On December 18, Crystal Palace will face KuPS in a vital Conference League match at Selhurst Park, London. Kickoff is set for 8 PM GMT. Crystal Palace, currently in ninth place, aims for a top-eight finish to secure a bye to the round of 16.
Match Preview: Crystal Palace vs KuPS
Coach Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace is coming off a challenging schedule with matches in three competitions over six days. They begin with a home fixture against Finnish champions KuPS, followed by a Premier League game against Leeds, and then an EFL Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.
Having won the FA Cup last season, Palace is looking to add the Conference League to their accolades. Despite recent setbacks, including losses to AEK Larnaca and Strasbourg, they remain favorites heading into this match.
Crystal Palace’s Form and Strategy
- Crystal Palace has won only two of their seven Premier League matches at home this season.
- The team has scored over 3.5 goals in just two of their 25 games across all competitions.
- In their last home Conference League match, they secured a 3-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar.
Betting odds favor Crystal Palace at 1-4, compared to KuPS at 9-1. A draw is listed at 9-2.
Team News and Predicted Line-ups
For Crystal Palace, top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta may be rested, while Ismaila Sarr is unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations. The expected lineup features:
- Crystal Palace Predicted Line-up (3-4-3): Benitez; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Pino, Uche, Nketiah
- Subs: Mateta, Mitchell, Devenny, Lerma, Esse, Matthews, Canvot
On the other side, KuPS has a few lineup adjustments, with Piotr Parzyszek and Agon Sadiku competing for a starting role up front. Their anticipated formation is:
- KuPS Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1): Kreidl; Armah, Cisse, Miettinen, Antwi; Oksanen, Arifi; Toure, Ruoppi, Pennanen; Parzyszek
- Subs: Hamalainen, Voutilainen, Ricardo, Savolainen, Konate, Golubickas, Sadiku
Key Statistics
Several statistics highlight the dynamics of this match:
- Crystal Palace has conceded only 15 goals across 16 Premier League matches this season.
- KuPS has failed to score in their last five European away games.
- Both teams have scored in only three of KuPS’s 13 European ties this season.
- KuPS successfully only lost one of their five league-phase games.
Overall, the match holds significant implications for both teams, particularly for Crystal Palace’s ambitions in the Conference League.
