Crystal Palace have been boosted by the return of Jean-Philippe Mateta, and he was named on the bench for their encounter with AEK Larnaca tonight (March 12th). It’s been over a month since the French striker was in action, and he’s nearly left the club in that time.
Oliver Glasner’s decision to start Mateta on the bench means Jorgen Strand Larsen continues to lead the line. He does so in a three-man attack alongside Ismaila Sarr and Aston Villa loanee Evann Guessand, who could soon seal a permanent move to Selhurst Park.
Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton are selected in midfield. Glasner has gone bold and named Brennan Johnson at right wing-back, which gives the former Tottenham Hotspur man the chance to impress.
Tyrick Mitchell is on the other wing, with Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot in central defence. Dean Henderson, of course, continues in goal amid a superb season, and he’s now wearing the captain’s armband.
Mateta’s back
Mateta was set to join AC Milan on January’s deadline day, only to fail a medical and thus miss out on the move. The Italian giants pulled the plug once an issue with his knee surfaced during examinations.
That meant Crystal Palace didn’t receive the £30m on offer and that the 28-year-old returned to Selhurst Park. After pushing to leave, he might just be eager to prove to the fans that he is still their main man up top.
Mateta’s knee injury saw him sit out the 3-1 win (on aggregate) over Bosnian minnows Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League play-offs. His absence also came during a difficult period for the Eagles with question marks over Oliver Glasner’s short-term future.
| Mateta (Premier League 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 23 |
| Goals: | 8 |
| Expected goals (xG): | 11.97 |
| Scoring frequency (in mins): | 239min |
| Goals per game: | 0.3 |
| Total shots: | 2.3 |
| Shots on target per game: | 1.1 |
| Ground duels won: | 1.6 (33%) |
| Aerial duels won: | 2.5 (41%) |
Mateta’s hunt for European glory
The tide has turned in recent weeks, and a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last Friday has raised hopes of a successful end of the season. That’s why the Frenchman’s return comes at a vital time for Glasner.
Mateta will be chomping at the bit to reclaim his starting role from January signing Jorgen Strand Larsen. The two towering centre-forwards will now be battling it out for the number nine role in Glasner’s team.
Palace are all but certain to stay up and thus can focus on their Conference League campaign. They must first get past a Larnaca side who beat them 1-0 at Selhurst Park during the competition’s league phase.
Mateta’s future beyond this season isn’t certain but Glasner has affirmed on several occasions that he will be committed. He can put that into practice by helping fire the South Londoners to European glory and yet another major trophy following last season’s FA Cup win.
