Palace advance to group stage after 1-0 aggregate win

Crystal Palace reached the group stage of the Europa Conference League after a 0-0 draw at Fredrikstad on Thursday, August 28, 2025, sealing a 1-0 aggregate victory thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's first-leg strike at Selhurst Park. The result sends Palace into the competition proper and will see the south London club host European fixtures at Selhurst Park for the first time in the club's history.

The second leg in Norway was low on clear openings, with Palace controlling possession but offering little cutting edge in the final third. Fredrikstad's artificial pitch and set-piece threat kept the tie nervy, but Palace defended resolutely, restricting the hosts to a single shot on target over 180 minutes. Data from match analysts indicated Palace produced an expected goals total of about 0.91 across the game to Fredrikstad's 0.25, while the visitors made 34 clearances to their opponents 20.

Marc Guehi was central to Palace's defensive display, completing a team-high number of touches and passes and marshalling the backline effectively. His performance came amid ongoing speculation over his future, with reports linking the England international to Liverpool and suggesting the club...