- Palace are in charge of the tie after winning the first leg 3-0.
- The Eagles’ counter-attacking and transition style should suit them in Florence.
- Fiorentina have been poor in Serie A, currently sitting in 16th place.
Palace to punch their class in Florence
Palace are in a strong position to progress to the semi-final of the UEFA Conference League 2025-2026 after their dominant 3-0 victory over AC Fiorentina in the first-leg at Selhurst Park last week. A draw in this second-leg would suffice for the Eagles, making ‘Palace to qualify’ a solid alternative option in the betting market for Thursday night’s clash.
Oliver Glasner’s side are much more comfortable in the third tier of European football than in the Premier League, where they currently sit mid-to-lower table. Glasner’s high-press, high-tempo, vertical style has seen Palace enjoy some success on the continent, but the demands of the Premier League and the Conference League have taken their toll on their domestic form at times. With Palace likely to need a European boost to secure European football for next season, they’ll be keen to progress further in this competition.
The odds for the match appear to favour the away team slightly at 39/25, while the hosts are 43/25 favourites to get the job done on Thursday. A draw at 11/5 would also see Palace progress and perhaps the smart money is on that result in a sold-out Stadio Artemio Franchi that will be a fiery atmosphere. Fiorentina have hit-and-miss in Serie A of late, going down 0-3 to Palace and going in all sorts of directions in the league where they are fighting to avoid relegation.
An historic European clash
These two teams had never met in a competitive fixture before the quarter-final, but the systems each boss has installed make this an intriguing fixture from a tactical point of view.
Palace are high-press, direct and will look to get bodies behind the ball in transition and flood the wide areas to break forward in the half-spaces, while Fiorentina are a more structured possession-based team, looking to build up patiently and probe the opposition defence with wide overloads.
Palace’s tempo will be the key to this fixture, with Fiorentina forced to play on the front foot from the outset and attack relentlessly at home. A minimum of three goals without reply will force extra time, which will be a tall order for La Viola.
Match-up and goalscorer analysis
Fiorentina’s new-look back-four features Robin Gosens and Fabiano Parisi, who will provide width, but also have the responsibility of keeping Palace’s counter-attacking flanks in check.
Moise Kean remains their top league scorer and will need to fire Fiorentina into this game if they are to have any chance of progressing in Italy.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has returned to the Palace side and scored from the spot in the first leg, but his clinical edge in attack is what makes him the best anytime goalscorer pick for this game.
Ismaïla Sarr is a real threat on the break as his pace and ability to cut inside made clear in the third goal Palace scored in the first leg. He can strike from either flank and could again make a telling impact on Thursday.
Palace’s 3 - 0 advantage makes them the clear favourite to take the game and take the tie, but a wet and windy evening in Florence could also focus attention on set piece play and defensive solidity.
