Crystal Palace and Shakhtar Donetsk Prepare for Europa Conference League Semi-Final Second Leg

May 6, 2026, 14:14
EuropeSports

Introduction

Crystal Palace will host Shakhtar Donetsk on May 7, 2026, to decide who will reach the final of the Europa Conference League.

Main Body

Crystal Palace currently holds a 3-1 lead after the first match in Poland, thanks to goals from Ismaila Sarr, Daichi Kamada, and Jorgen Strand Larsen. If the south London team can maintain this advantage, they will advance to the final at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, where they will play against either Braga or Freiburg. Regarding the squad, manager Oliver Glasner emphasized that Evann Guessand and Borna Sosa will miss the game. Guessand is still recovering from a knee injury, although he has started individual training. Meanwhile, Sosa is out due to a knock. On a positive note, the manager confirmed that Will Hughes has returned after being ill. However, Eddie Nketiah remains unavailable, and it is still unclear if Cheick Doucoure will play. Shakhtar Donetsk also faces challenges, as Yukhym Konoplya is out for the rest of the season and Marlon's availability is uncertain. Although Crystal Palace recently lost 3-0 to Bournemouth in their domestic league, their main goal remains reaching their first-ever European final. The match starts at 20:00 BST at Selhurst Park and will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max.

Conclusion

Crystal Palace enters the second leg with a strong lead and several returning players, while Shakhtar Donetsk struggles with key defensive injuries.

Learning

⚡ The 'Status' Shift: Moving from Basic to Professional

At the A2 level, you describe things simply: "He is sick" or "He is not here." To reach B2, you need to describe availability and states using more precise, professional terminology.

Look at how the article describes players who cannot play. It doesn't just say "they are sick"; it uses a spectrum of Availability Vocabulary:

  • The 'Certain' Out: "Will miss the game" / "Out for the rest of the season." (100% certainty).
  • The 'Medical' State: "Recovering from a knee injury" (Process of getting better) / "Due to a knock" (A minor physical hit/injury).
  • The 'Uncertain' State: "Remains unavailable" / "Availability is uncertain" / "It is still unclear if..."

🛠️ B2 Upgrade: The 'State' Formula

Instead of using S-V-Adj (He is sick), try these B2 structures found in the text:

  1. [Subject] + remains + [Adjective] →\rightarrow "Eddie Nketiah remains unavailable."

    • Why? 'Remains' shows that the situation has not changed over time. It is more sophisticated than 'is'.

  2. [Subject] + is + [Adjective/Noun] + due to + [Reason] →\rightarrow "Sosa is out due to a knock."

    • Why? 'Due to' is the B2 version of 'because of'. It links the result and the cause elegantly.

  3. [It is] + [Adjective] + if... →\rightarrow "It is still unclear if Cheick Doucoure will play."

    • Why? This is called an impersonal construction. It sounds objective and professional, like a news report.

Pro Tip: Use "unclear" or "uncertain" when you want to sound cautious. B2 speakers don't always say "I don't know"; they say "It is currently unclear."

Vocabulary Learning

advantage
a condition or circumstance that gives one a better chance of success
Example:Her experience gave her a clear advantage over the other candidates.
maintain
to keep something in a particular state or condition
Example:They need to maintain the equipment to avoid breakdowns.
manager
a person responsible for controlling or supervising others
Example:The manager decided to postpone the meeting.
emphasized
gave special importance or attention to something
Example:The teacher emphasized the importance of punctuality.
recovering
getting better after an illness or injury
Example:She is recovering from a broken arm.
training
practice or instruction to develop skills
Example:The team started training early in the morning.
positive
showing good or hopeful aspects
Example:He had a positive attitude towards the project.
confirmed
verified or made certain
Example:The results were confirmed by the laboratory.
returned
came back to a place or state
Example:After a long trip, he returned home.
unavailable
not available or accessible
Example:The book is currently unavailable in the library.
challenges
difficult tasks or problems
Example:She faced many challenges during her studies.
injuries
physical harm or damage
Example:The injuries from the accident were severe.