If you are a Crystal Palace fan, you have probably forgotten what losing feels like. The South London side comfortably beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 last night in the Europa Conference League to extend their run.
PALACE sat 18th in the table just over a year ago, but now they are on the longest unbeaten run in Europe’s top five leagues. Having beaten Liverpool twice, defeated Man City in the FA Cup final, and drawn against Chelsea and Arsenal, no one seems able to stop Crystal Palace.
Last night’s 19th game of the run also marked Palace’s first-ever away win in Europe. They comfortably beat Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv in Poland—a story in itself! Goals from Daniel Muñoz and Eddie Nketiah were enough to seal the victory, despite playing the last 15 minutes with 10 men. The days of Roy Hodgson and Cenk Tosun appear to be well and truly over.
Crystal Palace and replacements
Yeremy Pino, who is considered the Eze replacement, provided both assists for the goals last night. Pino signed from Villarreal for £30 million late in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old already has 15 appearances for the Spanish national team and has netted three goals.
The Spaniard’s manager was full of praise for him after last night’s performance. Glasner said: “He was good, he was dangerous, he had chances, and it gives me a good feeling that he will score goals for us.”
The sense that Crystal Palace have found their perfect replacement, as they so often do, will feel ever-present: Eze for Zaha, Sarr for Olise, and now Pino for Eze. Palace rarely get it wrong.
The mastermind
But their best-ever replacement is Oliver Glasner—the architect behind their brilliance. The Eagles may think he’s a miracle worker, but he’s just an Austrian manager who reps a Canada Goose and TNs. Glasner deserves a statue outside Selhurst Park, and that is no debate.
The first man to win them the FA Cup, achieve their highest-ever points tally, longest unbeaten run, and joint biggest recorded Premier League win—so Steve Parish, get building, and don’t forget the TNs.
Crystal Palace have never finished above 10th in the Premier League, often remaining consistent over the last ten years with 12th, 14th, and 10th-place finishes. Almost like a curse.
Surely this curse is about to be lifted thanks to one man. Palace currently sit third in the Premier League as the only unbeaten team in the league.
The Eagles are three points off leaders Liverpool and will have their sights set on achieving their highest-ever Premier League finish.
The Conference League
They will also have their sights set on their first taste of European success. Speaking on TNT Sports, former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves expressed that he feels Palace are favourites for the Conference League.
Hargreaves: “This team are going places. They are going up and up.”
Future Fixtures
Just how far can Crystal Palace take this run, and how long can they keep going? They make their first-ever trip to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday to face an Everton team that hasn’t won in their last four matches.
However, this is no easy task. Although David Moyes has not beaten a Crystal Palace side at home in the Premier League since 2013, there is plenty of pride at stake for both managers in the clash on Sunday.
