UEFA Conference League Playoff Draw Pairs Palace with Zrinjski

The UEFA Conference League playoff draw, conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, has set the stage for the knockout phase, pairing eight seeded teams from the league stage with eight unseeded opponents in two-legged ties to determine the final eight spots in the last 16. Crystal Palace, the Premier League's sole representative after finishing 10th in the league phase, will face Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the English club viewed as clear favorites due to their superior resources and squad quality.

The draw, which also outlined the early structure of the knockout bracket leading to the final in Leipzig on May 27, involved teams ranked ninth through 24th in the league phase. Seeded sides, including Palace, AZ Alkmaar, and Fiorentina, earned home advantage in the second legs. The fixtures, scheduled for February 19 and 26, feature a mix of established European clubs and underdogs, promising competitive battles across the continent.

In the standout matchup, Italian side Fiorentina, who reached the quarterfinals last season before falling to eventual runners-up Real Betis, will travel to Poland for the first leg against Jagiellonia Bialystok. Jagiellonia, third...