Crystal Palace has successfully booked their place in the UEFA Conference League last 16 following a convincing 2-0 victory over Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday evening. This result came after a less-than-ideal 1-1 draw in the first leg of their play-off encounter last week, which had left many fans anxious about the club’s European ambitions. However, Palace’s strong performance at Selhurst Park ensured they avoided an embarrassing early exit from the competition, ultimately winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
The win provided much-needed relief for head coach Oliver Glasner, who has faced mounting pressure in recent weeks due to a string of disappointing results in the Premier League and a shocking FA Cup defeat to sixth-tier Macclesfield. Glasner, who has already confirmed he will depart at the end of the season, had endured chants calling for his dismissal from frustrated supporters. Yet, the victory in this European knockout tie has granted him some breathing room as the club moves forward.
Palace’s breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Adam Wharton delivered a precise free-kick that found Maxence Lacroix, who made no mistake by heading the ball into the net from close range. The team then sealed their progression deep into stoppage time, with Evann Guessand, who recently scored the winner against Wolves, firing a low, accurate shot into the far corner following a slick pass from Brennan Johnson. Glasner reflected on the win, emphasizing the strong relationship between the squad and their supporters despite recent criticism, highlighting the importance of unity during challenging periods.
Looking ahead, Crystal Palace will face either German club Mainz or Cyprus’s AEK Larnaca in the last 16, setting up an intriguing next round in the competition. Meanwhile, Fiorentina experienced a far more dramatic evening as they narrowly avoided a humiliating exit against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok. The Italian outfit had built a commanding 3-0 advantage in the first leg, but Jagiellonia’s Bartosz Mazurek scored a remarkable hat-trick in the second leg, forcing the match into extra time at the Artemio Franchi stadium.
Fiorentina managed to regain control during extra time thanks to a goal from Nicolo Fagioli and an own goal by Taras Romanchuk, which helped them edge ahead. However, the tension remained high as Jesus Imaz scored in the 118th minute, keeping the Polish side’s hopes alive. The match took a decisive turn when Jagiellonia’s Bernardo Vital was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying moments, ensuring Fiorentina’s 5-4 aggregate victory and progression to the next stage.
It is worth noting that Fiorentina currently find themselves struggling in Serie A, positioned 16th and fighting to avoid relegation. Despite their domestic challenges, the club has a strong recent history in the Conference League, having reached two finals—losing to West Ham and Olympiakos—and one semi-final in the last three seasons. Their only European trophy remains the 1961 UEFA Cup, but this season they appear poised to make another significant impact on the continental stage.
Elsewhere in the competition, Dutch side AZ Alkmaar delivered an impressive 4-0 win over Armenian club Noah, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to secure a last 16 clash against either Czech team Sparta Prague or Greek outfit AEK Athens. Polish club Lech Poznan also advanced with a 3-0 aggregate victory after a 1-0 win against Finland’s KuPS, setting up a challenging tie against Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk or Spain’s Rayo Vallecano.
Other notable results included Czech side Sigma Olomouc’s 2-1 win over Switzerland’s Lausanne-Sport, which gave them a 3-2 aggregate triumph and a last 16 meeting with Mainz or AEK Larnaca. Slovenian league leaders Celje edged past Kosovo’s FC Drita 3-2 on the night to progress 6-4 on aggregate, while Croatian club Rijeka secured a 4-1 aggregate victory over Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia, setting up a tie with Strasbourg or Rakow Czestochowa. Turkish club Samsunspor dominated North Macedonia’s Shkendija 4-0 to complete a 5-0 aggregate success and will face either Shakhtar Donetsk or Rayo Vallecano in the next round.
As the UEFA Conference League moves into its knockout stages, the competition promises thrilling encounters and unpredictable outcomes, with several clubs eager to make their mark on European football this season.
