Crystal Palace will face off against Strasbourg in what should be an action-packed encounter in the UEFA third tier.

Matchday 4 of the UEFA Europa Conference League brings together two of the competition’s early frontrunners, as Strasbourg host Crystal Palace at the Stade de la Meinau in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the League Phase.

Both clubs find themselves inside the top nine of the 36-team standings and enter the contest with genuine ambitions of going deep into the tournament. Remarkably, despite their long histories, this will be the first competitive meeting between the French and English sides.

Crystal Palace arrive in France in the midst of one of their strongest early-season runs in decades. Since their narrow 1-0 defeat to Premier League leaders Arsenal in late October, Oliver Glasner’s team have pieced together a five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Even more impressively, they have kept four clean sheets during that stretch, including last weekend’s confident 2-0 victory away at Wolves.

Daniel Munoz and Yeremy Pino delivered the goals at Molineux, a win that took Palace to 20 points from their opening 12 league games. That tally marks their best start to a top-flight season since 1991/92 and their strongest across any division since their Championship campaign in 2012/13. Such momentum is feeding belief within Glasner’s squad, who now enter what he describes as the “crunch time” of their season, juggling Premier League ambitions with a serious push for continental success.

The Austrian coach, who lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, oversees a group widely tipped to win the Conference League. After a surprising 1-0 home loss to AEK Larnaca on Matchday 2, Palace responded with a professional 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar at Selhurst Park, climbing to ninth in the standings, just three points adrift of the joint leaders, Samsunspor and NK Celje. Thursday’s showdown, however, represents their toughest European challenge so far.

Strasbourg’s return to European competition after two decades has been one of the more compelling stories of this season. Under Liam Rosenior, notably born in South London and once a Brighton & Hove Albion defender, Les Bleu et Blanc have approached the Conference League with clear organisation, ambition, and the belief that they can compete with more established European sides.

Unbeaten after three matchdays, Strasbourg have collected seven points (two wins and a draw) to occupy seventh place in the standings, one point above Thursday’s opponents. Their campaign began with back-to-back away victories against Slovan Bratislava and BK Hacken, the latter a 2-1 win in Sweden three weeks ago. Those triumphs were split by a hard-earned 1-1 draw at home against Jagiellonia Bialystok.

Domestic form has also been encouraging, though recent inconsistencies have slightly slowed their momentum. Strasbourg sit fifth in Ligue 1 with 22 points from 13 matches, though an up-and-down run of three wins, one draw, and three defeats in their last seven fixtures has left them six points adrift of the Champions League places. Their most recent outing, a narrow 1-0 loss away to RC Lens in a match featuring two red cards, brought an end to their impressive streak of scoring in 15 consecutive matches.

Despite that minor setback, Strasbourg’s confidence at home remains unquestioned. Rosenior’s men have lost just once at Stade de la Meinau this season across eight competitive matches (six wins, one draw, one defeat). The passionate atmosphere, combined with the team’s compact defensive organisation, makes their home ground a difficult venue for any visiting side, including a confident Crystal Palace.

There is also a small slice of history on the line. The Ligue 1 outfit are seeking their first victory over English opposition in nearly three decades, having last beaten Liverpool 3-0 in a UEFA Cup tie in 1997. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.

Team News & Tactics

RC Strasbourg

Strasbourg prepare for this crucial Conference League clash with a number of important absentees. Abdoul Ouattara is ruled out with a hamstring injury and will not feature. He is joined on the sidelines by Saidou Sow, who continues his recovery from a knee problem, and Maxi Oyedele, who is unavailable due to a muscular issue.

Goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson remains sidelined with a fractured wrist, while defender Abakar Sylla also misses out with an unspecified injury concern. Despite these setbacks, Strasbourg have no suspensions, meaning Liam Rosenior can still field a strong and balanced starting XI.

One boost for Strasbourg comes in midfield, where Valentin Barco is available for selection even after being sent off in Ligue 1 last weekend, as his suspension does not apply to European competition. His presence adds technical security and vertical progression in the centre of the pitch.

