Crystal Palace Confident in Creativity Ahead of Larnaca Clash Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner remains optimistic about his team’s ability to generate scoring opportunities in their upcoming Conference League second-leg clash against AEK Larnaca, despite failing to find the net in their previous two encounters with the Cypriot side. The Eagles face a daunting challenge as Larnaca has kept a clean sheet in both meetings this season, having conceded just once across their entire Conference League campaign. Glasner emphasized the need for his players to create multiple chances to overcome the visitors, who have proven difficult to break down. The first leg ended in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park, though Palace dominated possession and shot accuracy, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.98 from 13 attempts. In contrast, Larnaca managed only 0.23 xG from two shots. Glasner acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team that has consistently defended well against European opponents, noting their ability to neutralize crosses and cut out threats in the box. “We have huge respect for AEK Larnaca,” he said. “All the teams in the UEFA Conference League have struggled to score against them.” The second leg at AEK Arena is poised to be a tightly contested affair, with Larnaca aiming to become the first Cypriot side to eliminate an English team in a knockout stage tie in major European competition. This would mark a historic milestone for the club, as they have yet to achieve such a feat. Palace, meanwhile, will be the second English side to face Larnaca in Cyprus, following West Ham’s 2-0 victory in the 2022-23 Conference League. Glasner also highlighted the importance of Yeremy Pino in the upcoming match, hoping the Colombian forward can rediscover his goal-scoring form.#crystal_palace #uefa_conference_league #oliver_glasner #ae_k_larnaca #yeremy_pino
