The Eagles embark on their very first European campaign with a trip to Lublin, Poland to take on seasoned European campaigners, Dynamo Kyiv.
Fresh off the back of a late late victory over reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Selhurst, the excitement builds for many fans making the trip aboard for the first game of the league phase of the European Conference League.
It is difficult to know what to expect heading into this game, but having spoken to the guys at Dynamo Abroad Podcast, they are not exactly filled with confidence for several reason.
Oliver Glasner expects to have a fully fit squad available to him for the trip, and while not many Palace players have experienced European competition, the Austrian certainly has having won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Palace head into the fixture in great form, making it an incredible 18 games unbeaten with the victory at the weekend, and these are exciting times at Selhurst Park as the club take part in this competition for the very first time having guaranteed six fixtures after the two-legged victory over Frederikstad.
Since Kyiv lost their Europa League Play Off against Maccabi Tel-Aviv 3-2 on aggregate, they have been unbeaten domestically with 2 wins and 3 draws. Before that, Kyiv lost out to Pafos in the Champions League Play Offs 3-0 on aggregate.
However, Kyiv have pedigree in European competition having won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1975 and 1986, and the UEFA Super Cup in 1975. These achievements under legendary coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi made them the first Soviet club to win a European trophy and established a powerful legacy in the sport, particularly with a string of famous players like Oleg Blokhin.
Safe journey to all Palace fans making the trip.
🏟️ Venue
- Arena Lublin, Poland (neutral ground due to ongoing geopolitical issues in Ukraine)
🔍 Team Form & Context
Dynamo Kyiv
- Recent form: 2 wins and 3 draws in their last 5 matches.
- European struggles: losses to Pafos and Maccabi Tel-Aviv in qualifiers.
- Strengths: attacking threat led by Vladyslav Vanat, strong aerial presence on set pieces.
- Weaknesses: inconsistency in European matches, defensive lapses under pressure.
Crystal Palace
- Unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions.
- Recent wins over Liverpool, West Ham, and Aston Villa highlight their Premier League pedigree.
- Key players: Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr, Adam Wharton, with Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix anchoring the defence.
- Manager Oliver Glasner has a strong squad to select from for this tie.
⚔️ Tactical Battle
- Dynamo Kyiv will aim to control the midfield and exploit set pieces.
- Crystal Palace will rely on pacey transitions and individual brilliance.
- The neutral venue may slightly favour Palace, who are traveling with a full squad and high morale.
📊 Predictions
- Feedinco: Dynamo Kyiv 0-3 Crystal Palace.
- Footy Accumulators: Dynamo Kyiv 1-2 Crystal Palace.
- GamingTips: Highlights Palace’s Premier League strength and Dynamo’s European inconsistency.
📺 Where to Watch
- UK: TNT Sports 3
- US: Paramount+ / Amazon Prime Video
- France: Canal+ Live 10
- Germany: Sky Sport Mix
- Ukraine: MEGOGO Football 1