Meanwhile, English-born winger Martial Godo, who joined from Fulham in the summer, is pushing for a recall after scoring and assisting in the Europa League win over Hacken. Julio Enciso is similarly hoping to return to the XI, while 20-year-old Argentina international Joaquin Panichelli, who has already hit double digits for goals this season, is expected to spearhead the attack.

Strasbourg are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, a structure that Rosenior has used to great effect in balancing defensive solidity with sharp transition play. Mike Penders will start in goal, tasked with organising the back line and providing composure in possession.

The defensive trio is likely to feature Mamadou Sarr on the right of the back three, Lucas Hogsberg in the central defensive role, and Ben Chilwell on the left side. Chilwell, who spent part of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, offers experience and ball progression from deep, while Sarr and Hogsberg provide athletic coverage and strong aerial presence.

Across midfield, Guela Doue is expected to operate as the right wing-back, offering direct running and width, while Diego Moreira fills the left wing-back role, giving Strasbourg energy on the opposite flank. In central midfield, Samir El Mourabet provides stability, defensive balance, and ball-winning instincts, while Valentin Barco’s creative range and forward passing help initiate attacking movements from deeper positions.

Ahead of them, the two supporting attackers, Julio Enciso and Martial Godo, will function as hybrid playmakers and wide forwards, drifting into pockets to link play and stretch the Palace defence. Joaquin Panichelli leads the line as the central striker, using his sharp movement and confidence in front of goal to occupy defenders and create openings for those arriving from deeper areas.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Penders; Sarr, Hogsberg, Chilwell; Doue, Mourabet, Barco, Moreira; Enciso, Godo; Panichelli

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace travel to France with a handful of important availability concerns. Cheick Doucoure remains a long-term absentee as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury, while young defender Caleb Kporha is still sidelined with a back problem.

There is some cautious optimism around Chadi Riad and Rio Cardines, who are both recovering from knee and groin issues respectively; the pair will be assessed prior to kick-off to determine whether they can be included in the matchday squad. Palace have no suspensions for this fixture, but the squad is still in a period of careful rotation as Oliver Glasner manages returning players.

Two of those players, Marc Guehi and Chris Richards, have recently come back from injury and may see their minutes limited as a precaution. Glasner could therefore choose to rest one or both of them, with Jaydee Canvot, a summer arrival from Toulouse, pushing strongly for a place in the starting XI at centre-back.

In midfield, the manager has decisions to make. Jefferson Lerma, who can also drop into the defensive line if needed, is competing with Will Hughes to partner Adam Wharton or potentially replace him, while Daichi Kamada may also give way if Glasner opts for fresher legs in the engine room.

In attack, Yeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr are expected to continue in their advanced roles, supporting central striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman is still searching for his first UEFA Europa Conference League goal of the campaign, but his hold-up play and physical presence remain important to Palace’s overall structure in the final third.

Crystal Palace are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, a shape that has provided balance between their compact defensive organisation and their threat in transition. Dean Henderson will start in goal, offering distribution from deep and leadership across the back line. The three-man defence is likely to feature Jaydee Canvot on the right, Maxence Lacroix in the central role, and Marc Guehi on the left, though Guehi’s involvement may depend on how Glasner chooses to manage his workload.

In midfield, Daniel Munoz will operate as the right wing-back, providing aggressive forward runs and defensive intensity, while Tyrick Mitchell plays as the left wing-back, offering balance, recovery pace, and positional discipline. At the heart of midfield, Will Hughes brings ball retention, experience and composure, while Adam Wharton provides progressive passing and deep playmaking, linking the first and second phases of Palace’s build-up.

