
UEFA Europa Conference League
8:00 p.mFebruary 26, 2026
Round of 32

Crystal Palace*2 – 0
VAT:(1-0)
Added:(3-1)

ZrinjskiSelhurst Park
Referee: Luís Godinho, Portugal


Crystal Palace


Zrinjski
Turn off the spoiler to see match stats
2.36
Expected Goals (xG)
0.33
Passing by
517 (85%)
Accurate passes
235 (72%)
Turn off the spoiler to see the events of the match
Substitutes
59
m
Cardines river
55
m
Justin Devenny
42
m
Kaden Rodney
24
d
Salsa Borna
10
m
Jeremy Pino
34
d
Chad Riad
17
d
Nathaniel Clyne
44
G
Walter Benitez
31
G
Remi Matthews
F
Brennan Johnson
m
Will Hughes
18
G
Goran Karacic
6.2
12
d
Petar Mamic
5.9
55
d
Duje Dujmović
6.7
21
d
Igor Savić
6.9
4
d
Hrvoje Barišić (C)
7.0
19
d
Marko Vranjkovic
6.3
m
Leo Mikić
20
m
Antonio Ivancic
6.5
30
m
Nor Đurasek
6.3
m
Karlo Abramović
25
F
Mario Ćuže
6.6

UEFA Europa Conference League Classification – UEFA Conference League
Qualification/Relegation
- Promotion – League Conference (Play Off: Round of 16)
- Promotion – League Conference (Play Off: 1/16 final)
Crystal Palace launched their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with a professional 2-0 win over Bosnian side Zrinjski at Selhurst Park. Maxence Lacroix and Evann Guessand provided the goals, ensuring a dominant performance at home.
The group stage match on 26 February 2026 saw Palace eager to start their European journey on a positive note. Bosnian champions Zrinjski faced a tough test away from home. They aimed to defy expectations against their Premier League opponents.
The match started with a rousing atmosphere and early cautions. Crystal Palace’s Jaydee Canvot was shown a yellow card in the 12th minute for a foul. Teammate JS Larsen also saw yellow just before the half-hour mark for the break, highlighting the competitive start to the game.
Zrinjski’s N. Djurasek was shown a yellow card for holding in the 35th minute. This booking immediately preceded the first goal of the game. Crystal Palace seized the momentum, scoring moments later to break the deadlock.
Maxence Lacroix got on the ball for Palace in the 36th minute. He finished calmly after a smart assist from Adam Wharton, rewarding sustained pressure from the home side. The goal sent a roar through the Selhurst Park faithful.
Palace pushed to extend their lead before the break, maintaining their attacking play. Zrinjski’s K. Abramovic was booked for a foul in first half stoppage time. The whistle blew with the home side going ahead by a deserved single goal.
At the break, Crystal Palace had a deserved one-goal lead. They needed to maintain control and convert more chances. Zrinjski, for his part, had to find a way to test the Palau goalkeeper, not having recorded a single shot on goal.
The second half resumed with intensity, continuing the trend of bookings. Adam Wharton was promptly booked for Crystal Palace in the 49th minute. He was later replaced by Will Hughes in the 56th minute as Palace looked for fresh legs.
Zrinjski made his first substitution in the 67th minute, replacing M. Cuze with M. Sakota. Despite these changes, the visitors struggled to penetrate Crystal Palace’s defensive discipline. L. Mikic received a yellow card for Zrinjski in the 66th minute.
As the match entered its final phase, Palace were looking to confirm their victory. Evann Guessand entered the fray and quickly sealed the outcome. He scored Crystal Palace’s second goal in the 90+3 minute, with Brennan Johnson providing the decisive assist.
Crystal Palace thoroughly dominated the match, with 65% possession throughout the match. They unleashed 14 shots, and 5 found the goal, reflecting a total Expected Goals (xG) of 2.36. Instead, Zrinjski mustered just 4 total shots, on goal, and a low xG of 0.33, underscoring Palace’s control.
This professional 2-0 win ensures Crystal Palace start their UEFA Europa Conference League journey with three valuable points. The clean sheet and assured performance laid a solid foundation for their upcoming European matches and overall group ambitions.

