- This is the first modern UEFA encounter between Crystal Palace and AC Fiorentina.
- Crystal Palace are making their first European quarter-final appearance.
Palace looking to make most of home advantage
With Selhurst Park at full volume and the weather mild but damp, the Eagles will be looking to flex their physical muscle and quick transitions on the night, as they have done so many times under Oliver Glasner’s meticulous and systematic management.
The Austrian’s structured pressing and fast transitions have made Palace a formidable opponent in Europe, and with his impending departure, his side should be fully up for the occasion and ready to make a statement in this first leg.
Glasner has made this team tick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with overlaps from the wing-backs, a structured build-up, and transitions the foundations for the club’s success so far in this competition.
Ismaïla Sarr is Palace’s talisman, and the pacey winger has been in irresistible form, especially in European knockout football, where he scored twice in his side’s last round against AEK Larnaca.
Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton are the club’s midfield maestros, with Eze’s creativity and Wharton’s box-to-box energy providing the legs for the wing-backs to push on.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is back from injury and provides a physical focal point and aerial threat to the Palace frontline.
Palace are playing with house money
Fiorentina have had a frustrating Serie A season, hovering in the bottom half of the table, but they’ve shown grit in Europe and have a good chance of progressing to the semi-finals.
Paolo Vanoli took charge in November 2025 and has done an excellent job of keeping the ship afloat, implementing a pragmatic style of play and flexible 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 system to keep the team competitive.
His team have been in and out of form all season, but they grinded through a tough tie against Raków, edging through on aggregate in a performance of true grit.
Moise Kean leads Fiorentina’s line, capable of causing all kinds of trouble with his pace and power when fit and motivated, which hasn’t always been the case.
Robin Gosens and the wide defenders will provide width and danger for the Fiorentina attack, and there is tactical flexibility in the back line.
Nicolò Fagioli and Cher Ndour have been key midfield contributors for Fiorentina this season, both have scored crucial goals in league and cup action, and their ability to rotate positions will be crucial in controlling the tempo of the game.
A tight game is on the cards
The bookies have Crystal Palace as the narrow favourites at 67/100, with Fiorentina at a huge 21/5 and the draw at 13/5.
We think that the visitors will be much shorter than that when all is said and done, but we’ll take Palace’s home advantage and good recent European form for the win on the night.
However, we think that Fiorentina have enough about them to keep the tie alive for the second leg, and we’re going for under 2.5 goals at 17/20 and BTTS - No at 17/20.
