Crystal Palace analysis: Mateta return could be crucial despite boospublished at 22:36 GMT 12 March
22:36 GMT 12 March
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Palace fans will have left Selhurst Park with a strong sense of deja vu.
This is the second time Oliver Glasner's side have failed to get the better of Larnaca in Conference League this season.
Even with new Spanish manager Javier Rozada at the helm, the visitors once again frustrated Palace by deploying a resolute five-man defence.
It might have been a different story on the night had Mateta been fit enough to start.
His 15-minute cameo was his first appearance since January and was met with a mixed reception from the home crowd.
But had the Frenchman managed to connect with Guessand's cross to score what would have been the only goal of the game, it is fair to say even the most disgruntled fans might have forgiven him for trying to leave the club two months ago.
After a blunt attacking display, the return of last season's top scorer - whether fully embraced by Palace's supporters or not - could prove crucial before next week's second leg in Cyprus.
Crystal Palace v AEK Larnaca: Team newspublished at 18:59 GMT 12 March
18:59 GMT 12 March
Jean-Philippe Mateta is involved in a Crystal Palace match day squad for the first time since his failed move to AC Milan in January.
After missing almost six weeks with a knee injury, the France international is named on the bench for tonight's Conference League clash at Selhurst Park
Elsewhere, defender Maxence Lacroix is back in the starting XI after missing last week's win at Tottenham through suspension.
Follow Thursday's Conference League games livepublished at 18:51 GMT 12 March
18:51 GMT 12 March
There are eight games in the Conference League on Thursday as the first legs of the last-16 ties take place, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Glasner on Mateta's return, attacking overhaul and Larnacapublished at 14:33 GMT 11 March
14:33 GMT 11 March
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League round of 16 first leg against Cypriot side AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park (20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Glasner confirmed Jean-Phillipe Mateta returned to training on Monday and will be in the squad for Thursday's game for the first time since his prospective Deadline Day move to AC Milan collapsed.
Maxence Lacroix is also available while Jefferson Lerma was rested in last week's win at Tottenham and "is fine".
Daniel Munoz will miss the game but is "working very hard together with our medical staff to be available for the Leeds game" and "all else are fine and in a good shape and looking forward to tomorrow's game".
Is Mateta fit to start?: "No. He didn't train for five or six weeks on the pitch, and he's now back for three days, so no chance. But, it's good to have him back. He showed in training he's always able to create chances, score goals, and that's why it's good to have him back."
On his new-look attack, featuring January additions Brennan Johnson, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Evann Guessand: "That was the target of the winter transfer window: to strengthen our attack, because we were often short of numbers, and I think the club did a great job regarding the strengthening our attack. The new players are really getting integrated very well. It's not one-way, it's two-ways, but it's quite easy because the players who are here are great lads, and so are the new ones as well, so it's maybe easier. We need all these options, and it's good to have them."
On the challenge posed by Larnaca, who have appointed Javi Rozada as their new manager this week: "Makes it more challenging I would say. We already watched his former team but we don't know how much he is going to change. On the other side they also changed their formation when they played us [earlier in the competition]. In possession the way they play is the same. I have huge respect for them, they just conceded one goal in the group stage so they are very consistent in their defence. It's for us to create chances and score goals."
What can Palace learn from the league phase meeting, which finished 1-0 to AEK: "When we have the opportunity to watch a game back, we always try to learn from it and try to find some areas where we can exploit. That is what we are telling the players, but to also be creative and free in attack. It's about showing them where they can find space which is not easy when they are playing in a very deep block. We showed we can break down a deep block against Tottenham."
