LONDON, ENGLAND — Crystal Palace delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory over ACF Fiorentina in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final, with Jean-Philippe Mateta at the heart of the action.
Making his first start since a failed January move to AC Milan, Mateta opened the scoring in the 24th minute, calmly converting a penalty after Evann Guessand was brought down by Fiorentina defender Dodô.
The French forward remained pivotal as Palace doubled their lead just seven minutes later. His close-range strike was parried by goalkeeper David de Gea, but Tyrick Mitchell reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
Fiorentina showed signs of life after the break, with Giovanni Fabbian striking the woodwork and Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson producing key saves to keep the visitors at bay. However, the Italian side could not find a breakthrough.
Palace sealed the emphatic win in stoppage time when Ismaïla Sarr rose highest to head home, giving the hosts a commanding advantage ahead of the return leg in Italy.
Speaking after the match, Mateta stressed that the tie is far from over, urging his teammates to stay focused for the decisive second leg in Tuscany.
The result highlights Crystal Palace’s growing confidence on the European stage, as the club continues to build momentum beyond its traditional domestic focus. Meanwhile, Fiorentina face a daunting task, needing to overturn a three-goal deficit to keep their campaign alive.
Elsewhere in the competition, Shakhtar Donetsk cruised to a 3-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, while Rayo Vallecano and Mainz also secured important first-leg victories.
With such dominant displays, Palace now look firmly on course for a semi-final spot — but as knockout football often proves, the job is only half done.
