Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rijeka Prediction: Kaua to score in Krakow

Shakhtar Donetsk have picked up 12 points from their first five Uefa Conference League games to sit second, behind only Strasbourg, in the league-phase standings heading into the final matchday on Thursday (20:00 GMT, Discovery+). The Ukrainian giants take on Croatian counterparts Rijeka, who are 14th but still not guaranteed even a play-off place, at Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana in Krakow, Poland.

Below are my Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rijeka predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Burkina Faso striker Lassina Traore, who only returned to the Shakhtar Donetsk bench on Sunday after more than four months out injured, is on Africa Cup of Nations duty, so he will miss his side's final Conference League game of the calendar year this week.

Alisson (foot) is injured, while fellow Brazilian Marlon (unspecified) could be sidelined for a fifth consecutive match.

Football Odds

As for Rijeka, Dejan Petrovic is suspended after receiving his third yellow card of the league phase in last Thursday's 3-0 win against Celje.

Mile Skoric and Damir Kreilach (both unspecified) could miss out due to injury.

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rijeka Odds

Shakhtar, chasing a fourth consecutive win in Europe, are 9/10 favourites, implying a 52.6% probability of success, with Rijeka 3/1, or a 25% chance, and the draw offered at 5/2.

Anytime Goalscorer - Kaua Elias (SHA) @ 8/5

Shakhtar striker Kaua Elias struck his sixth league goal of the season, on his 14th appearance, in last Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of Epitsentr, and he'll be targeting a seventh strike in Europe on Thursday.

The 19-year-old notched twice in five Europa League qualifiers and once in two Conference League qualifiers before scoring twice in four league-phase matches (three starts) in the latter competition.

Today's Football Fixtures

Elias has scored in his last two European starts, and if he gets an opportunity from the off this week, I fancy the Brazilian to reward his boss, Arda Turan, with a goal.

Bet Builder - Lucas Ferreira (SHA) 2+ Shots on Target & Samuele Vignato (RIJ) 2+ Shots on Target @ 18/1

Here's one to get the juices flowing.

Lucas Ferreira, another Brazilian forward in the Ukrainian side's ranks, has only scored once for Shakhtar since sealing a move from Sao Paulo in August, but that goal was in the league phase of the Conference League, in a 3-2 win at Aberdeen on October 2.

The 19-year-old has registered a shot on target in three of his five league-phase appearances, forcing two saves in a 2-0 win last week at Hamrun Spartans.

Meanwhile, Rijeka's Samuele Vignato registered a whopping four shots on target in last Thursday's 3-0 victory over Celje, forcing a save with all four of his efforts.

The Italian had previously seen a long-range effort saved by AEK Larnaca's Zlatan Alomerovic in a goalless draw on November 27, meaning five of the 21-year-old's last six shots in the competition have hit the target.