Crystal Palace enter the second round of the Conference League group stage far from their best form. The London side’s intensity has clearly dropped since the strong run they enjoyed in August and September, and they now face an AEK Larnaca team coming off a stunning 4:0 victory over AZ Alkmaar.
Crystal Palace
The recent Premier League results underline a dip in performance. Crystal Palace conceded a late goal against Everton (1:2), then barely escaped with a 3:3 draw at home to Bournemouth. Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a penalty for the third goal but later missed a clear chance to win it.
AEK Larnaca
The Cypriot club sit second in the group after their emphatic 4:0 home win over AZ Alkmaar, although the match was shaped early by the Dutch side’s red card in the second minute. AEK made full use of their numerical advantage, creating nine goal-scoring chances and keeping control throughout. That success was followed by a setback in the domestic league, where they lost 2:4 to Pafos despite leading at halftime. The team’s attack looks sharp, but defensive transitions remain a concern.
Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca Prediction
In Europe, the London club started confidently with a 2:0 win against Dynamo Kyiv, controlling the game without much trouble. Given the higher competitive level of English football, even a Crystal Palace side short on form should be able to beat AEK in a similar fashion. They are unlikely to go full throttle with a London derby against Arsenal coming up. The visitors should be able to keep the scoreline respectable.
