Crystal Palace 0-0 AEK Larnaca: Glasner´s men fail to secure first-leg lead

Crystal Palace were left frustrated after AEK Larnaca held the Eagles to a 0-0 draw in their Conference League last 16 first leg.

Oliver Glasner’s side were certainly on top at Selhurst Park, but could not find their way past Zlatan Alomerovic, and the winner of this tie will be decided at AEK Arena next Thursday.

Palace started on the front foot at home, with Evann Guessand seeing an initial effort saved by the Larnaca goalkeeper before Adam Wharton fired the rebound wide of the target.

The best chance of the match fell to Tyrick Mitchell in the 42nd minute as a deflected shot fell kindly for the left-back in the six-yard box, but his first-time effort was smothered promptly by Alomerovic.

Brennan Johnson fired high and wide shortly after the hour mark, while Chris Richards was unable to trouble Alomerovic with his header from a corner as the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Jean-Philippe Mateta came off the bench for his first appearance since the end of January, but the Frenchman failed to register a shot in the final 15 minutes as Larnaca held on for a draw in south London.

It finishes level. pic.twitter.com/xlNJZZwW2p

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) March 12, 2026

Data Debrief: Eagles misfire at home

There will certainly be positives for Glasner to take from the performance, with Palace producing 1.72 expected goals (xG) from 13 shots to Larnaca’s 0.23 from two off-target attempts, but the Eagles boss would have been desperate for a win.

Palace had 71% of possession, created three ‘big’ chances, completed 76 final-third entries to Larnaca’s 41 and 28 crosses to their counterpart’s five, but the Premier League outfit just could not find a goal at Selhurst Park.

Larnaca, meanwhile, have kept a clean sheet in six of their seven Conference League games this season, more than any other team in the competition.