Crystal Palace progress to Conference League semi-finals despite 2-1 loss at Fiorentina

Palace’s European run continues after tense night in Florence

Crystal Palace are into the UEFA Conference League semi-finals after completing a 4-2 aggregate win over Fiorentina, even though the second leg ended in a 2-1 defeat in Florence. The tie had appeared close to settled after Palace’s 3-0 first-leg victory at Selhurst Park, but Fiorentina produced a far more forceful performance in the return match and ensured the visitors had to manage a difficult evening to secure progression.

The result sends Palace into their first European semi-final, where they will face Shakhtar Donetsk. Palace also become the fifth English club to reach the last four of the competition, following Chelsea, West Ham, Leicester and Aston Villa.

Fast start: Sarr’s header adds to Palace’s cushion

Palace began the second leg with the kind of early moment that usually settles nerves in knockout football. Ismaila Sarr powered in an early header, extending Palace’s advantage in the tie and briefly making the route to the last four look straightforward. With the first-leg margin already in place, the goal left Palace holding a four-goal aggregate lead at that point.

That early strike also reflected Palace’s intent to avoid a passive approach. The visitors were not simply trying to protect what they had built in the first leg; they were looking to impose themselves, and Sarr’s finish gave them a platform that should have allowed for a controlled night.

Penalty shifts momentum as Fiorentina find belief

Fiorentina’s route back into the match began with a penalty, and it arrived through an error that gave the home side a crucial opening. Jaydee Canvot conceded the spot-kick when he brought down Rolando Mandragora in the area, catching him late. Albert Gudmundsson converted calmly, sending Dean Henderson the wrong way to reduce the deficit on the night.

The timing of the incident mattered. Palace had started well and looked capable of managing the tempo, but the penalty gave Fiorentina belief and changed the emotional shape of the contest. Fiorentina’s second-leg display, in contrast to their first-leg showing, carried more urgency and purpose, and the goal provided a clear signal that the night would not be routine for the visitors.

Injuries complicate Palace’s plans in the first half

Even before the penalty was taken, play had been stopped for a concerning moment involving Adam Wharton. The midfielder went down in discomfort without any apparent contact, and the stoppage underlined the sense that Palace’s evening was becoming complicated.

Wharton, who has dealt with injuries this season, was unable to continue and limped off after 30 minutes. Jefferson Lerma replaced him, a change that forced Palace into an early reshuffle and reduced the options available later in the match.

There was more disruption before half-time. Maxence Lacroix soon followed Wharton off, with Oliver Glasner opting not to take chances and bringing on Chadi Riad on the brink of the interval. Two first-half substitutions in a European quarter-final can be destabilising, not only tactically but also psychologically, and Palace had to adjust while Fiorentina were growing into the match.

After the game, Lacroix posted an image captioned “No problem, thank you Lord” in reference to his injury as he celebrated the victory on aggregate. Glasner later provided more detail on the injuries: Wharton felt pain in his adductor, while Lacroix suffered a medial ligament injury in his knee, with the manager hoping it would not be too serious.

Half-time change: Mateta withdrawn as Palace manage minutes

Palace’s evening required further management at the break. Jean-Philippe Mateta did not come out for the second half, with Jorgen Strand Larsen introduced in his place. Glasner explained that the decision was made with Mateta’s ability to play a full match in mind, noting the forward could not necessarily complete 90 minutes.

With injuries already affecting the side, the half-time substitution underlined how much of the second leg became an exercise in game management. Palace were still in a strong position in the tie, but the match itself had become fragile, with Fiorentina pushing for a comeback and the visitors adapting to the loss of key personnel.

Ndour’s strike raises the stakes, but Palace hold firm

Fiorentina’s second goal came during a promising spell and was described as a stunning effort from range by Cher Ndour. The strike made it 2-1 on the night and arrived early enough in the second half to ensure Palace could not simply run down the clock without facing sustained pressure.

At that point, the tie demanded composure. Palace were no longer chasing the match; they were trying to ensure Fiorentina did not generate the kind of momentum that can turn a quarter-final into chaos. Fiorentina continued to test Henderson as they searched for more, but their victory on the night ultimately proved in vain. Palace’s aggregate advantage, built primarily in the first leg, was enough to carry them through.