Gossip: Palace lead Azeez racepublished at 07:22 GMT 11 March
07:22 GMT 11 March
Crystal Palace are leading the race for Millwall winger Femi Azeez, with the 24-year-old Englishman watched by several Premier League clubs including Everton and Brentford. (Teamtalk), external
Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Manchester United are all interested in Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. The 43-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season. (i paper), external
'This turnaround in form has seen movement return to the pitch'published at 12:32 GMT 10 March
12:32 GMT 10 March
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Overshadowed by the collective exodus of home fans from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and subsequent media meltdown (legacy and social) at full-time, few people or pundits were discussing a Crystal Palace milestone for Ismaila Sarr on Thursday. His second goal, poked beyond Guglielmo Vicario, was his 25th for the club in all competitions.
The Senegalese attacker has been a sneakily effective scorer for the club since arriving in the summer of 2025. The return of 25 goals in 76 appearances is impressive enough, but against his actual minutes played, he is averaging a goal every 227 minutes. In recent seasons, only Jean-Philippe Mateta has had a better rate of return.
Stylistically, it has always been clear that Sarr suits match-ups that allow him to exhibit his acceleration, especially when he can break the offside trap, assuming his forehead doesn't fall foul of VAR.
If we make the argument that Sarr is Palace's key attacking piece, then finding the opposite half-winger that complements his game may explain why Evann Guessand has likely elevated himself into that starting role, where Brennan Johnson has struggled.
Whereas Sarr tends to carry an off-the-ball threat that lends itself to fewer touches, when he is more of an outlet player, the team also needs a player who can look for the ball to balance the attack and allow Sarr space to roam.
Of the two new attacking arrivals, in that small sample of games alongside Sarr, Guessand is averaging 20 more touches per 90 minutes than Johnson, is doing so in more areas of the pitch, and has been a more willing carrier of the ball.
The worst of Crystal Palace this season has been when the team regressed to static build-up play. This turnaround in form has seen movement return to the pitch, and thanks to this pair of 10s.
Yet the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel [KMI] - which reviews the big refereeing decisions each week - has ruled Krejci should not have been cautioned for his first offence, when he brought down Ismaila Sarr.
Just three minutes later he was issued a second yellow card for kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.
Palace went onto win the game after Evann Guessand's injury-time winner.
"The first challenge by Krejci was clearly not reckless or stopping a promising attack and therefore, the caution was ruled incorrect," wrote the five-person panel, which was unanimous in their decision.
"The second caution for delaying the restart was supported as correct but overall, the referee's decision to send off for two bookable offences was incorrect."
Krejci was banned for the 2-0 win over Aston Villa but returned for Tuesday's late 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
Francis: Desperately poor again from Spurs. This is what happens when a club shops in the bargain basement year after year. Embarrassingly inept squad and unthinking ownership have killed our club.
Neil: Inept and clueless. The worst squad and worst football ever, and I've supported them for over 60 years. Even if the injured players were back. The board deserves a lot of responsibility. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min falsely inflated our past performances.
Jimi: As a season ticket holder, all I want is for this season to be over so I can relinquish my seat for some other unsuspecting fool who will regard this utter garbage as entertainment.
Dave: An abysmal first half truly unravelled in the last 15 minutes or so and a must-win game was lost. However - and I'm clutching at straws here - did we see the green shoots of recovery sprouting in a much-improved second half with 10 men? I hope so, because if not we are not going to get out of this mess. The majority of our players really need to have a serious word with themselves. Managers don't do stupid things on the pitch, players do that. After sending them out early for the second half, I think more tough love is required. COYS.
Andy: When you can't keep the ball for long enough in the opposition's half to do anything with it and when you make average teams like Fulham and Crystal Palace look like like Real Madrid and Barcelona, you know you don't belong in the top flight. Over the past seven years, we've recruited an army of low-quality players and made all the wrong managerial choices. We deserve to go down and we will go down.
Crystal Palace fans
Allan: At last, Palace are starting to play like a coordinated team. Well done, Mr Glasner!
Steve: Palace dominated the first half by playing some very nice football. Going a goal behind seemed to provoke them into some of their best play for some time. Adam Wharton was at his creative best, Ismaila Sarr reminded us of the player he was last season and Jorgen Strand Larsen did what we all want him to do. It promises to be a very good run-in to the end of the season.
