Verdict: Crystal Palace win to nil
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
Getting their Europa Conference League qualifying campaign underway on Thursday night, Crystal Palace will welcome Fredrikstad to Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace
Starting with the hosts, while Crystal Palace might have been left furious last month as their Europa League ticket was officially taken away from them, Oliver Glasner’s side have rightfully received a string of plaudits from across England’s elite. Making real history back on May 17th as they lifted a maiden FA Cup crown thanks to a famous 1-0 victory against Manchester City at Wembley, the Eagles also claimed another iconic piece of silverware earlier in the month. Crowned Community Shield winners on August 10th as they edged past Liverpool thanks to a sensational penalty shootout victory, the mood around south London remains at a red-hot high. Getting the 2025/26 campaign underway with a gritty 0-0 stalemate away at Chelsea last weekend, Glasner’s high-flying squad are rightfully installed as a landslide favourite here.
Crystal Palace Team News
All still dealing with respective knee injuries, Crystal Palace will be unable to call upon the trio of Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure and former Lazio star Dachi Kamada. Despite continued speculation over a move away from south London this month, Eberechi Eze could feature here.
Summer recruit and Croatian international Brona Sosa could make his full debut at Selhurst Park on Thursday night and start at left-back. 21-year-old Justin Devenny should get some more minutes under his belt in midweek.
Fredrikstad
As for the visitors, watching their Europa League dreams come to a return end last week as they fell to a 5-1 aggregate defeat against Midtjylland, Fredrikstad are enduring what has been another downbeat rut. Facing what will certainly be a monumental challenge when they travel to south London on Thursday night, Andreas Hagen’s side have mustered just a single win from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions. Failing to register consecutive victories since the middle of May, the Aristocrates have also shown some extended issues at both ends of the pitch. Notching just a sole strike in over 270 minutes of action, Fredrikstad have also failed to win any of their last seven consecutive matchups on the road – a run that stems all the way back to May 11th.
Fredrikstad Team News
Not making a single appearance across any competition since the start of June, Benjamin Faraas remains on the sidelines and will not travel to south London on Thursday night. However, aside from the Norwegian U21 international, Fredrikstad have reported a clean bill of health.
Completing a permanent switch from Partizan back in March, Ghanian international Leonard Owusu will start in the middle of the park. While Henrik Skogvold might have notched just a single domestic strike so far this season, the ex-Lillestrom starlet should lead the line here.
Crystal Palace vs Fredrikstad Key Factors to Consider
- Including their iconic FA Cup success back in May, Crystal Palace are unbeaten in all of their previous 10 competitive appearances across all competitions.
- The Eagles have not suffered a single defeat at Selhurst Park since the middle of February.
- Fredrikstad watched their Europa League qualifying adventure come to an end last week thanks to a 5-1 aggregate defeat against Midtjylland.
- Thursday’s guests have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their previous 14 appearances across all competitions.
- The Aristocrats have notched just a single strike in over 270 minutes of action.
Conclusion
Getting their Europa Conference League adventure underway on Thursday night, Crystal Palace will be confident of laying down an early marker in south London. Continuing to shine on either side of the summer break and now lifting two pieces of silverware over the past few months, Glasner’s men are rightfully installed as a landslide contender in the English capital. Given what has been a huge recent gulf in class between Thursday’s opponents, we are backing what is a return home victory at Selhurst Park.
Verdict: Crystal Palace win to nil
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
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