UECL | Fiorentina 2-1 Crystal Palace (2-4 agg): Victory not enough for Viola

1

Skip to contentFLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 16: Albert Gudmundsson of ACF Fiorentina scores a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg Two match between ACF Fiorentina and Crystal Palace FC at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 16, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Fiorentina at least managed to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on the night with Albert Gudmundsson and Cher Ndour, but their Conference League campaign ended in the quarter-finals.

• Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here

The Viola had a huge task if they were to reach a fourth consecutive Conference League semi-final, having lost the first leg 3-0 at Selhurst Park. Moise Kean, Marco Brescianini, Fabiano Parisi, Tariq Lamptey and Niccolò Fortini were still injured, plus Dodo suspended. Palace welcomed back Jorgen Strand Larsen from his ban, but Evann Guessand, Caleb Kporha and Eddie Nketiah missed out.

Fiorentina wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence before kick-off following this morning’s death of Alex Manninger, who was their goalkeeper in 2001-02.

See how the game unfolded on the Liveblog.

Munoz fired just wide when found in plenty of space down the right in the opening minutes, while Nicolò Fagioli’s strike was charged down by Lacroix.

Crystal Palace opened the scoring on the counter-attack, with Ismaila Sarr spreading it down the right and ready to nod in the Daniel Munoz return pass at the near post.

Sarr almost got another moments later, testing David De Gea on the counter-attack, while Manor Solomon stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.

Fiorentina were awarded a penalty when Canvot was late to a bouncing ball, only kicking Rolando Mandragora as they both stretched to meet it.

Gudmundsson had to wait several minutes to take it, as Wharton went off injured, but sent Dean Henderson the wrong way.

Lacroix also sustained an injury and didn’t make it to half-time, but the hosts kept pushing, Henderson palming a Solomon strike out from under the bar.

Nicolò Fagioli went off injured at the break with bruised ribs and Daichi Kamada forced De Gea into a tricky save from the edge of the area.

Substitute Cher Ndour put the Viola in front for the first time, drilling hard and low with his right foot through a sea of legs into the near bottom corner.

It was 2-4 on aggregate and Fiorentina were fired up, Gudmundsson stinging Henderson’s gloves at the near stick, but Jack Harrison’s finish was too weak after sprinting forward down the right.

Fiorentina 2-1 Crystal Palace (2-4 agg)

Sarr 17 (C), Gudmundsson pen 30 (F), Ndour 53 (F)

16-04-2026 20:00

1/4 Final

Artemio Franchi StadiumFiorentinaCrystal Palace

Live2 – 1

Player statistic

Fiorentina

Crystal Palace

Starting lineups

43

David de Gea
Goalkeeper

6

Luca Ranieri
Defender

5

Marin Pongracic
Defender

15

Pietro Comuzzo
Defender

70′

44

Nicolò Fagioli
Midfielder

46′

21

Robin Gosens
Midfielder

70′

8

Rolando Mandragora
Midfielder

10

Albert Gudmundsson
Attacker

75′

17

Jack Harrison
Attacker

19

Manor Solomon
Attacker

75′

91

Roberto Piccoli
Attacker

1

Dean Henderson
Goalkeeper

26

Chris Richards
Defender

2

Daniel Muñoz
Defender

23

Jaydee Canvot
Defender

5

Maxence Lacroix
Defender

41′

3

Tyrick Mitchell
Defender

20

Adam Wharton
Midfielder

30′

18

Daichi Kamada
Midfielder

7

Ismaïla Sarr
Attacker

14

Jean-Philippe Mateta
Attacker

46′

10

Yéremy Pino
Attacker

73′

Substitutes

53

Oliver Christensen
Goalkeeper

50

Pietro Leonardelli
Goalkeeper

23

Eman Kospo
Defender

61

Riccardo Braschi
Attacker

64

Lapo Deli
Midfielder

69

Giorgio Puzzoli
Midfielder

27

Cher Ndour
Midfielder

46′

60

Eddy Kouadio
Defender

70′

62

Luis Balbo
Defender

70′

22

Jacopo Fazzini
Midfielder

75′

80

Giovanni Fabbian
Midfielder

75′

17

Nathaniel Clyne
Defender

44

Walter Benítez
Goalkeeper

24

Borna Sosa
Defender

Brennan Johnson
Attacker

55

Justin Devenny
Midfielder

59

Rio Cardines
Defender

31

Remi Matthews
Goalkeeper

42

Kaden Rodney
Midfielder

8

Jefferson Lerma
Midfielder

30′

34

Chadi Riad
Defender

41′

Jörgen Strand Larsen
Attacker

46′

19

Will Hughes
Midfielder

73′

BySusy Campanale

Original Article