Crystal Palace v KuPS: Line-ups, stats and preview
Crystal Palace will hope to improve the mood around the club and secure a place in the Conference League last 16 by beating KuPS.
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Crystal Palace v KuPS Match Preview
Crystal Palace will hope to clinch their place in the top eight of the Conference League table when they round off their league phase campaign against KuPS.
The Eagles are a point outside the top eight and automatic qualification to the last 16. However, with two of the teams above them, Mainz and Samsunspor, facing each other, a win would be enough to ensure Palace do not have contest a two-legged tie in the play-off round.
Palace emphatically dispatched Shelbourne last week, but followed that performance up with a 3-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City.
And it’s fair to say the mood around the club is unlikely to have improved since that loss, with reports emerging this week that manager Oliver Glasner will not renew his contract when it expires at the end of the season.
Glasner has made no secret of his displeasure at the lack of investment in the squad in the summer as he has prepared his team to compete on several fronts following the FA Cup win last season that secured the club’s place in European football.
The limits of the squad will be tested this week, with Palace’s clash with KuPS set to take place exactly 48 hours before they visit Leeds United in the Premier League.
As such, there is unlikely to be much of a festive feel around Selhurst Park, though victory over the Finnish champions would give Palace reason for Christmas cheer before their final away league match of 2025.
KuPS will, of course, have designs on an upset. A draw could be enough to see them into the play-off round, as they sit in 25th, a point outside the qualification spots, with a positive goal difference.
Palace’s likely need to rotate the squad may present an opportunity for KuPS, who are aiming to progress to the knockout rounds of a European competition for the first time since group phases were introduced.
KuPS have only lost once in the league phase, though their home draw with Lausanne last time out illustrated how much better they will need to be to get something from Palace.
Team news for Crystal Palace v KuPS
Daichi Kamada is set to miss out after being forced off with a hamstring injury in the loss to City.
Daniel Munoz (knee) remains unavailable, along with Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee), Rio Cardines (groin) and Caleb Kporha (back).
Predicted line-ups for Crystal Palace v KuPS
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Sarr, Pino; Nketiah
KuPS: Kreidl; Hamalainen, Cisse, Hamalainen, Antwi; Voutilainen, Arifi, Oksanen; Toure, Parzyszek, Pennanen
How to watch Crystal Palace v KuPs
Crystal Palace v KuPS kicks off at 8pm UK time on Thursday. It will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1.
It can be streamed via Discovery Plus. Sky customers with a TNT package can also stream the game via Sky Go.
Prediction for Crystal Palace v KuPS
Crystal Palace
KuPS
Palace will be in the mood to get back on track after their recent domestic disappointment, and they should do so in style to seal a place in the top eight.
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