Crystal Palace have qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Conference League after playing out a goalless draw against Norwegian side Fredrikstad on Thursday night.
Mateta’s First-Leg Goal Makes the Difference
The Premier League club advanced 1–0 on aggregate, thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-leg strike at Selhurst Park.
The second leg in Norway proved far from convincing for the Eagles, who struggled to break down their hosts.
Mateta came close to sealing the tie in stoppage time but was denied by Fredrikstad goalkeeper Martin Borsheim.
Fredrikstad Fight Back, But Fall Short
Unlike in London where they sat deep, Fredrikstad showed more attacking intent in front of their home fans.
They created a few chances, including a golden opportunity that Stiane Molde failed to convert into an open net after Palace keeper Dean Henderson misjudged a cross.
Substitute Henrik Skogvold also went close late on, but the Norwegians could not find the decisive goal.
Palace’s defence, led by Marc Guehi, held firm despite consistent pressure from set-pieces and long throws.
A European Milestone for the Eagles
The result means Crystal Palace will compete in the group stage of a European competition for the first time in their history.
The achievement also coincides with manager Oliver Glasner’s 51st birthday and extends his side’s unbeaten run to 13 matches across all competitions, equalling a club record.
Palace dropped into the Conference League after being demoted from the Europa League over multi-club ownership breaches.
They will now discover their group-stage opponents during Friday’s draw.
What’s Next?
Attention quickly shifts back to domestic action as Palace face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday evening.
For Fredrikstad, elimination brings their European campaign to an end, though they exit with pride after pushing their English opponents to the limit.