At a Glance
- Crystal Palace face Larnaca tonight
- Glasner’s XI has frustrated fans
- Munoz has returned from injury
Crystal Palace fans have voiced their frustrations with Oliver Glasner’s team selection for the crucial encounter with AEK Larnaca tonight (March 19th). His side has travelled to AEK Arena in Cyprus for the second leg of the Europa Conference League Round of 16 tie.
Glasner’s men already left fans moaning in the first leg when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park. The Eagles couldn’t break down a stern Larnaca defence, which has been the story of the season.
Palace will be without Dean Henderson tonight as the English goalkeeper has stayed home due to illness. But the good news is that Daniel Munoz has returned for the game after missing last week’s clash with the Cypriots due to a shoulder injury.
Crystal Palace’s XI announced
Glasner has gone with the same starting lineup, except for Henderson. Walter Benitez continues to deputise after making his Premier League debut in a 0-0 draw against Leeds United on Sunday.
Palace couldn’t find a way past Larnaca and Serbian goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerović at home. But that hasn’t forced the manager to freshen up, and it also means Brennan Johnson continues at right wing-back.
The return of Munoz had many hoping he’d start the game, but he was named on the substitutes’ bench. Jean-Philippe Mateta made his long-awaited return to action in the first leg when he came on for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Mateta and Strand Larsen are battling it out for the number nine berth in Glasner’s team. The club’s record signing has won again tonight, starting as the focal point of the South Londoners’ attack.
Fans frustrated
Some fans weren’t too impressed to see Glasner stick with the same XI apart from the goalkeeper. There is a feeling that he could have perhaps looked at starting Yeremy Pino who has become a bit-part player as of late.
One supporter wrote in response to the team announcement: “Same f**king formation that has a total of 0 goals against Larnaca in 180 minutes.”
Another added: “Johnson at wingback again f**k off man.”
One sarcastically responded: “Yes let’s use the exact system that worked so well last time!”
This was echoed by another: “We all knew that he wouldn’t change it up. Frustrating…”
One added: “Worked so well against a low block last time! Pino to come on and make the difference.”
Larnaca have conceded just one goal during the entire Conference League campaign. They will once again be tough to break down, and it’s vital that Glasner’s men don’t get his on the counter.
