Shakhtar Donetsk vs Legia prediction and betting tips

Shakhtar Donetsk and Legia Warszawa meet on October 23 in the UEFA Conference League at Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana. Both teams will be looking to boost their position in the Conference League table, which should make this an interesting and hard-fought game. Although Shakhtar are the nominal hosts, the Ukrainian side is currently based in Poland, which makes this clash feel almost like a home game for Legia. Kraków is only a three-hour drive from Warsaw, so expect lots of Legia fans at the stands.

In this article, we break down the squads, analyse recent form, and share our expert predictions on the outcome.

Bookmakers clearly favour Shakhtar Donetsk as the stronger side at 1.75 for the win, while Legia Warszawa enter as the obvious underdogs at 4.20.

Shakhtar started the season strongly, although they had some upsets in their last games. The team, led by Arda Turan, drew 0-0 with Polissya last week. As a result, Shakhtar lost their lead in the Ukrainian Premier League. Still, the Miners have only one defeat in the last ten matches across all competitions, and they remain unbeaten in Europe. In the Conference League opener, Shakhtar celebrated a 3-2 comeback victory against Aberdeen. This matchup underlined their offensive rhythm, with Yehor Nazaryna, Pedro Henrique, and Lucas Ferreira all finding the net.

The Miners have shown some defensive inconsistency in recent games though, conceding six goals in the last five games. Nevertheless, their scoring ability remains impressive, averaging over 1.5 goals per game. Turan is expected to have a near full-strength lineup for the upcoming game, with only Alisson Santana sidelined with a long-term injury.

🙌 New week brings new challenge! 👊

⚒️ We are preparing for the #Shakhtar 🆚 Legia game in Kraków on Thursday 🔜⚽️

📅 October 23
⏰ 19:45 (18:45 CET)
📍 Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana#UECL #ShakhtarLegia

pic.twitter.com/lNalhGEXn3

— FC SHAKHTAR ENGLISH (@FCShakhtar_eng) October 20, 2025

The club appointed a new manager, Romanian Edward Iordănescu, this summer. Legia had a rough start to the new season, showing mixed results. Reports suggest the manager has asked to terminate his contract following a series of disappointing results. They've won only one out of six away matches, and are currently placed mid-table in the Ekstraklasa. Offensively, Legia average 1.27 goals per game, led by Mileta Rajović and Paweł Wszołek, while their defence concedes just over one goal per match.

Legia eliminated Hibernian in the final qualifying round to reach the league phase of the Conference League, but then suffered a 1-0 home loss to Samsunspor. The fans are waiting for Iordănescu's positive response. The squad remains largely healthy, and their compact structure with quick transition could make them a tricky opponent for Shakhtar in Kraków.

The first match of the @Conf_League league phase on our cameras 🎥

➡️ https://t.co/GocteTKGUY pic.twitter.com/CkvJuxvvNA

— Legia Warsaw (@LegiaWarsawEN) October 4, 2025

Shakhtar look much more confident ahead of this game. They've shown character in Europe and carry a greater attacking quality. The last few setbacks definitely should've helped Turan improve the team's tactics before facing the Polish opponents.

Legia, on the other hand, remain unpredictable away from home and have struggled under Edward Iordănescu. Their defence often collapses against high pressing. It's hard to see them stopping Shakhtar's momentum.

The Miners should have the advantage in Kraków. We predict Shakhtar Donetsk to win at 1.75

If looking at other betting markets available, consider Both Teams to Score at 1.66 or Over 2.5 Goals at 1.75, as both sides create plenty of chances. A riskier pick is Shakhtar to Score in Both Halves at 2.62, given their aggressive attacking approach.

Become a member of our Telegram channel for free to get daily tips and predictions on different sports events!