Crystal Palace's Historic yet Bittersweet European Night
Crystal Palace secured their first-ever European win while fans grappled with Eberechi Eze's likely departure ahead of their Conference League play-off.
Friday brought mixed emotions at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace played in Europe for the first time in nearly 30 years while facing the likely exit of talismanic midfielder Eberechi Eze.
Palace defeated Fredrikstad 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off, marking their first-ever victory in a European competition. Yet fans wore "Eze 10" shirts and held signs thanking the 25-year-old for his five-year spell at the club as his move to Arsenal nears completion.
Manager Oliver Glasner confirmed after the match that Eze would not feature in the second leg: "He's moving on, so we'll wish him the best and focus on bringing in new players."
Making history in Europe
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored Palace's first European goal with a header early in the second half. Although the Conference League sits below the Europa League—Palace's original prize before a UEFA demotion—the win sparked fireworks and celebration among supporters.
With London rivals West Ham and Chelsea among past winners, and a manager who lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, Palace have genuine hopes of continental success.
Trophies and UEFA ruling
Earlier in 2025, Palace won their first major trophy by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, then added the Community Shield over Liverpool. However, UEFA relegated them from the Europa League to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules—a decision upheld on appeal.
Squad changes and what's next
With Eze's departure almost certain and defender Marc Guehi also linked with a move to Liverpool, chairman Steve Parish emphasised reinforcements: "We'll find the right players to support Oliver Glasner. The transfer window closes shortly, so the next few days will be crucial."
Crystal Palace celebrated a landmark European win but must quickly rebuild as key players prepare to leave.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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