Crystal Palace learn next Conference League opponent after extra-time Larnaca victory | OneFootball

Eagles set up quarter-final clash with two-time finalists

Crystal Palace’s Conference League quarter-final opponent has been revealed after they narrowly beat nine-man Larnaca in the quarter-final.

The Eagles’ campaign was in some doubt after a turgid first-leg at Selhurst Park ended goalless, meaning they required a win away in Cyprus if they were to progress.

They started well at the AEK Arena, with Ismaila Sarr breaking the deadlock just 13 minutes in, but extra-time was eventually required after Enric Saborit equalised just after the hour mark.

The goalscorer soon left his side shorthanded, though, earning a red card just ten minutes later.

Larnaca’s evening went from bad to worse as Sarr struck the winner in the 99th minute and Petros Ioannou was then sent off, leaving the hosts to finish their European campaign with nine men on the pitch.

Crystal Palace’s win has seen them set up an intriguing quarter-final tie, though: Oliver Glasner’s men will face Fiorentina for a place in the Conference League semi-finals.

The first-leg will be played at Selhurst Park on April 9, with the reverse fixture at the Artemio Franchi Stadium taking place on April 16.

The victor will then meet either Shakhtar Donetsk or AZ Alkmaar in the semi-final.

Fiorentina, now managed by ex-Italy international Paolo Vanoli, are two-time runners-up in this competition, having lost to West Ham and Olympiacos in consecutive finals in 2023 and 2024.

This year, though, they have had a very similar campaign to Palace. They finished just one point behind them in the league phase and were less than convincing as they beat Jagiellonia Bialystok 5-4 on aggregate in the play-off.

A more comfortable last-16 tie saw them beat Raków Częstochowa 4-2.

And, much like Palace, Fiorentina’s European conquests seem to have taken a toll on their league form. They sit just 16th in Serie A, four points above the drop zone, having won only six matches this season.