In an exhilarating clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Crystal Palace’s aggregate performance booked their place in the Conference League semi-finals despite a 2-1 defeat in the second leg against Fiorentina, bringing the total to 4-2.
With a commanding 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park in the first leg, the Eagles were in a solid position heading into the return match, which was further bolstered by an early goal from Ismaila Sarr in Florence.
The away team initially had an upper hand when Sarr found the net with a powerful header from Daniel Munoz’s cross in the 17th minute, pushing Fiorentina to the brink as they needed to score four goals to force extra time.
As the action unfolded, Albert Gudmundsson equalised for the home side with a penalty after a foul on Rolando Mandragora by Jaydee Canvot, bringing Fiorentina back into the game at 1-1. Cher Ndour then capitalized with a stunning shot from distance, making it 2-1 on the night and sparking hopes of a comeback.
Despite Fiorentina’s attacking drive, including several missed opportunities by Roberto Piccoli and a crucial save by Dean Henderson against Gudmundsson, they ultimately fell short. Palace had to navigate some injuries with Adam Wharton and Maxence Lacroix both departing before the second half, creating additional adversity for the visitors.
With this result, Crystal Palace are set to meet Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals, who triumphed over AZ Alkmaar with a 5-2 aggregate score. The other semi-final will feature Rayo Vallecano facing Strasbourg, as the Spanish side narrowly advanced against AEK Athens with a 4-3 aggregate victory after trailing in the first leg.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) April 16, 2026
Data Overview: Sarr’s Rise in Senegalese Scoring Records
Although Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run in the Conference League has come to an end, manager Oliver Glasner is keen to focus on the journey ahead as his side progresses to the final stages of the tournament. This match saw them manage just 1.26 expected goals (xG) from nine attempts, significantly lower than Fiorentina’s 1.76 from 16 shots—evidence of the tightly contested nature of the match.
Leaping into the spotlight, Sarr’s contributions have not gone unnoticed: he has now joined the ranks as the joint-second highest Senegalese goalscorer in major UEFA competitions, netting 13 goals, trailing only Sadio Mane, who holds 31.