Lee: Very good first half. Wharton was excellent with his vision and passing. Thoroughly deserved victory - onwards to Europe next Thursday.
Trev: It's good to see that the real Palace are back, despite yet another highly marginal VAR decision. If you can be offside with just your nose, football has gone mad.
Glasner far from finishedpublished at 23:30 GMT 5 March
23:30 GMT 5 March
Keifer MacDonald BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Two weeks is a long time in football - just ask Oliver Glasner.
It was before Crystal Palace's Premier League match against Wolves on 22 February that supporters at Selhurst Park labelled Glasner as "finished".
Since winning the FA Cup and securing Conference League qualification last season, it has been a difficult couple of months for the Austrian.
After announcing in January that he would leave the club at the end of the season, Glasner was accused by sections of the fanbase of "downing tools" as his side embarked on a nine-game winless run in the Premier League.
On Thursday, however, Palace looked like the team they were last season as they stunned Tottenham inside 12 first-half minutes after brilliant individual performances from Wharton and Sarr.
If the south Londoners are able to build on this impressive result - which takes them to three wins in the past five Premier League games - it will stand them in good stead as they prepare for the latter stages of the Conference League.
It could also mean there is still one final, exciting chapter to be written in Glasner's Crystal Palace career.
Tottenham 1-3 Crystal Palace: What Glasner saidpublished at 23:07 GMT 5 March
23:07 GMT 5 March
Media caption,
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, spoke to BBC Match of The Day after his side's victory at Tottenham: "It was a satisfying evening, especially with the result and the first-half performance. I wasn't very pleased with the second half, we didn't control the game in the way we wanted with one extra player. We gave them too many set-plays and dangerous opportunities around the box, but these things can happen.
"What I loved most is the reaction after we conceded the goal; it was great coming back scoring fantastic goals. But we also have to be critical that we could have done better in the second half. This is what we will work on now, consistency over the full game."
Was the drop in the second half a mental thing? "It shouldn't come into it. You can control the game in possession, but you need to be sharp out of posession and we are not sharp enough. We have to put more pressure on the ball and be more sharp on second balls. This is what we can improve."
On the Palace's opener being ruled out for offside: "I have seen the line, I think it was the forehead or the nose. Of course you can score a goal with the nose. I have seen a few very tight decisions, but today it didn't matter."
On Adam Wharton: "We know that he has a great pass and has great orientation. For me, the best goal was the second; we lost the ball on the edge of the box but we were really sharp with our counter-pressing. It is always a team effort.
"Adam is coming closer and closer to his first Premier League goal, he had a big finish after 30 seconds, but his assists are nice."
On Daniel Munoz: "It is a shoulder injury. Right now his arm is in a brace. Let's hope it's not too bad."
Did you know?
Palace have won three of their past five Premier League games (lost two), as many as in their previous 14 matches in the competition (drawn four, lost seven).
In the opposite dugout, Oliver Glasner makes two changes from his side's defeat against Manchester United last weekend.
After Maxence Lacroix's red card at Old Trafford, Chadi Riad comes in at the heart of the defence, while Brennan Johnson misses out on a start against his former club as he is replaced by Evann Guessand.
Tottenham v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 15:06 GMT 5 March
15:06 GMT 5 March
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
Tottenham continue their battle for Premier League survival against a Crystal Palace side who still need points to secure safety themselves. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes before this huge clash towards the foot of the table.
Thursday marks 67 days since Tottenham last enjoyed a league victory, while its almost three months since they celebrated a top-flight win in front of their own fans.
Defeat by Fulham on Sunday equalled their longest winless run in the Premier League of 10 games, set under Ossie Ardiles in 1994. They last went 11 matches without a league victory between August and October in 1975.
These are dark days and unless they can arrest their shocking form, playing in the second tier for the first time since the 1977-78 season is becoming a real possibility.
