Umbrellas, pepper spray and friendship: Crystal Palace’s first European odyssey | OneFootball

Crystal Palace head to Leipzig for a first European final against Rayo Vallecano, the climax to a 17-game adventure bound by joy, jeopardy and stories fans will not forget.

As reported by The Athletic, the run began in Norway at Fredrikstad, then a league phase at Dynamo Kyiv in Poland, Strasbourg in France and Shelbourne in Dublin, before Zrinjski in Mostar and AEK Larnaca. Fiorentina followed in the quarters, then Shakhtar Donetsk in Krakow in the semis.

Supporters recall Larnaca’s torrential rain sending hundreds of home umbrellas up as extra time began, a surreal backdrop to ponchos in the away end. In Mostar, many traded scarves and stories with welcoming locals, including Velez fans.

Several trips brought heavy-handed policing. Fans described kettling and pepper spray in Strasbourg, and in Krakow leaving one by one through a corridor of riot police, waiting about one hour and 45 minutes to reach the centre.

There were uplifting scenes too, notably in Lublin where Palace and Dynamo supporters mingled, swapped scarves and took photos. In Florence, the Holmesdale Fanatics liaised with authorities to stage a striking display.

Routes have been inventive and pricey, from Eurostar hops to flights via Berlin, with some spending about £1,000 for Leipzig alone. Others block-booked hotels for every league-phase permutation to save.

On the pitch, Ismaila Sarr’s 21-second goal in Larnaca and Jorgen Strand Larsen making it 3-1 in Krakow stand out. Off it, a bucket-list tour has forged friendships that should endure beyond Leipzig.

Source: NY Times