- Crystal Palace become Europe’s best debut team
- Chance to extend record in final
- An impressive feat for South London club
Crystal Palace have set a European record in their maiden campaign on the continent. The Eagles’ UEFA Conference League campaign has seen unprecedented success for a team experiencing their first season of European competition.
Palace have reached the final in Leipzig and will face Spanish side Rayo Vellacano who are fighting for survival in La Liga.
Oliver Glasner’s side have found managing the increased demand of European football difficult to manage, and in recent weeks have prioritised the Conference League ahead of their domestic commitments.
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Palace’s Record
Winning eight of their fourteen Conference League games, Palace have become the first ever side to win as many games in their maiden European season.
Not including their pre-tournament play off against Norwegian side Fredrikstad, Palace have played fourteen games across the league phase and knockout rounds on their journey to the final.
If Palace are victorious in Leipzig, they will extend their record to nine wins, which will take some beating by a debut side.
Palace’s journey to eight wins
Palace won their first Conference League game away in Lublin against Dynamo Kyiv, with Daniel Muñoz scoring the Eagles’ first goal in European competition. Palace won that game 2-0 to kick start their campaign.
After a 1-0 defeat at home to AEK Larnaca, Palace hosted Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, and swept them aside, winning 3-1.
Palace’s next win came between a 2-1 loss to Strasbourg and a 2-2 draw with KuPS on the final matchday of the league phase.
A trip to Dublin and a visit to Shelbourne turned up a 3-0 win, Palace’s third of the league phase.
The knockout rounds are where Palace really improved those numbers. A play-off against Zrinjski Mostar resulted in one 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win at home in the second leg.
The Round of 16 saw Palace face off against Larnaca again, and despite a frustrating 0-0 draw at Selhurst, Palace secured win five away in Cyprus, a 2-1 victory.
A 3-0 first leg win against Fiorentina secured win six, and despite a 2-1 loss in the second leg, Palace progressed to the semi final.
Wins seven and eight came in each leg of that matchup against Shakhtar Donetsk, a 2-1 home win following a 3-1 victory in Krakow meant Palace set the record, and could extend it come the 27th of this month.