New interim head coach Igor Tudor, who has lost two from two, was very bullish in his opening news conferences but after just 180 minutes of action on the pitch, he seems utterly exasperated with the task he has taken on.
"We lack when we attack," he said of his side post-Fulham. "We are lacking the quality to score the goal. We are lacking in the middle to run. We are lacking behind to stay there and suffer and not concede the goal. Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation."
When the boss says in public you have problems in attack, defence and fitness you know you are in trouble. Given Spurs have led in league matches for a total of just seven minutes since 7 January his words should not come as a surprise.
Historically, a fixture with Crystal Palace has normally proved to be a three-point banker for Spurs, but not anymore.
After a run of just one defeat in 18 Premier League games with the Eagles, they have lost two of the last three.
That includes Palace ending a run of nine consecutive losses at Spurs with a 2-0 away victory last season that sets up their chance to secure back-to-back league victories at Tottenham for the first time.
The bad omens keep coming for the north Londoners. They have lost six of their last seven home league London derbies, including a Premier League club record of four already this season.
That is in drastic contrast to Palace's run of only one loss in their last nine top-flight London derbies (W5, D3) on the road, and that came at league leaders Arsenal.
Six of the Eagles' nine league wins this season have come away from home and they were on course to make it seven until Maxence Lacroix gave away a penalty and was sent off against Manchester United on Sunday.
It took their tally of points lost from winning positions this season to 19, second only to West Ham's 20, and just four points shy of the Eagles' most ever in a Premier League campaign set in 2023-24.
Those hoping for a goalfest might be disappointed as the goals-per-game average for Thursday night matches this season is currently the lowest on any day of the week in a Premier League campaign that's had more than one game played on it.
To compound their misery, Spurs are winless in their last 12 Premier League games on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday dating back over two years to January 2024.
Joining Palace 'deeper' than working with Glasner - Strand Larsenpublished at 12:08 GMT 5 March
12:08 GMT 5 March
Image source, Getty Images
Jorgen Strand Larsen says Crystal Palace was the "perfect fit" for him in January and that he felt "really comfortable", despite knowing manager Oliver Glasner will leave at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old signed from Wolves in a club record deal worth up to £48m just two weeks after Glasner confirmed his exit upon the expiry of his contract this summer.
"I think it's a bit deeper deeper than that," he said when asked about Glasner's impending exit.
"Obviously, I knew about the manager leaving, but we had a few chats now already since joining and I feel really comfortable being here with him.
"I feel like he's the man to take Palace this season on and finish on a good note, and is hopefully going to win the Conference League.
"I feel like I'm happy with that and and I know it's a bit of a situation to come into because there's a bit of uncertainty around who's going to come in in the summer.
"But, I think about myself and with the success from last year, and the players at the club, I feel like it was the perfect fit.
"It obviously will take a little bit of time for everyone to get to know me, but each game and each training session we're getting to know each other a little bit better, and with the tight game schedule now there will always be chances to win football games and score goals."
Sutton's predictions: Tottenham v Crystal Palacepublished at 08:25 GMT 5 March
08:25 GMT 5 March
Tottenham's home record is wretched - Wolves are the only top-flight team to have picked up fewer points than them on their own turf so far.
The atmosphere there has been toxic all season anyway, and we are into territory where, if Tudor loses this, things could get even worse.
I am not sure about Crystal Palace either, mind you. After a difficult few weeks, they actually looked good against Manchester United on Sunday but they will miss the suspended Maxence Lacroix here, who is important for them at the back.
It would be against the odds, but I am going to back Spurs here. Their last league win came against Palace, at the end of 2025 - maybe they will get their first league win of 2026 against the same opposition.
Gossip: Crystal Palace interested in Iraola and Frankpublished at 07:21 GMT 5 March
07:21 GMT 5 March
Crystal Palace and Tottenham are interested in manager Andoni Iraola, who is contemplating signing a new contract at Bournemouth.
