Crystal Palace vs KuPS – Match Preview and Team News | OneFootball

Crystal Palace aim to secure automatic qualification for the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 when they host Finnish champions KuPS Kuopio at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.

Oliver Glasner’s side currently sit ninth in the league phase standings. Crucially, they are just one point outside the top eight spots that guarantee direct entry to the next round. A victory would likely seal their passage, provided goal difference swings in their favour.

They face a KuPS team fighting for their European lives. The Veikkausliiga winners sit 25th in the table. Consequently, they must win to have any chance of reaching the knockout playoff round. However, the visitors arrive in poor form, having failed to score in their last two European outings.

Crystal Palace vs KuPS – Match Preview and Team News

Team News

Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will field “two completely different teams” for this match and the Premier League clash against Leeds United just 48 hours later. This extreme rotation is to manage player welfare during a congested festive schedule. The Eagles have been dealt a significant blow with Daichi Kamada ruled out for at least eight to 10 weeks due to a hamstring injury. Daniel Muñoz, Cheick Doucouré, and Chadi Riad also remain unavailable.

KuPS

KuPS head coach Jarkko Wiss is expected to name his strongest available XI as his side chases a vital victory. Goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl will be protected by a central defensive pairing of Ibrahim Cissé and Samuli Miettinen. Jaakko Oksanen, who has scored a team-high three goals in the competition, is set to anchor the midfield. Up front, Piotr Parzyszek is likely to lead the line.

Form

Crystal Palace

Palace boosted their qualification hopes with a comprehensive 3-0 away win over Shelbourne last week. This result moved them to nine points in the standings. However, their home form has dipped recently. The Eagles have gone three matches without a win at Selhurst Park (D1, L2) and failed to score in two of those fixtures.

KuPS

The Finnish champions started their European campaign well but have stalled recently. They have failed to score in their last two matches, losing to Jagiellonia Białystok and drawing with Lausanne. Furthermore, their away form in Europe is a concern. They have failed to score in seven of their last eight European away games.

Predicted Lineups

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Sarr, Pino; Nketiah

KuPS predicted XI: Kreidl; Hämäläinen, Cissé, Miettinen, Antwi; Voutilainen, Arifi, Oksanen; Touré, Parzyszek, Pennanen

How to watch Crystal Palace vs KuPS?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1. Coverage starts at 7:30 pm GMT.

Read- Thierry Henry set for ‘BBC Lifetime Achievement award’

See more- Every winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Player as Dembele claims 2025 prize

Subscribe to our social channels:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube