Crystal Palace is set to host AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park tonight for the first leg of their Conference League Round of 16 match. The team is eager to overcome a previous defeat to Larnaca earlier this season.
Crystal Palace reached this stage after defeating Zrinjski Mostar 3–1 on aggregate in the knockout playoff. Although they finished 10th in the League Phase, they are still strong contenders for the trophy as manager Oliver Glasner aims for success before his departure this summer.
Palace comes into this match on a high, having secured a 3–1 win against Tottenham over the weekend, putting them 10 points clear of the relegation zone. They have scored in 11 consecutive matches, showing improved attacking consistency under Glasner.
AEK Larnaca arrives in London as the underdogs, having gone unbeaten in the League Phase. They ended the phase in eighth place, conceding only one goal across six matches, which gives them the best defensive record in the tournament.
Larnaca has previously won at Selhurst Park, surprising Palace with a 1–0 victory in October. Under coach Javier Perez Rozada, they will aim to withstand initial pressure and maintain their strong defensive shape for the return leg.
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 is dealing with several injuries, particularly in defense and attack. Daniel Muñoz is out with a shoulder injury, and Cheick Doucouré and Eddie Nketiah are unavailable. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix are back and ready to play after recent absences.
AEK Larnaca
Larnaca faces their own injury challenges, with Yahav Gurfinkel, Youssef Amyn, and Jimmy Suarez unable to play. Elohor Godswill Ekpolo and Hrvoje Milicevic are at risk of suspension but are likely to feature in a five-man defense. Riad Bajic, who scored the winning goal at Selhurst Park in October, will lead their attack.
Form
Crystal Palace
Palace has made Selhurst Park a tough venue recently, going two home games without defeat and scoring in their last four matches. They’ve had a strong start in recent games, leading at half-time in four of the last five and scoring first in six of the last seven. They have only lost once at home in European competition this season.
AEK Larnaca
Larnaca enters this match with goals in four straight away games but has struggled to keep clean sheets on the road. Their defensive strength has been highlighted in the Conference League, with five clean sheets in six matches. Despite only one draw in their last 13 matches, they have proven difficult for English teams to break down.
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 broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports, with coverage starting at 19:30 GMT ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.
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