Crystal Palace – KuPS

The Conference League favorite will secure a substantial advantage already in the first half.

From a tournament point of view, a rather interesting matchup is expected in London. Crystal Palace had already been considered the tournament's main favorite even before the start of the Conference League group stage. The basis for such bookmaker assumptions was the significant improvement in the English club's level over the last year, the value of its squad, and the positive experience of Premier League teams in the Conference League. Let us recall that earlier this young tournament was won by West Ham United and Chelsea. Of course, Oliver Glasner's main task in the group stage was to achieve results with minimal risk. There was no doubt that the 'Glassmakers' would get through the first phase of the tournament. However, the current Crystal Palace must simultaneously maintain a high standard on the domestic stage, where it holds the status of the reigning winners of the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield. Ahead of the final round of the group stage, Crystal Palace found itself in ninth place in the standings, which gives the right to advance only to the playoff ties. To avoid two 'unnecessary' playoff matches, Crystal Palace must beat their upcoming opponent. What two matches mean for the English club in the insanely dense schedule of English football goes without saying. Oliver Glasner, without a doubt, would prefer in the second decade of February to better prepare for matches against Wolverhampton and Manchester United, rather than waste time and energy on two games against sides from Poland, Romania, or the Czech Republic. KuPS will travel to London with a serious incentive to advance in the tournament. Only the points they accumulate there can allow the Finns to reach the playoff ties. Right now the team sits one point away from the desired zone. Under certain conditions, a draw could also suit them. Surely, KuPS will be inspired by the example of AEK Larnaca, which, as a clear underdog, left London with three points. At the same time, the Cypriot side had, and still has, a clear structure of play and stable results on European and domestic stages. In turn, over the last one and a half months KuPS has played only two official matches, in which they did not score a goal against Jagiellonia and Lausanne, and collected just one point. The hosts will decide the fate of the match already in the first half.