Crystal Palace – Fiorentina: a historic night at Selhurst Park 
On Thursday, Europe’s spotlight swings to London for a Conference League quarter-final with a first-time feel about it. Crystal Palace host Fiorentina in what should be a proper cauldron. For Palace, this is new territory and a big one at that. Fiorentina, meanwhile, know exactly how these continental nights work.
Crystal Palace’s burning ambition 
After a flying start to the season, followed by a winter where things got distinctly grim, Crystal Palace have found their legs again at just the right time. Unbeaten in their last four, Oliver Glasner’s side have shown they can raise their standards when it matters. Selhurst Park hasn’t always been a fortress this year, but European nights have a habit of dragging this group up a level.
Palace’s aim in the first leg is simple: get a grip on the tie. They haven’t tasted defeat in Europe for six games now and they’ll be desperate to keep that run going. Against the Italians, they’ll need to be ruthless in front of goal and put a few away so they can travel with a cushion. And they’ll know the crowd can be their best weapon, the thing that nudges Fiorentina over the edge.
Fiorentina are trying to rescue their season 
At the other end, Fiorentina are hanging a lot on this competition as a way to paper over a miserable domestic campaign. Stuck in a disappointing 15th in Serie A, they’re not exactly miles clear of trouble. The good news? Conference League nights seem to do them a world of good, with three straight semi-final runs in the competition.
Even if their league defence has a nasty habit of leaking on the road, Fiorentina have looked far calmer in Europe. Faced with the coming English storm, they’ll probably need to stay compact, soak up pressure and wait for one opening to nick it. Paolo Vanoli’s plan will be to keep them tight and spring the trap when Palace slip. They’ve got the experience for this sort of hostile setup.
Probable line-ups
Crystal Palace : Henderson ; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot ; Johnson, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Mateta, Guessand
Fiorentina : De Gea ; Comuzzo, Pongracic, Ranieri, Gosens ; Fabbian, Fagioli, Ndour ; Harrison, Kean, Gudmundsson
Football prediction Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina
Crystal Palace to win
Fiorentina’s European pedigree is the obvious point in their favour, but Palace’s current momentum and the noise inside Selhurst Park might tip the balance on Thursday.
Crystal Palace have looked seriously resilient in recent weeks. Up against a Fiorentina side short on confidence in the league and often found wanting against the pace and power of English clubs, Palace have the edge. Expect them to come out swinging, nick it by a goal and put the pressure on Fiorentina before the return leg in Tuscany.
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