PREVIEW: In-form Crystal Palace travel to Strasbourg as they aim to continue Conference League form | OneFootball

Oliver Glasner’s side will be looking to continue their form in the Conference League as they travel to France to face Strasbourg.

After a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Arsenal at the end of October, Crystal Palace have since put together a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions which was continued with a 2-0 win away at Wolves on Saturday. This put the Eagles on 20 points after 12 games: their best start to a season in over a decade. In that run of games, they have also improved on their Conference League form and they currently sit ninth in the table but only a win away from first.

A convincing win against Dutch side AZ helped spur on the belief from the Selhurst Park faithful that they can really make a case from themselves being favourites. That victory was a sign of resilience too, the Eagles had to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at home to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in order to keep their hopes of qualification into the knockout rounds alive and they resoundingly did just that.

Their hosts Strasbourg, competing in their first European tournament in 20 years, have made an excellent start. They’re unbeaten so far in the Conference League, and Les Bleu et Blanc celebrated 2-1 victories over Slovan Bratislava and BK Häcken either side of a 1-1 draw Jageillonia Białystok. Strasbourg have also looked strong in League 1 this season, they currently sit on 22 points from 13 matches however a recently slip of form has led to them fall below the Champions League spots. They’ve won three of their last seven matches in all competitions but will still be formidable opponents for the Londoners thanks to their quality all over the pitch.

The French side will be without striker Abdoul Ouattara after he sustained a hamstring injury, he joins Saidou Sow, Maxi Oyedele, Karl-Johan Johansson and Abakar Sylla in the treatment room leaving the squad pretty light. Former Premier League players Valentin Barco and Julio Enciso will start.

As for Crystal Palace, Chadi Riad and Rio Cardines both have an outside chance of featuring on Thursday while captain Marc Guéhi, though he’s set to start, and Chris Richards are still recovering from injury and will possibly have their minutes managed in preparation for Crystal Palaces’ league game at home to Manchester United.

Confirmed line-ups