Crystal Palace have added former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank to their list of potential managers to replace the departing Oliver Glasner. (Sun), external
Glasner on Lerma's fitness, replacing Lacroix and Johnson's Spurs returnpublished at 14:15 GMT 4 March
14:15 GMT 4 March
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Glasner confirmed Jefferson Lerma is back in the squad but not yet ready to start: "He trained with us and is OK. It's quite early, but if we need him for 15-20 minutes at the end we have him. Tottenham are very dangerous at set-pieces and Jeff is maybe our best player at defending them."
He added that Chadi Riad and veteran full-back Nathaniel Clyne are "the only two other options we have" to start in place of the suspended centre-back Maxence Lacroix and "one of them will start".
Reflecting on Lacroix's dismissal in Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United, Glasner said: "He is a big miss. We need other ones to step up and that's how we prepare. There are many people saying something on this situation but that's how the referee sees it and we must accept it. Even if most said it wasn't a foul and the referee shouldn't have even given a foul. But the game is over."
More on the loss: "We took many positives but we see what we can and have to improve. That's what we showed, the players and how we trained. I said it when we started in January with new players we have to know each other and every game the experience is helpful. Now we are starting the crunch time. We are not there right now but we are going step-by-step in the right direction."
On Jean-Phillipe Mateta's fitness: "We're planning for him to be partly integrated next Monday in the team training. It will be the same, starting from the bench. He was out for a long time, but his knee looks better now. We have to be careful, but the goal is that he is available for the Larnaca and Leeds games."
Eddie Nketiah "won't be available before April" but Palace are "pushing hard to have him back in the team".
Glasner was asked about January signing Brennan Johnson, who will return to his former side: "There are many positive sides but he hasn't found maybe the consistency in his performances. There are always highlights but he would like to score like any attacking player. I see his effort in training, he is a great player, he has all the skills that are needed, everything. We need to get his confidence back and then he will be a great player for Crystal Palace and for the rest of the season."
'The pressure and expectation will now inevitably fall on the less experienced'published at 09:27 GMT 4 March
09:27 GMT 4 March
Ellie Killick Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Could Spurs away be the perfect chance to pick up points, or have events at Manchester United ruined our chances?
In a game that saw Crystal Palace register 15 shots, Tottenham managed to snatch all three points thanks to a first-half strike last time the two sides met – which also happens to be the last game Spurs won.
I remember vividly leaving the stadium gobsmacked at how we'd left empty-handed after having not only racking up over a dozen efforts on goal, but also dominating possession.
Now, three months on, Tottenham sit 16th with just 29 points, winless in 10 and edging ever closer to the relegation zone.
While our form has continued to be shaky, wins against Wolves and more importantly Brighton have boosted us up out of danger – and on paper this looked like a fixture that could have nudged us further up the table.
However, coming off the back of a 2-1 loss to Manchester United is far from ideal. The result itself was perhaps to be expected with United's fine form of late, but Palace more than held their own in the first half, only to see the game slip away in the opening 10 minutes of the second.
An extremely harsh red card for Maxence Lacroix not only shifted momentum for that game, but now leaves us travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with just one senior centre-back in Chris Richards.
The pressure and expectation will now inevitably fall on the less experienced Jaydee Canvot and Chadi Riad. Both have impressed in spells, but sustained quality at this level is still yet to be proven.
So not only do we travel without a crucial player, but momentum also lacks for Palace.
With Tottenham having a point to prove in front of a home crowd and survival at stake it could be a tough outing for the Eagles.
But if we start like we did at Old Trafford and finish like we did in North London last time, perhaps there's still reason to believe…
VAR bitterness and defensive potentialpublished at 08:22 GMT 3 March
08:22 GMT 3 March
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
It would be tempting to devote the entire week to refereeing decisions and VAR in the Premier League. In the past months, it has been unclear what constitutes a handball under modern rules week to week, what is a foul in the box compared with the rest of the pitch, or, in Crystal Palace's case this week, the threshold for a goalscoring opportunity worthy of a red card.
