How Crystal Palace’s Conference League win could reshape Leeds United’s 2026/27 Premier League schedule | OneFootball

Crystal Palace’s 1-0 Conference League final win over Rayo Vallecano has secured Europa League football and could reshape Leeds United’s 2026/27 schedule. Nine of their Premier League rivals are set for Europe, creating knock-ons.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the top five, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool, have reached the Champions League, with Palace joining Bournemouth and Sunderland in the Europa League and Brighton taking the Conference League berth. It repeats a record participation first seen in 2025/26.

Premier League rules state that any team playing in Europe on a Thursday cannot then play on the Saturday, those fixtures move to Sunday. With four sides due on Thursdays, Leeds could often face Bournemouth, Sunderland, Palace or Brighton the following weekend.

Last season two Leeds matches were pushed to Sunday because of midweek European action, a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest and March’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.

European clubs are also protected from Friday or Monday night league games, reducing broadcasters’ options, while Carabao Cup progress locks more midweeks. Sky Sports are meant to select any team no more than five times across those two slots, yet Leeds were chosen seven times last season.

A lighter calendar may help Leeds. Farke’s side played 44 games last season, compared with 52 for Tottenham Hotspur, 56 for Nottingham Forest and 60 for Palace. That reduced load aided the careful management of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor, with problems only building once survival was secured.

Leeds will learn more when the 2026/27 fixtures are released on Friday, June 19. The new campaign is due to start on the weekend of August 22/23.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk