Crystal Palace make club history tonight as they welcome Fiorentina to Selhurst Park for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final.
The Eagles have moved into their first-ever major European quarter-final following a hard-fought 2–1 aggregate victory over AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16.
Manager Oliver Glasner oversees a squad that has shown remarkable resolve in continental competition, remaining unbeaten in Europe this season.
Palace sit 14th in the Premier League but see this tournament as a unique opportunity to secure their first major piece of silverware.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, travel to South London with significant European pedigree, having reached the final of this competition in both 2023 and 2024. Under coach Paolo Vanoli, the Viola have found form at the right time, entering this tie following a Serie A win over Hellas Verona.
They reached the last eight by defeating Raków Częstochowa 4–2 on aggregate. Notably, this is the first competitive meeting between these two sides, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the encounter.
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 9 April 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 BST
- Venue: Selhurst Park, London
- Referee: Donatas Rumšas (LTU)
- VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
- Last Meeting: First competitive meeting
Team news
Crystal Palace
The Eagles suffered a late double blow ahead of tonight’s clash. Notably, Eddie Nketiah is ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury in the final minutes of Wednesday’s training session.
Consequently, Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to lead the line. Adam Wharton is fit to feature in midfield after a minor knock during the international break. Dean Henderson also returns to the starting eleven after missing the last two matches through illness.
Fiorentina
The visitors are without their leading goalscorer, Moise Kean, who is struggling with a tibia injury. Furthermore, Fabiano Parisi and Manor Solomon are also unavailable for the trip to London.
Notably, former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea captains the side, while English winger Jonathan Rowe is expected to start after being involved in five goals in his last six European appearances.
Form
Crystal Palace
Palace have been imperious at Selhurst Park in Europe, keeping three clean sheets in their four home matches this term. While their domestic form has been inconsistent, the Eagles have shown clinical edge in the knockout stages. Statistically, Palace have a 70% progression rate in two-legged ties throughout their history.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina arrive in London unbeaten in their last three matches, including an impressive draw against league leaders Inter. The Viola have excelled in the latter stages of this competition recently, but have struggled to secure clean sheets on the road. They are currently 15th in Serie A, making the Conference League their primary target for the season.
Predicted lineups
Crystal Palace Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Johnson, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Mateta
Fiorentina Predicted XI (4-3-3): De Gea; Kayode, Martínez Quarta, Ranieri, Biraghi; Fagioli, Mandragora, Richardson; Bernardeschi, Beltrán, Rowe
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina?
The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage begins at 19:00 BST.
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