Crystal Palace Reach Conference League Last 16 Despite Season of Turmoil
London, 27 February 2026
Palace secured a 2-0 victory over Zrinjski Mostar to advance 3-1 on aggregate, marking a rare bright spot in what has been a chaotic campaign. Despite winning the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2024, the Eagles have endured a 12-match winless streak, manager Oliver Glasner announcing his departure, and key player exits including Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and Marc Guehi to Manchester City. The club was also demoted from Europa League due to multi-club ownership breaches, making their European progress all the more significant for a squad stretched thin across 43 matches this season.
Decisive Victory Seals European Progress
The match on Thursday, 26 February 2026, saw Crystal Palace deliver a composed performance at Selhurst Park, with goals from Maxence Lacroix in the 36th minute and Evann Guessand in stoppage time securing their passage to the next round [1][2]. The victory was built on Adam Wharton’s exceptional creativity, with the midfielder providing a wonderful assist for Lacroix’s opening header from a free-kick [1]. Dean Henderson, celebrating his 100th appearance for the club, enjoyed a relatively quiet evening as Palace dominated proceedings, with the goalkeeper not facing a single shot on target from the Bosnian visitors [1][3]. The attendance of 18,049 at Selhurst Park witnessed Palace record back-to-back victories for the first time since December 2025, offering a welcome respite from their recent struggles [2].
European Draw Sets Up Intriguing Last 16 Clash
Following the Conference League last-16 draw that took place on Friday, 27 February 2026, at 13:00 UK time in Nyon, Switzerland, Crystal Palace discovered they will face either Larnaca or Mainz in the next round [2][5]. The draw structure means Palace will play the second leg of their tie away from home, with the first leg to be staged at Selhurst Park [2]. Igor Stimac, the Zrinjski Mostar manager, praised Palace’s prospects in the competition, stating: “Crystal Palace is my favourite. Mainz is the second one,” and considering them one of the top three favourites to win the Conference League [2]. The potential opponents present contrasting challenges - Mainz currently sit 13th in the German Bundesliga, whilst Larnaca managed only seven goals in six matches during the league phase, though they did defeat Palace 1-0 in October [1][5].
Glasner’s Position Stabilises Amid Uncertainty
The victory provided much-needed relief for manager Oliver Glasner, who has received “100-per-cent assurance” of staying on as Crystal Palace boss despite the turbulent period [2]. Speaking after the match, Glasner emphasised the importance of player support: “I’ve had 100-per-cent assurance [of staying on]. For me, the number one is the players, the players believing in the staff and I - and that’s the most important thing, otherwise you can pack your suitcase and go home” [2]. The manager, who earlier became the most successful in the club’s history after their FA Cup triumph, had previously stated he would leave at the end of the season and criticised the Palace hierarchy for abandoning his squad [1]. However, the European progress offers a tangible achievement to build upon as Palace continue their pursuit of what would be their first European trophy [1].
Squad Stretched Thin by European Demands
Palace’s small squad continues to struggle with the demands of European competition, with Thursday’s match representing their 43rd fixture of the season, and a potential seven more Conference League games awaiting alongside 11 remaining Premier League matches [1]. The physical toll has been evident, with key players like Nathan Richards wearing a bandage due to a laceration sustained in their recent victory over Wolves, whilst Wharton was replaced by Will Hughes after taking a knock during the Zrinjski match [3]. The squad depth issues were exacerbated by significant departures, including Eberechi Eze’s move to Arsenal and captain Marc Guehi’s transfer to Manchester City in January, with top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta narrowly avoiding a January move to AC Milan only due to failing a medical because of a knee injury [1]. Despite sitting 13th in the Premier League but a comfortable 10 points above the relegation zone, Palace’s European campaign offers the prospect of silverware that could define what has been an extraordinary season of highs and lows [1].