Crystal Palace played to a 0-0 draw at home against AEK Larnaca on Thursday in the first leg of their 2025/26 UEFA Conference League last 16 tie.
Palace created a plethora of chances on a wet and windy evening at Selhurst Park but failed to score against Cypriot opponents for the second time this season after losing 1-0 to Larnaca in the league stage.
French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta came on as a late substitute for his first Palace appearance since January 25 after a move to AC Milan fell through due to concerns over a knee injury.
Oliver Glasner’s side head to Cyprus next week to keep alive their first full-scale venture into European football.
«It wasn’t a top performance, but it was OK. I think we had enough chances to win the game,» Glasner said. TNT Sports.
«We knew it’s not that easy to create chances and score goals. It was their (Larnaca’s) seventh game now in the Conference League, and they just conceded one. We had chances to score. But also the praise of the goalkeeper, especially in the first half, two big saves,» he added.
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Should Palace get through, they could meet two-time runners-up Fiorentina in the quarter-finals. The Italians defeated Poland’s Rakow Czestochowa 2-1 in Florence thanks to an injury time penalty.
Strasbourg, who finished top of the league stage, maintained their unbeaten record in Europe this season with a 2-1 win away to Croatian side Rijeka.
Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott scored both goals for AZ Alkmaar in a 2-1 win over Sparta Prague, while Spaniard Rayo Vallecano won 3-1 against Turkish team Samsunspor tsn4.
AEK Athens are on course for the quarter-finals after a 4-0 win against Slovenian side Celje, while Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-1 at Lech Poznan. Bundesliga club Mainz drew 0-0 against Czech side Sigma Olomouc.
Published on March 13, 2026
