Crystal Palace host Lech Poznań in club's first-ever Europa League match
Crystal Palace make their Europa League debut on Thursday at Selhurst Park against Polish champions Lech Poznań, the first-ever meeting between the clubs following Palace's Conference League triumph. Sources disagree on whether attackers Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah are fit to play.
A Historic Night in London
On Thursday, 17 September at 20:00 BST, Crystal Palace host Polish champions Lech Poznań at Selhurst Park in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs — and Crystal Palace's debut fixture in the UEFA Europa League. The Eagles enter the competition as reigning UEFA Conference League champions, a trophy won in May under then-manager Oliver Glasner.
A difficult start to the season for both sides
Under new head coach Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace sit 16th in the Premier League with just three points from four games, having lost 3-2 at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday. Since Sage replaced Glasner, Palace have managed only two wins — against Fulham in the league and Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup — and have conceded 11 goals in five matches across all competitions this season.
Lech Poznań, managed by Dane Niels Frederiksen, have won five of their opening seven Ekstraklasa games, which TNT Sports puts them third in the table. However, their nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions ended on Saturday with a 2-1 away defeat at Górnik Zabrze. Lech reached the Europa League after being eliminated from Champions League qualifying by Danish side AGF on penalties, but comfortably beat KI (6-0 on aggregate) and Thun (9-2) in the Europa qualifiers. According to the BBC, Lech have faced English opposition in Europe four times, losing three — their sole win came against Manchester City in the 2010-11 Europa League, the match that inspired the famous "Poznań" celebration later adopted by City's own fans.
Conflicting team news
Sources disagree on the availability of Crystal Palace's attackers. Goal.com reported on 16 September that manager Sage confirmed both Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah had returned to training and could feature. TNT Sports, however, lists Sarr as out with a groin injury not expected back until late September, and describes Nketiah as a doubt because of physical discomfort. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson (foot) and striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (hamstring) are both confirmed absent, with returns pencilled in for mid-October, alongside long-term absentee Chadi Riad. Shortly before Thursday's press conference, the club announced that captain Henderson had signed a new contract running until 2030. Jørgen Strand Larsen, who has scored in his last two appearances, is expected to lead the attack, supported by Daichi Kamada, who has three assists in his last three matches. For Lech, captain Mikael Ishak returns from a brief injury spell, while winger Patrik Walemark, who scored six goals in qualifying, poses the main attacking threat.
Prediction
Both USA Today and TNT Sports predict a 2-1 Crystal Palace win.
