Conference League QF line-ups: Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina

Skip to contentFLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina in action during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Fiorentina are without Moise Kean, so Roberto Piccoli and Albert Gudmundsson lead the attack against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta in the Conference League quarter-final.

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It kicks off at Selhurst Park at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Aston Villa vs. Bologna on the Liveblog.

The Viola are torn between focus on avoiding relegation from Serie A after a disastrous start to the season, and trying to reach the Conference League semi-final for the fourth year in a row.

Star striker Kean is again forced out with a recurring ankle issue and has not even made the trip, with Fabiano Parisi, Manor Solomon, Niccolò Fortini and Tariq Lamptey also injured.

Piccoli therefore is the centre-forward, supported by Gudmundsson, Italy Under-21 international Cher Ndour, Giovanni Fabbian and January signing Jack Harrison.

Veteran goalkeeper David De Gea takes the gloves, with Robin Gosens at left-back.

Crystal Palace are forced to do without suspended Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Chris Richards and Caleb Kporha are carrying injuries.

They too are struggling domestically this season, sitting 14th in the Premier League, albeit with a healthy cushion from the relegation zone.

Mateta starts upfront after a failed medical test on his knee ruined a January transfer to Milan that had been agreed for over €30m.

Strand Larsen was signed as his replacement, so Mateta has not started since a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on January 25.

Ismaila Sarr is Palace’s top Conference League scorer with five goals in 10 games this season, while Yeremy Pino netted once in eight appearances.

England international Dean Henderson is in goal and ex-Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada in midfield.

They reached the quarter-final after a 2-1 extra time win over AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16, but this is their first ever major UEFA tournament.

Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina line-ups

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Guessand

Fiorentina: De Gea; Dodò, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens; Fagioli; Harrison, Fabbian, Ndour, Gudmundsson; Piccoli

Ref: Rumsas (LTU)

09-04-2026 20:00

1/4 Final

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BySusy Campanale

Original Article