- Crystal Palace face Shakhtar Donetsk
- Oliver Glasner names his starting XI
- Fans mostly pleased with the selection
Oliver Glasner has named his Crystal Palace starting lineup for tonight’s clash with Shakhtar Donetsk and most fans are pleased with his selection. The Eagles face the Ukrainian Premier League leaders in Krakow, Poland, in the first leg of the two sides’ UEFA Conference League semi-final.
Palace advanced to the semi-finals courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate win over Fiorentina. A remarkable 3-0 victory at home in the first leg proved decisive, with Jean-Philippe Mateta, Tyrick Mitchell and Ismaila Sarr on the scoresheet on the night.
The trio are all selected in Glasner’s XI to face Shakhtar, and it’s a team that has fared well in recent weeks. There were even positives to take from a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool last Saturday.
Crystal Palace XI Revealed
Glasner has made just one change to the team that lost at Anfield, with Brennan Johnson dropping out of the frontline. Yeremy Pino instead starts and the Spanish attacker might just be relishing the chance to shine on the European stage.
Dean Henderson starts in goal with Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot in defence. Daniel Munoz and Mitchell are at wing-back and the latter has overcome an Achilles problem that forced him off against Liverpool.
Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada are selected in midfield, with Pino joining Mateta and Sarr in attack. It’s the same XI that romped to a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina and fans will be hoping for a similar display tonight.
The biggest of Glasner’s calls is probably to continue with Mateta up top as the Frenchman has reclaimed his starting berth. Jorgen Strand Larsen arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers in January but he is no longer viewed as the starting number nine.
“Strongest team” – Fans React to XI
Most Palace supporters like Glasner’s team selection and are optimistic that they can prevail against Shakhtar. That was the verdict of one fan who wrote on X:
“He’s picked the right team. Good luck lads.”
Another fan added:
“Our strongest team. Respect.”
A supporter added:
“All the best lads.”
One wrote:
“Strongest XI available. Let’s get it.”
Another added:
“Yep, thats the team. Really important we take at least a draw to Selhurst next week. Man, come on, boys. Big performance needed tonight. Let’s go!”
That said, there was one fan who questioned the decision to start Pino:
“Would’ve considered playing Kamada more advanced instead of Pino, with Lerma in the centre with Wharton. Pino has been poor in the last couple of games.”
Pino is the only one of the three big-money signings to make Glasner’s starting XI. The Spanish attacker has shown glimpses of promise, and tonight he has a chance to live up to expectations.
