Crystal Palace and Zrinjski Mostar meet at Selhurst Park later today for the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League knockout play-off round tie, with the scores locked level at 1-1 following last week’s first leg clash.
Crystal Palace vs Zrinjski Mostar
Thursday 26 February, 21:00
Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace recorded a stunning start to the 2025/26 campaign that saw the Eagles remain unbeaten in their opening 11 matches across all competitions, but they have subsequently faced a lengthy period of struggle.
Palace have subsequently managed just nine wins in their last 21 matches, alongside 10 defeats and six draws, featuring a particularly difficult period throughout the winter months that saw the Eagles fail to win any game for a 12-match run.
Oliver Glasner’s side eventually defeated Brighton 1-0 in early February, and despite disappointingly being defeated by Burnley and drawing to Zrinjski, Palace bounced back with another win over Wolves last weekend.
Now heading into another match at Selhurst Park, Glasner will be eager for his team to record back-to-back wins for the first time since a three-game winning streak in early December, while a win is also required to extend their debut European campaign.
Zrinjski are certainly the underdogs despite Palace’s struggles, with the visitors winless in their last three games and also clearly inferior to their opponents, evidenced by the statistics of the first time despite the result.
Zrinjski had just 28% of the ball and took only five shots to Crystal Palace’s 11, and with the home advantage now set to be in the Eagles’ favour, the English team are undeniably the favourites to claim the victory and move into the round of 16 of the Conference League.
Team News
Crystal Palace are anticipated to be without Maxence Lacroix, Cheick Doucoure, Jefferson Lerma, Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta due to ongoing injury issues.
Following last weekend’s confidence-boosting triumph over Wolves, Glasner could name a similar side tonight, although game-winner Evann Guessand may be awarded with a start in attack.
Meanwhile, Zrinjski Mostar are dealing with injuries to Nemanja Bilbija, Slobodan Jakovljevic and Marin Ljubic.
Karlo Abramovic scored the equalising goal for Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg, and the forward should continue alongside Mario Cuze and Leo Mikic in attack later today.
Crystal Palace Predicted XI: Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Larsen
Zrinjski Mostar Predicted XI: Karacic; Vranjkovic, Barisic, Savic, Dujmovic, Mamic; Abramovic, Durasek, Ivancic, Mikic; Cuze
Bet9ja Tips
Crystal Palace will be boosted by last weekend’s victory over Wolves as well as their return to Selhurst Park for this second leg, and given their dominance in the first leg – despite ultimately failing to seal the win – we are expecting an equally controlled performance with a win for the Eagles this time around. You can get odds for a Crystal Palace win inside 90 minutes of 1.14 at Bet9ja – 552VHM9.
Jorgen Strand Larsen has netted two goals in his first four appearances since making the January switch to Crystal Palace, and we are backing the Norwegian forward to find the back of the net once again in this one. You can get odds for Larsen to score anytime of 1.65 at Bet9ja – 552VLHK.
Bet9ja Odds (at time of writing): Crystal Palace win: 1.14, Draw: 8.10, Zrinjski Mostar win: 19.00 (inside 90 minutes)