Glasner: resilience mattered more than style

After the match, Palace manager Oliver Glasner framed the second leg as a reminder of what knockout football often requires. He acknowledged that the tie was never going to be simple and pointed to the early lead as an opportunity that could have made the evening calmer. He also referenced an early chance for Daniel Munoz and noted that the penalty gave Fiorentina renewed belief.

Glasner highlighted the difficulty of managing the game after being forced into two first-half substitutions, which limited Palace’s ability to respond later. When Fiorentina made it 2-1, he said the reaction from his players was strong. He accepted Palace did not play “really attacking football” after that moment, but emphasised that the team defended very well and showed resilience, working hard and sticking together.

In his view, Palace did not allow Fiorentina a major opportunity after the second goal, and that defensive control, combined with the first-leg advantage, justified their place in the semi-finals.

Henderson: ‘3-0 is a dangerous scoreline’

Dean Henderson’s comments reflected both relief and pride. The goalkeeper described the achievement as “unbelievable” for the club, linking it to recent milestones and calling it a new chapter. He also praised the supporters for staying with the team through difficult periods during the season.

Henderson noted the psychological challenge of defending a first-leg lead, saying “3-0 is a dangerous scoreline,” and stressed that Palace’s priority was to get through. His focus then shifted to the bigger aim, indicating that winning the competition is the target and that the group needs to keep building momentum as the season reaches its decisive phase.

Player ratings and standout performer

Ismaila Sarr’s early goal set the tone for Palace’s qualification, and he was named Player of the Match. Palace’s lineup on the night included Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Canvot, Richards, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Mateta and Pino, with Lerma, Hughes, Larsen and Riad among the substitutes used.

The match also contained a difficult moment for Canvot, whose concession of the penalty offered Fiorentina a route back into the contest. Yet Palace’s overall ability to absorb pressure and preserve their aggregate advantage ensured the tie ended in celebration rather than regret.

Next up: Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals

Palace’s reward is a semi-final meeting with Shakhtar Donetsk, who reached the last four after beating AZ Alkmaar 5-2 over two legs. The scheduling and logistics are already set: the first leg will be played on April 30, with the second leg on May 7.

Palace will host the second leg at Selhurst Park, giving them the advantage of playing at home in the return match. The first leg will take place in Poland, where Shakhtar play their home games due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A campaign shaped by change, setbacks and opportunity

Palace’s presence in the Conference League has come with its own context. The club were not initially supposed to be in this competition, but after being moved into it as a result of UEFA ownership rules, they have turned the situation into a historic run. Now they are within reach of a final in Leipzig, and the club’s most successful European period continues, even if the journey has not always been smooth.

Glasner will want to complete what has been described as the most successful period in Palace’s history by pursuing the club’s first European trophy. At the same time, the season has tested the squad’s depth and resilience. Glasner has spoken previously about a period when he felt abandoned, with the team not ready for the workload after losing key players in the summer and again in January. Injuries also affected Palace, and their domestic form suffered as a result.

Yet in Europe, Palace have continued to find solutions. The second leg in Florence captured much of that theme: a strong start, sudden complications, and then a collective response that prioritised survival and progression over spectacle.

Key moments that defined the second leg

• Ismaila Sarr’s early header extended Palace’s advantage and briefly eased the pressure.
• Jaydee Canvot’s foul on Rolando Mandragora conceded a penalty, converted by Albert Gudmundsson.
• Adam Wharton went off injured after 30 minutes and was replaced by Jefferson Lerma.
• Maxence Lacroix was substituted before half-time, with Chadi Riad coming on.
• Jean-Philippe Mateta was withdrawn at half-time, replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
• Cher Ndour scored from range to make it 2-1 on the night and raise the stakes.
• Palace defended their aggregate lead to book a semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.

What Palace can take from Florence

From Palace’s perspective, the second leg offered a clear lesson: knockout ties rarely follow a clean script, even when a team holds a commanding first-leg advantage. The early goal suggested Palace might cruise, but the penalty, injuries and Fiorentina’s improved intensity forced them into a more pragmatic performance.

Glasner’s emphasis on resilience was not rhetorical; it was a description of what the match required. Palace defended, managed their substitutions under pressure, and did enough to ensure that Fiorentina’s late push did not translate into a genuine threat to the overall outcome.

Now the focus shifts to the semi-finals and the challenge of Shakhtar Donetsk, with two legs that will demand both tactical discipline and physical readiness. Palace have already shown they can build decisive advantages at home and protect them away, and that balance will be central again as they continue their European campaign.