African broadcast details are scarce, so exploring streaming options might be necessary. Good luck finding a stream, and enjoy the game!
Who's the Favourite?
While Ilves Tampere has a strong domestic record, Shakhtar, with their recent Ukrainian Cup win and European experience, are considered the favourites for this match. However, football is unpredictable, and Ilves will be looking to cause an upset.