AEK Larnaca will take on Crystal Palace on Thursday, 19 March, with all still to play for in their Europa Conference League round of 16 tie.
Last week's first leg in South London finished 0-0, which means it is a case of winner takes all in Cyprus on Thursday night, as the visitors look to make it two trophies in two full seasons under Oliver Glasner.
Before taking a look at the rest of today's betting tips, check out our AEK Larnaca vs Crystal Palace prediction below.
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AEK Larnaca vs Crystal Palace key stats
- Fewer than three goals have been scored in each of AEK Larnaca's last six Conference League matches.
- Crystal Palace have kept a clean sheet in three of their last five Conference League matches.
- Crystal Palace have lost just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.
AEK Larnaca vs Crystal Palace preview: Visitors to edge tight affair
| AEK Larnaca | vs | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd (Cypriot First Division) | Position | 14th (Premier League) |
| 53 | Points | 39 |
| 49 | Goals For | 33 |
| 22 | Goals Against | 35 |
| 9 | Clean Sheets | 11 |
AEK Larnaca have already proven on two occasions this season that they are more than a match for Crystal Palace, beating them 1-0 in the league phase of the competition before drawing 0-0 in the first leg last week.
Across both matches, Palace have failed to breach the Larnaca defence, and it's on these defensive foundations that the Cypriot side will build from on Thursday night as they look to make it three unbeaten against the English side.
What made Larnaca's resolute performance against Palace last week all the more impressive is that their recent domestic form isn't anything to shout about. They have won just two of their last six matches in all competitions and trail Omonia at the top of the Cypriot first division by eight points.
Crystal Palace had 71% possession in the first leg.
For the match on Thursday night, Javi Rozada, a man appointed Larnaca boss just three days prior to the first leg, is without five first team players due to injuries - Jorge Miramon, Valentin Roberge, Jimmy Suarez, Youssef Amyn and Giorgos Naoum.
As for Crystal Palace, a defeat on Thursday night would be a humiliating experience. Not only were the Eagles the pre-tournament favourites, but no English side has ever been knocked out of European competition by a Cypriot side before.
The good news for the away side is that their form has picked back up over the past month after a miserable winter. Glasner's side have won two of their last four Premier League matches, and on paper, those victories were against sides superior to Larnaca.
AEK Larnaca have never reached the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition before.
However, there is no getting away from the idea that Glasner and his side do have some kind of mental block when it comes to facing Larnaca. In fact, their European record on the whole this season (five wins, four draws, two defeats) is pretty lacklustre considering the level of the opposition they are competing against.
Glasner has a few concerns when it comes to team selection on Thursday. Jean-Philippe Mateta returned last time out but was booed by Crystal Palace fans, while Dean Henderson needs to pass a late fitness test. Eddie Nketiah, Daniel Munoz and Cheick Doucoure are all expected to be out.
AEK Larnaca vs Crystal Palace form guide & betting tips
| AEK Larnaca | vs | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| L-D-W-D-W | Form | W-L-W-D-D |
| 7 | Goals For | 5 |
| 3 | Goals Against | 3 |
| D-W-D | UEFA Europa Conference League form | D-W-D |
Whispers predicts: AEK Larnaca 0-1 Crystal Palace
Everything is pointing towards a low-scoring game this week, not least the fact that three of Larnaca's nine Europa Conference League matches this season have finished goalless. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 9/10 by Bet365, which represents brilliant value.
We're going with Crystal Palace at 4/7 when it comes to the match result. The Eagles' recent domestic form is strong enough to suggest they will get it right against Larnaca at the third time of asking.
Jorgen Strand Larsen has settled in well at Crystal Palace, and he is priced at 11/10 to score anytime with Bet365.
> Anytime goalscorer- Jorgen Strand Larsen at 11/10 | Likelihood: Possible
> Match result- Crystal Palace to win at 4/7 | Likelihood: Probable
> Total goals - Under 2.5 at 9/10 | Likelihood: Probable