PARIS: Crystal Palace will have the chance to avenge their shock defeat by AEK Larnaca earlier this season after being drawn on Friday to play the Cypriot side again in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League.
Last year’s FA Cup winners Palace lost 1-0 at home to Larnaca in October on the way to finishing 10th in the 36-team league phase.
Palace defeated Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar in the knockout phase play-offs to reach the last 16, and a win over two legs against the club who currently sit third in the Cypriot league could mean a heavyweight quarter-final against Fiorentina.
The Serie A side, runners-up in the Conference League in 2023 and 2024, must first get the better of Polish side Rakow Czestochowa, who finished second in the league phase behind Strasbourg. The French club will play Rijeka of Croatia in the last 16.
If Palace reach the semifinals, they will play one of Poland’s Lech Poznan, Shakhtar Donetsk, AZ Alkmaar or Sparta Prague.
This season’s Conference League final will be played in the German city of Leipzig on Wednesday, May 27.
Conference League last 16 draw
Lech Poznan (POL) v Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v Sparta Prague (CZE)
Crystal Palace (ENG) v AEK Larnaca (CYP)
Fiorentina (ITA) v Rakow Czestochowa (POL)
Samsunspor (TUR) v Rayo Vallecano (ESP)
Celje (SLO) v AEK Athens (GRE)
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Mainz (GER)
Rijeka (CRO) v Strasbourg (FRA)
- First legs to be played March 12, second legs March 19
Quarter-finals
Lech Poznan/Shakhtar Donetsk v AZ Alkmaar/Sparta Prague
Crystal Palace/AEK Larnaca v Fiorentina/Rakow
Samsunspor/Rayo Vallecano v Celje/AEK Athens
Sigma Olomouc/Mainz v Rijeka/Strasbourg
- First legs April 9, second legs April 16
Semi-finals
Lech Poznan/Shakhtar/AZ Alkmaar/Sparta Prague v Crystal Palace/AEK Larnaca/Fiorentina/Rakow
Samsunspor/Rayo Vallecano/Celje/AEK Athens v Sigma Olomouc/Mainz/Rijeka/Strasbourg
- First legs April 30, second legs May 7.
