Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznan – Predicted lineup and team news

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·17 September 2026

Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznan – Predicted lineup and team news

Crystal Palace will welcome Lech Poznań to Selhurst Park on Thursday for their opening Europa League fixture of the season. The Conference League champions from last season will be aiming to begin their latest European adventure with a positive result in front of their home supporters.

The Eagles head into this important continental match after an inconsistent spell of form. Pierre Sage’s team made a promising start to their Premier League campaign by winning their opening matches, but they were beaten 3-2 by Ipswich Town in a disappointing league outing last weekend. Palace can still take encouragement from their impressive 3-0 EFL Cup victory over Middlesbrough earlier this month, which provided a much-needed boost before their European return.

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Crystal Palace team news

Palace could receive welcome attacking reinforcements, with Ismaïla Sarr and Eddie Nketiah both potentially available for the eagerly awaited fixture at Selhurst Park.

Manager Pierre Sage confirmed that the two forwards have returned to first-team training during the week. Sarr has recovered from a troublesome groin injury and could be in line to make his official debut under the new manager.

Nketiah, meanwhile, missed the Eagles’ previous two domestic matches and will undergo final fitness checks before the game. Despite the possible return of the two attackers, Crystal Palace continue to face a number of important injury problems.

Club captain and first-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson remains unavailable because of a foot injury and is not expected to return until after the next international break.

Palace will also be without leading striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is recovering from a hamstring injury and is aiming to come back around the middle of October. Defender Chadi Riad is another long-term absentee as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.