Needless to say, there is a level of bitterness towards the decision-making at Old Trafford on Sunday, but alas, Oliver Glasner's team is now left without Maxence Lacroix for Thursday's encounter with Tottenham Hotspur, making Chris Richards the lone senior centre-back available.
There was a level of risk in selling Marc Guehi in January without an experienced replacement, even for the remainder of the season on loan. However, that situation has forced the team to use both Jaydee Canvot and the returning Chadi Riad in high-pressure games.
With both players gaining minutes for the remainder of this campaign, they would have otherwise lacked, it will allow the club to assess their potential to be in a starting role for the 2026-27 season. Both players have already amassed over 300 minutes in the six weeks since Guehi left the club.
As football prices have inflated over the past four or five years, the cost of Guehi in 2021 is similar to that of Canvot in 2025, meaning Palace are signing a player with far less senior experience. Guehi arrived with over 5,000 minutes at Swansea City, compared to Canvot's 1,300 minutes for Toulouse, which comes with growing pains.
The French youngster has excelled with his ground tackling and willingness to deal with physicality in that area, but has struggled aerially – understandable for a player thrown into Europe's toughest league as a teenager.
For now, fans will need to be patient if the dividends will be further down the road.
'Lacroix should let Cunha go'published at 16:04 GMT 2 March
16:04 GMT 2 March
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United's penalty and consequent Crystal Palace red card for Maxence Lacroix in Sunday's fixture at Old Trafford formed part of the debate on the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
Ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: "Lacroix, when he looks at it, should just let him go. I can understand why the penalty is given. My take on it is, the ball is getting away from Cunha and Henderson is closer. It should be a penalty, but a red card?
"If, as a striker, I am not getting to the ball, I am going to go down. I'm getting a penalty and Lacroix sent off. I've been in situations and instantly you just react and pull on the shirt."
Duncan: Unconvincing and strangely lacklustre, but still got the job done. It's not an easy run-in, so we shouldn't take Champions League for granted. The whole coaching team clearly suits the players, and we should keep them next season.
Gordon: A times flat and lacked creativity in first half - very predictable. The penalty was the major change and a good second goal but again didn't kick on and finish the game. Three points but room for considerable improvement
Patrick: This the United I've been waiting to see since Sir Alex's retirement. We're playing as a team, refusing to give up, even when down, confident, and have quality throughout the team. Cunha, Mbeumo, and Sesko have made a huge difference, and Maguire is finally, the talismanic defender we hope he would be. Fergie would be proud to manage this team. We remain a work in progress, my optimism feels apt at this point. As to the Glazers and Ratcliffe, carbuncles that need lancing. Our debt burden is worrying.
Mattie: There's only one Michael Carrick!
Crystal Palace fans
Ron: What a footballing disgrace. This referee has already proved he's not up to it. Never a penalty and never a red card. Palace played well and deserved a draw. Whoever goes to Old Trafford seems to play against twelve men. Canvot had another good game and is improving all the time. Strand Larsen and Johnson again were very disappointing. They need to find the right space to receive the ball which is badly lacking. It makes you wonder what they do in training.
James: This felt as if palace were 0-1 up when it was 11 vs 11, but 2-0 down when it was our ten vs eleven. Given a week ago we didn't look to be able to beat a wolves 11, this feels an improvement especially in how fluid we were with 11, the next challenge is remain with 11, and then we can look up the table and progress further in the conference.
Adrian: Better rhythm and confidence. We possibly play better against the stronger sides, rather than those who play a low block. It probably was a penalty despite starting outside the box and the guy throwing himself to the floor. But the red card was a clear and obvious error and should be overturned on appeal.
Mike: Very poor refereeing decision cost us today. Not even a foul, let alone a penalty or a red card. Any where else on the pitch that goes unnoticed.
Image source, Getty Images
