Crystal Palace's quest for a European trophy resumes this week as they face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League last 16.
These two sides have met once already this season, where AEK came to South London and claimed a major scalp in a 1-0 win. Palace were enduring a tough period at the time but have settled down in the last few weeks and subsequently raised their performance levels.
The Eagles come into this game in good shape with just one defeat from their last five, winning three of their last four. At the weekend, they ran out 3-1 winners in a convincing performance away at Tottenham, where the game was sewn up by half-time. Striker Jorgen Strand Larsen netted his third goal since joining from Wolves, a tally that reflects his good performances for the club. He's still got some way to go before validating the fee paid for him, but he's making a much stronger impression than many thought he would. Ismaila Sarr has also bagged five goals in his last eight appearances, making up two thirds of a pretty in-form frontline for the Eagles.
Palace have also won both of their last two games at Selhurst Park, and they've also kept three clean sheets in their last five games on home soil. They will, then, feel confident about avenging their group stage defeat at the hands of the Cypriots.
AEK Larnaca are coming into this game amidst a mixed run of form. Two wins, one draw, and two losses marks somewhat of a sticky patch for the Cypriot side, and with the club currently amidst a period of off-pitch turmoil, this game has arguably arrived at an inconvenient time.
They've also lost three of their last five away games, while their seven away fixtures in Europe this season (including Europa League play-off ties) have yielding only one win. That win may have come in South London, but the matchup feels very different this time, and the difference comes in favour of the home side.
Crystal Palace 2-0 AEK Larnaca
