Crystal Palace welcome AEK Larnaca to Selhurst Park tonight for a high-stakes Conference League Round of 16 first leg, with the Eagles desperate to avenge a historic defeat from earlier this season.
The South Londoners arrive at this stage after navigating a tricky knockout playoff against Zrinjski Mostar, progressing 3–1 on aggregate. While Oliver Glasner’s side finished 10th in the League Phase, they remain a top favourite to lift the trophy as the Austrian manager looks to secure silverware before his summer departure.
Palace enter this fixture in high spirits following a clinical 3–1 victory over Tottenham at the weekend, a result that moved them 10 points clear of the Premier League drop zone. Notably, the Eagles have scored in 11 consecutive matches, underscoring a newfound attacking consistency under Glasner’s high-intensity system.
AEK Larnaca, meanwhile, travel to London as the tournament’s genuine dark horses after an unbeaten League Phase campaign. The Cypriot side finished eighth in the standings, conceding just one goal across six matches to boast the best defensive record in the competition.
The “Yellow-Greens” already know what it takes to win at Selhurst Park, having stunned Palace with a 1–0 victory in October. Now under the leadership of Javier Perez Rozada, Larnaca will look to survive an early onslaught and utilise their compact defensive shape to keep the tie alive for the return leg.
Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 12 March 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Selhurst Park, London
- Referee: Igor Pajač
- VAR: Ivan Bebek
- Last Meeting: Crystal Palace 0–1 AEK Larnaca (23 Oct 2025, Conference League Phase)
Team News
Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner must navigate a significant injury list, particularly in defence and attack. Daniel Muñoz is sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Cheick Doucouré and Eddie Nketiah remain out. Notably, Jean-Philippe Mateta is back in contention after missing eight matches with a knee issue. Maxence Lacroix is also available to return to the heart of the defence after serving a domestic suspension.
AEK Larnaca
The visitors are facing their own injury crisis, with Yahav Gurfinkel, Youssef Amyn, and Jimmy Suarez all confirmed absentees. Notably, Elohor Godswill Ekpolo and Hrvoje Milicevic are both one booking away from a suspension, but are expected to start in a defensive back five. Riad Bajic, who scored the winner at Selhurst Park in October, will once again lead the line.
Form
Crystal Palace
The Eagles have turned Selhurst Park into a difficult ground recently, having gone two consecutive home matches without defeat while scoring in four straight. Significantly, Palace have led at half-time in four of their last five games and have opened the scoring in six of their last seven. Despite their domestic fluctuations, Glasner’s side has shown European resilience, losing only once at home in continental competition this term.
AEK Larnaca
Larnaca arrive in London having scored in four consecutive away matches, though they have struggled for clean sheets on the road. Their defensive discipline has been their hallmark in the Conference League, where they have kept five clean sheets in six games. While they have only one draw in their last 13 matches across all competitions, their ability to play as a compact unit has made them a nightmare for English opposition.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Riad; Clyne, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Strand Larsen
AEK Larnaca Predicted XI (5-4-1): Alomerovic; Ekpolo, Milicevic, Saborit, Roberge, Garcia; Pons, Ledes, Miramon, Ivanovic; Bajic
How to Watch Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca?
The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports. Coverage begins at 19:30 GMT ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.
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