Artem Bondarenko / Photo: Shakhtar FC 01 September 2025, 12:45

On Friday, Shakhtar Donetsk learned the names of rivals, which would resist the main stage of the conference League. The winner of the Cup of Ukraine this fall will play with the Polish Light, Irish Shamrok Rovers, Croatian Rijeka, Scottish Aberdin, Icelandic Bradablik and Malta Khamun Spartans.

The midfielder of the Donetsk Club Artem Bondarenko exclusively for Football.ua shared his impressions of the draw.

– Artem, the draw of the League of Conferences took place. Shakhtar received a Legium, Semrok Rovers, Aberdeen, Rijek, Bradablik and Khamun Spartans in his opponent. Which of these teams are you familiar with whom you have a minimum of information?

– Legia is familiar with Legia, because we used to play at their stadium in Warsaw. Ryeka did not allow us to enter the main stage of the Europa League (the team won the Croatian Cup, which allowed Dynamo Zagreb, which took the second place in the championship, to get a direct ticket to the main stage of LE – note). And Khamun Spartans is known to us because he played from Dynamo Kyiv. There is still a minimum of information about all other rivals.

– Against the Legia you will play nominally homemade match in Krakow. Previous qualifications in the Europa League and the League of Conferences have shown that the local public refers to you with sympathy. How do you think the fans of the Krakow public will split in your match?

– Yes, in fact, the audience in Krakow has received enough warmth and fans in this city support us perfectly. I expect a lot of fans of the legion, so I hope that the distribution of sympathy in the stands will be at least 50/50.

– Who would not want to get from the rivals before drawing, looking at the basket distribution?

– Looking at other rivals, I would not like to get a crystal Pelas.