Conference League

2026-04-09 - Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Crystal Palace v Fiorentina
Football: UEFA Conference League Quarter Final First Leg
Thursday 9th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

Crystal Palace

The March international break and the early exit in the defence of the FA Cup won last May has given Oliver Glasner and the Crystal Palace squad an extended break from competitive action. Some of the players have maintained some rhythm by representing national sides, but the manager will be hoping the almost full month away from competitive club action can give the squad a chance to reset and get ready for a big push towards the end of the season.

Oliver Glasner's departure has been confirmed and all eggs have long been placed in the Conference League basket- Crystal Palace were amongst the favourites to win this trophy when the season kicked off and only silverware will see the manager and supporters part way on good terms. It has not been a pleasant atmosphere between the fans and Glasner for some time, but Crystal Palace have found a way through to the Conference League Quarter Final.

Crystal Palace have lost 1 of the last 8 games played in all competitions since blowing a 2-0 lead in a 2-3 home defeat to Burnley in the English Premier League. They have made heavy weather of beating Zrinjski and AEK Larnaca in the Conference League Knock Out Rounds, but Crystal Palace have still found a way through. The Eagles are unbeaten in 4 at Selhurst Park in all competitions, but have settled for consecutive goalless draws here.

Dean Henderson missed the last fixtures played with an illness, but should be available for this Quarter Final First Leg. Adam Wharton is another who should have shaken off a knock.

Fiorentina

A difficult domestic season can be ignored if Fiorentina are able to win the Conference League and they can begin to place a lot of stock in this European competition. Poor early form had some fearing Fiorentina would be dropping out of Serie A, but an important win at Verona over the Easter Weekend has opened up a 5 point lead over the bottom three teams and there will be confidence that the team are now moving away from trouble.

Some of the better performances have been reserved for the Conference League and Fiorentina have made yet another Quarter Final in the competition. This is the fourth year in a row that Fiorentina are representing Italy in the Conference League and they have been Runners Up twice in a row before losing in the Semi Final last year.

Fiorentina are unbeaten in the last 6 games played in all competitions and they have won 4 times in that run to build up some real momentum. The 3-0 defeat at Udinese is the only defeat in 6 away games, but most impressive is the fact that Fiorentina have won the other 5 fixtures in that time.

Head to Head

This is the first competitive meeting between these clubs.

Prediction

When the Conference League began, Crystal Palace and Fiorentina looked the stand out teams in the competition and they remain two of the top three prices in the outright market.

However, only one can make it through to the Semi Final.

Both have taken the scenic route through to the Quarter Final and have overcome some bumps- in a surprise, neither finished in the top eight in the League Phase and Fiorentina and Crystal Palace have both needed Extra Time to negotiate one of the two Knock Out ties played.

Fiorentina have picked up some momentum domestically and that will give them encouragement, but the same can be said for Crystal Palace who have also eased relegation concerns and can turn their attention to the Conference League.

The experience edge is with Fiorentina who have reached the Final of this competition in both 2023 and 2024 before losing narrowly to Real Betis in the Semi Final last year.

However, Fiorentina finished below Crystal Palace in the League Phase and have won 3 and lost 2 of the 5 away Conference League games played this season.

The problem for Crystal Palace is that they have not really gotten to full grips of being considered a favourite.

Instead of counter attacking as they can against English Premier League opponents, teams have sat back and asked Crystal Palace to break them down and that is where they have missed the influence of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze who have both departed for teams playing in the Champions League Quarter Finals.

Crystal Palace have only managed to score 7 goals in the 5 home Conference League games played.

Oliver Glasner's team have not given up a lot the other way and there is every chance that this First Leg sees both teams wanting to make sure all is to play for when they meet again in Florence next week.

Fiorentina have found their shooting boots in the last couple of away ties played and have also looked good domestically on their travels. Creating a lot of chances against Crystal Palace will be more challenging when factoring in the 4 straight clean sheets The Eagles have earned at Selhurst Park, but Fiorentina should also offer up plenty of resistance and this First Leg may be a tight, competitive contest.

Having a number of likely scores under our belt by backing this game to have fewer than three goals shared out looks the right approach with Crystal Palace short enough in the market.

A draw is a big runner, but a narrow home win cannot be ruled out and so backing the under 2.5 goals option is the way to go.