What can Crystal Palace expect from their European opponents in the UEFA Conference League?
Updated 29/08/2025 at 18:28 GMT+1
What can Crystal Palace expect from their European opponents in this season's UEFA Conference League? The Eagles have six fascinating league phase fixtures to look ahead to. Oliver Glasner's side will go head-to-head with AZ Alkmaar, Finnish club KuPS Kuopio and Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park. They will also travel to Dynamo Kyiv, Strasbourg and Shelbourne.
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Crystal Palace have endured a rollercoaster few months since their FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.
However, the wait is finally over. The Eagles now know who they will face in their first-ever UEFA Conference League league phase campaign.
Some Palace fans may feel hard done by after the controversial decision to demote the South London club ended their UEFA Europa League dream.
However, with two trophies in the cabinet and three mouth-watering away days in Europe to look forward to, it will be hard for followers of Oliver Glasner’s side not to be excited.
Live coverage of UEFA Conference League matches throughout the season will be on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Who will Crystal Palace face in the UEFA Conference League?
The Eagles will take on Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Finnish club KuPS Kuopio and AEK Larnaca from Cyprus at home in the league phase.
Palace will be confident of securing wins in all three fixtures, with Selhurst Park’s electric atmosphere set to play a key role in the club’s bid to add a third trophy to their ever-growing collection.
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However, die-hard supporters will be much more excited about the prospect of three thrilling away games.
The Red and Blue Army will travel to Dynamo Kyiv, Strasbourg and Shelbourne this season, and they will be desperate to get some points on the board as they look to book an automatic place in the round of 16.
Let’s now take a closer look at their opponents, ahead of Palace's European campaign this autumn and winter.
AZ Alkmaar (H)
Dutch club AZ Alkmaar finished fifth in the Eredivisie during the 2024/2025 campaign, and have already defeated Ilves, Vaduz and Levski Sofia on route to the league phase.
They are almost certain to provide some tough opposition for Glasner’s side, having recorded a 1-0 win over eventual winners Tottenham in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 clash last term.
Spurs required a 3-1 home win in the second leg to scrape through on that occasion, so Palace supporters will be breathing a sigh of relief that they have avoided a tricky trip to the Netherlands.
This will be the fourth season in a row that AZ Alkmaar have faced English opposition in Europe.
AZ fell to defeat against Aston Villa in the 2023/2024 Conference League and West Ham in the same competition during the 2022/23 campaign.
Dynamo Kyiv (A)
Dynamo Kyiv have defied the odds since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite being forced to play their home fixtures outside of the nation’s capital, they have still gone toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s biggest clubs in recent years.
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The Ukrainian champions faced the likes of Lazio, Galatasaray and Real Sociedad in the league phase of last season’s Europa League.
The Palace faithful will have to wait to find out if the match will be held in Germany or Poland due to the obvious risk of playing at Dynamo’s Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex.
Either way, it will be the furthest distance Palace fans will have to travel for an away game in this season’s league phase.
KuPS Kuopio (H)
KuPS Kuopio are the wildcard in Palace’s Conference League draw.
The Finnish club and the South Londoners will collide in a David and Goliath clash after they won the Veikkausliiga for the first time since 2019.
Like Palace, this is the first time KuPS Kuopio have reached the Conference League league phase.
However, they do have some European experience, having taken part in the UEFA Cup and European Cup prior to the introduction of group stages.
Strasbourg (A)
Crystal Palace will also travel to Strasbourg for another tough away game.
The French club qualified for the competition by finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
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It is sure to be a great game, but the draw comes with a hint of sadness for Palace fans.
To add a little bit of extra salt to the wound, Crystal Palace would be playing Europa League football were it not for the fact that the French side conceded a stoppage-time penalty in the final game of the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 campaign.
That goal meant Lyon leapfrogged them in the table, taking the final French Europa League place in the process.
That called Crystal Palace's ownership model into question, as US businessman John Textor had a stake in both Palace and Lyon at the time. The Eagles were subsequently demoted.
AEK Larnaca (H)
AEK Larnaca have been rewarded with a match against Premier League opposition after they finish fourth in the Cypriot top flight last term.
The Eagles claim to have been founded in 1861, but they will do well to face a younger side in this season’s competition.
AEK Larnaca was established in 1994, meaning the club is younger than Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez.
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Shelbourne (A)
Shelbourne will provide perhaps the most exciting away day for Palace fans.
The Dublin-based club qualified for European competition after finishing top of the League of Ireland.
Tolka Park will be the smallest stadium Palace will play in during the league phase, with a capacity of just 5,700 fans.
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