Crystal Palace welcome Fredrikstad in the first leg of the Europa Conference League play-off, aiming to put their European campaign on solid footing at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.
The match is set for 8pm BST on Thursday, August 21, with Palace hosting the Norwegian minnows ahead of next week’s return leg. Fans can watch free-to-air coverage on Channel 5, which begins at 7.30pm BST, while subscribers can also stream the action online via the Channel 5 website.
Palace are stepping into their first major European campaign under Oliver Glasner, a fresh challenge after their late-season reshuffle and a summer shaped by transfer talk surrounding Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze. Eze appears likely to feature in what could be his final game for Palace if recent reports about a move to Arsenal prove true, though Guehi’s involvement remains possible despite ongoing transfer chatter.
Glasner reports no fresh injury concerns after the opening draw with Chelsea, with key men such as Dean Henderson in goal, plus Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta expected to start. Palace’s readiness will be tested by a Fredrikstad side who slipped into the Conference League after a 5-1 aggregate defeat to FC Midtjylland in their Europa League third-round qualifier.
Predicted Crystal Palace lineup for the first leg:
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
Odds suggest a comfortable night for Palace:
Palace win 1/11
Draw 8/1
Fredrikstad win 22/1
Fredrikstad enter with a tall order but carry the reputation of a team used to testing themselves against bigger leagues, currently sitting eighth in the Norwegian Eliteserien with seven wins from 18 matches.
What to watch:
– Palace’s approach at home: will Glasner deploy a controlled, attacking setup to secure a strong first leg?
– Eze and Guehi: how much will speculation around their futures affect on-pitch focus?
– Fredrikstad’s plan: can they frustrate Palace and take a positive result back to Norway?
Outlook and takeaways:
Palace head into the tie as clear favourites, but the tie offers a real test of their European ambitions and a chance to set a confident tone for the season. A strong home performance would be a solid platform as they push for progression to the group stage.
Additional context:
This match marks a significant milestone for Palace as they embark on European competition, providing a platform to showcase Glasner’s system and potential stars to a broader audience. If Eze’s rumored move progresses, it could add an extra layer of drama to the build-up and impact team dynamics going into the second leg.