- The Eagles have been in mixed form domestically but have been strong in Europe.
- Crystal Palace and Fiorentina have never played each other in modern UEFA competition.
Eagles ready to lock down La Viola
Crystal Palace are expected to make their quarter-final debut in the 2025-2026 UEFA Conference League against an AC Fiorentina side desperate to make their fourth consecutive quarter-final in the competition.
Palace have been in indifferent form in the Premier League this season, sitting mid-table with 39 points from 30 matches, but have shown a different level in European competition, particularly when they needed it most. Their win over AEK Larnaca was secured in extra time in Greece, when a brace from Ismaïla Sarr put them through.
Sarr is Palace’s talisman and their best attacking player on his day, often making the runs that lead to goals, which he did against AEK. He can make magic happen with his dribbling and can be the difference if Fiorentina lock down the other Palace forwards.
Ndour and Fagioli are Fiorentina’s engines
Palace’s usual setup is a 3-4-2-1, relying on the wing-backs to overlap and provide width when Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, Palace’s two most creative players, pull the strings. Eze is a fantastic attacking player, with Wharton providing a more box-to-box style and offering more defensive stability. Jean-Philippe Mateta, returning to fitness, will add a different dimension to Palace’s line-up with his physicality, aerial presence and penalty box threat.
Fiorentina’s line-up has been inconsistent, but Paolo Vanoli has steadied the ship since November 2025, with the team picking up some good wins and maintaining a level of play that keeps them in the running in Europe. Their Serie A battle for survival is their top priority, but Europe is where they could win a trophy.
Moise Kean is Fiorentina’s main striker, and when fit and motivated, he is a threat to every defence in the world. Nicolò Fagioli and Cher Ndour have been big contributors in the first team this season, and both have scored some important goals in Serie A and the Conference League in the past couple of months.
Cagey affair at Selhurst Park
The bookmakers have Palace as narrow favourites at 1.67, but Fiorentina look a bit more like the long shots in this tie at 5.2, and the draw at 3.6. A 0-0 draw would be a great result for the away side, but a win would be a bit much for La Viola, who have been all over the map in 2025-2026. Palace have been better in European competitions, and with home advantage, the Eagles should be in the driver’s seat in this first leg.
Palace will attack Fiorentina, who will try to stifle them with a disciplined defensive setup, so expect a cagey game with the visitors more than capable of disrupting Palace’s gameplan. A low-scoring game seems likely, so under 2.5 goals at 1.85 and both teams to score - no at 1.85 are solid bets.
