Crystal Palace Set to Face AEK Larnaca in UEFA Conference League Showdown

Crystal Palace will welcome AEK Larnaca to Selhurst Park this Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League round of 16 matchup.

The Eagles are on a remarkable European journey and are looking to settle the score after being defeated by the Cypriot side earlier in the group stages.

Match Overview

Heading into this encounter, Crystal Palace is in positive form following a solid 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. This win has given them a comfortable 10-point buffer away from the relegation zone.

Preview of the Match

As Crystal Palace embarks on their first significant European campaign, they have faced some challenges but overall have performed well.

The team secured a 10th place finish in the 36-member group stage and successfully progressed through the knockout stage by defeating Zrinjski Mostar after a 1-1 draw away. They clinched a 2-0 victory at home, with goals from Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand, sending them through to the round of 16.

At Selhurst Park, Palace has shown strength in Europe, achieving three wins out of five matches. However, AEK Larnaca remains unbeaten in the Europa Conference League this season and holds the best defensive record in the tournament, having conceded only once throughout the group stage. This defensive strength will test Palace’s attacking capability as they strive to find a breakthrough on home ground.

Match Statistics

• Crystal Palace has claimed victory in three of their five home matches in the Europa Conference League this season.
• The Eagles progressed past Zrinjski Mostar with a total aggregate score of 3-1 in the knockout round.
• AEK Larnaca stands as one of the only three unbeaten teams this season.
• The Cypriot club has maintained a strong defensive presence, having only let in one goal and keeping five clean sheets.
• In their previous encounter, Palace suffered a 1-0 defeat to Larnaca during their inaugural European match at Selhurst Park.

Team Updates for Crystal Palace

Maxence Lacroix has returned to the squad after serving a one-match suspension, and Jeff Lerma is fit to play after overcoming a recent injury. Additionally, Jean-Philippe Mateta has resumed training after an extended absence due to a knee issue and is expected to be part of the squad, though it’s noted by coach Oliver Glasner that he may not be ready for an entire match just yet.

Daniel Munoz will be absent from the match as he recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in the match against Tottenham. Nathaniel Clyne, referred to as a ‘great player’ by Glasner, will likely take his place at right wing-back.

Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1)

• Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
• Defenders: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Chadi Riad
• Midfielders: Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Tyrick Mitchell
• Forwards: Ismaila Sarr, Evann Guessand, Jorgen Strand Larsen