Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is not looking past Larnaca in the Conference League despite the game coming just days before a Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Glasner’s men have made an excellent start to the new Premier League game, claiming 13 points from eight games.
Having beaten Dynamo Kyiv to start their first European campaign, Palace will be expected to have little difficulty against Cypriot side Larnaca at home.
Yet Larnaca began their quest to reach the knockout stages with a 4-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, and Glasner is not taking the visitors lightly.
“Of course, it’s a Conference League game. We want to qualify straight for the Round of 16. Therefore, we have to be at our top level,” Glasner said.
“Larnaca won 4-0 against Alkmaar. Alkmaar had a red card after two minutes, but winning 4-0 against AZ Alkmaar, who won just at Ajax Amsterdam, just shows their kind of quality. Therefore, we need to be at our top level.
“It’s about looking at who is available, who is fit, who is in the best shape and then nominating the team.
“It was the best start. We always try to have the best start to win the game. And especially, I think when you see Kyiv is a big team in European football, Larnaca, also Cyprus football is getting better.
“Pafos qualified for the Champions League and they [Larnaca] are now in the Conference League. They have many very experienced players. Yes, it’s a little bit of an older squad there, but very international: Spanish players, Portuguese players. Good team.
“Then we have AZ Alkmaar, as I mentioned, for me one of the top five or six teams in the Conference League. The same with Strasbourg.
“I think we have challenging games, and this is what we want. We want to compete in European football and therefore we will give our best. We will play the best available team to get the win against Larnaca, but again, with huge respect for the way they are playing and with huge respect for this team.”
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Team News for Crystal Palace v Larnaca
Palace have no injury concerns going into the game. Romain Esse and Christantus Uche are both in the squad despite featuring for the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy earlier this week.
Expected line-ups for Crystal Palace v Larnaca
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Lacroix, Guehi; Esse, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Devenny; Nketiah
Larnaca: Alomerovic; Ekpolo, Milicevic, Roberge, Gnali; Roberge, Gustavo, Pons; Rubio, Bajic, Chacon
How to watch Crystal Palace v Larnaca
Crystal Palace v Larnaca kicks off at 8pm UK time. It will be broadcast on TNT Sports 3. It is available to stream on Discovery Plus and on Sky Go for Sky customers with a TNT package.
The stats for Crystal Palace v Larnaca
- In 10 of the last 11 Crystal Palace matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Crystal Palace have won 4 of the last 5 matches while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- In 4 of the last 5 Crystal Palace matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Crystal Palace have won 3 of the last 4 matches while scoring less than 2.5 goals
- In 4 of the last 5 Crystal Palace home matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 4 AEK Larnaca matches the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In the last 4 AEK Larnaca matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- AEK Larnaca have won 3 of the last 4 matches while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- In 5 of the last 6 AEK Larnaca away matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- AEK Larnaca have won 3 of the last 4 matches and the sum of goals was over 3.5
Prediction
Despite Glasner’s comments, it would be no surprise to see a rotation to his team with one eye on the Arsenal game. Still, Palace’s quality and depth is superior to that of Larnaca and should deliver the points.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Larnaca
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