Further forward, Ismaila Sarr starts on the right side of the attacking midfield line, using his pace and direct dribbling to isolate defenders, while Yeremy Pino operates on the left, drifting between lines to combine with teammates and inject pace into counters. Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the line as the central striker, occupying Strasbourg’s defence with his movement and physicality and serving as the focal point for Crystal Palace’s attacking sequences.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; MatetaKey Stats

• Strasbourg have lost just one of their eight home matches across all competitions this season (W6 D1 L1). They have conceded only six goals at Stade de la Meinau during that run, making it one of the toughest grounds in Ligue 1 and the Conference League.

• Crystal Palace come into this tie having kept four clean sheets in their last five matches in all competitions. During that period, they have conceded just one goal.

• Joaquin Panichelli has scored a team-high 10 goals for Strasbourg this season, contributing to five goals in his last six appearances.

• With 20 Premier League points from their first 12 matches, Crystal Palace are enjoying their best top-flight start since 1991/92. They are also on a five-game unbeaten run heading into the Conference League tie.

• In their first continental campaign in 20 years, Strasbourg have collected seven points from nine in the Conference League (W2 D1), including two away wins. They have conceded only two goals across their three matches.

Player to Watch

Jean-Phillipe Mateta

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Jean-Philippe Mateta enters this pivotal European fixture carrying both the weight of expectation and the potential to change the match in an instant. While the French striker is yet to score in the Conference League this season, his importance to Crystal Palace extends far beyond goals alone.

Under Oliver Glasner, Mateta has evolved into the system’s central reference point, the player who knits together attacks, occupies defenders, and creates the platform for Crystal Palace’s wide forwards to shine.

Mateta’s physical presence will be crucial against a Strasbourg back three that excels in duels and aerial battles. His ability to pin centre-backs, hold up possession, and bring runners like Ismaïla Sarr and Yeremy Pino into the game is essential to Palace’s transitional threat. Even without scoring, he forces defensive lines to adjust, often creating space around the penalty area that others can exploit.

What makes this an especially significant outing for Mateta is the nature of the contest itself. Strasbourg are unlikely to give Palace long spells of sustained possession, and that places added value on moments of direct play, knockdowns and link-up sequences, areas where Mateta excels. His composure with his back to goal and his growing understanding with Sarr and Pino could be decisive in determining how often Palace break beyond Strasbourg’s midfield line.

As Crystal Palace enter one of the toughest environments in the competition, Mateta’s influence, both as a target man and as a stabilising figure in attack, may prove vital. If he can impose himself early and unsettle Strasbourg’s defensive rhythm, the Eagles’ attacking structure will take on a completely different dimension.

In a match likely to be shaped by narrow margins, the French international striker’s contributions against RC Strasbourg could be the difference between another statement European result and a frustrating night in France for Crystal Palace.

Prediction

RC Strasbourg 1-1 Crystal Palace

Strasbourg and Crystal Palace arrive at this fixture with genuine credentials, and the balance between them feels razor-thin. Strasbourg’s strength at Stade de la Meinau cannot be overstated, their home form has been one of the defining features of their season.

Compact, organised, and energetic, Liam Rosenior’s side rarely allow visiting opponents to dictate the tempo, and their home crowd routinely injects a level of intensity that opponents struggle to match. With Joaquin Panichelli in excellent scoring form and creative options like Julio Enciso and Martial Godo feeding him, Strasbourg will certainly pose questions of Palace’s defence.

Yet Crystal Palace travel with real momentum. Oliver Glasner’s side have rediscovered their defensive resilience, anchored by a structure that has delivered four clean sheets in their last five outings. Even with the rotation required for returning players, Palace’s tactical clarity has become one of their greatest assets.

The pace and dynamism of Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino give Palace a constant outlet in transition, and Jean-Philippe Mateta’s ability to unsettle centre-backs could force errors in crucial areas. This match-up carries the characteristics of a tense, tactical European contest, one where neither side is likely to overcommit.

Strasbourg’s home edge suggests they may start the brighter, but Palace’s overall organisation gives them the tools to weather the pressure and grow into the game. With both in strong positions in the standings, a draw would not harm either side’s progress, and the tactical caution on both benches supports that possibility.