Eagles Secure Quarter-Final Match Against Two-Time Finalists

Strong Start for Eagles at AEK Arena

The Eagles commenced their match impressively at the AEK Arena, with Ismaila Sarr scoring the opener merely 13 minutes into the game. However, the contest required extra time after Enric Saborit leveled the score in the second half.

A Turn of Events

The situation worsened for Larnaca as Saborit, the equalizer, received a red card just ten minutes later, leaving his team at a disadvantage.

Late Drama Sees Eagles Triumph

Things took a further turn for Larnaca when Sarr netted the decisive goal in the 99th minute. Adding to their struggles, Petros Ioannou was sent off, resulting in the home side finishing their European journey with only nine players.

Crystal Palace’s Quarter-Final Setup

Crystal Palace’s victory has arranged an exciting quarter-final encounter, where they will face Fiorentina, coached by Oliver Glasner. This match will determine who advances to the semi-finals of the Conference League.

Match Schedule

The first leg is set to occur at Selhurst Park on April 9, while the second leg will be held at the Artemio Franchi Stadium on April 16.

Potential Semi-Final Matchup

The winner of the quarter-final will then compete against either Shakhtar Donetsk or AZ Alkmaar in the semi-finals.

Fiorentina’s Background

Fiorentina, managed by former Italy international Paolo Vanoli, has a history in this competition, being two-time runners-up. They faced defeats against West Ham and Olympiacos in back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024.

Fiorentina’s Recent Performance

This season, their campaign mirrors that of Crystal Palace, finishing just a point shy in the league phase. They faced challenges in their playoff, narrowly edging past Jagiellonia Bialystok with a 5-4 aggregate score.

Strong Showing in Last-16

In a more comfortable last-16 tie, Fiorentina defeated Raków Częstochowa with a score of 4-2.

League Struggles

Similar to Palace, Fiorentina’s run in European competitions appears to have impacted their domestic league performance. Currently, they are positioned 16th in Serie A, sitting four points above the relegation zone, with only six league victories this season.