Crystal Palace's European campaign hit another frustrating roadblock as they were held to a 0-0 draw by AEK Larnaca in the first leg of their Conference League last-16 tie at Selhurst Park. The result, which came four-and-a-half months after Larnaca defeated Palace 1-0 in the League Phase, left the Eagles' hopes delicately balanced ahead of next week's decisive second leg in Cyprus.
A Familiar Story of Frustration
Just like in that October encounter, Palace dominated possession and created numerous opportunities but ultimately failed to find the breakthrough against a resolute Larnaca defense. The Cypriot side have now conceded just once in seven European matches this season, highlighting the formidable challenge they present to opponents.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner acknowledged the difficulty of the task post-match, stating: 'I think the performance was OK - not top. We had enough chances to win the game, but credit to the keeper. It's the first leg and the tie will be decided in Cyprus.'
Tactical Adjustments and Missed Opportunities
Glasner made several notable selections for the crucial encounter. Brennan Johnson, who has struggled to make an impact since his January move from Tottenham, was deployed in an unfamiliar wing-back role in the absence of Daniel Munoz. The Welshman responded positively, providing pace and creativity on the right flank throughout the match.
Palace started brightly with Evann Guessand testing the Larnaca defense early on. The best chance of the first half fell to Tyrick Mitchell just before the interval, but Larnaca goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerovic produced a superb save to keep the scores level.
Mateta's Return and Growing Frustration
The match marked the return of Jean-Philippe Mateta to the Palace matchday squad for the first time since his deadline day move to AC Milan collapsed. The French striker received a mixed reception from the home crowd when introduced in the 77th minute, with cheers accompanied by some jeers.
Despite Palace's continued pressure in the second half, with Johnson becoming increasingly influential and delivering several dangerous crosses, the breakthrough never materialized. Johnson himself missed a good opportunity from the edge of the area, blazing his effort over the bar.
Looking Ahead to Cyprus
The positive for Palace was that this time they avoided defeat against Larnaca, unlike their previous encounter. However, their struggles against defensive, low-block teams have become a recurring theme in their European campaign.
Glasner hinted at potential changes for the second leg, adding: 'We will play the third game against them and it's time to score. We will maybe change a few things. It's clear if they only concede one in the group stage they won't concede three or four against us tonight. Maybe we have to wake up to their style a little bit.'
The match ended with Palace fans making their disappointment audible, reflecting the growing frustration at their team's inability to convert dominance into goals against disciplined opposition. With everything still to play for in Cyprus next week, Palace must find a way to solve the Larnaca puzzle if they are to progress in the competition.
