Crystal Palace will miss six players ahead of Thursday’s match against KuPS with a last 16 spot in the Europa Conference League at stake, Softfootball reports.
Last week, the Eagles hammered Shelbourne 3-0 at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the next round while KuPs cannot afford a defeat if they want to make it to the play-off.
Crystal Palace are focused on the crucial match as they shared on their official X handle. They posted:
All to play for on Thursday night ✊
Book your seats now for our Conference League fixture against KuPS on Thursday night where you can now purchase up to four tickets ⬇️
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 16, 2025Crystal Palace lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the weekend, so are keen to return to winning ways. The Eagles can’t afford to drop points if they want a top eight finish from the 36-team competition.
TEAM NEWS
Daichi Kamada was forced off with a hamstring injury in the defeat to Manchester City last weekend. Crystal Palace’s wing-back Daniel Munoz is also sidelined after recently undergoing a minor knee operation, while Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee), Rio Cardines (groin) and Caleb Kporha (back) all remain unavailable for selection.
Oliver Glasner could rest striker Jean-Philippe Mateta for former Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah. Center-back trio Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards, midfielder Adam Wharton and Yeremy Pino are expected to start the match.
For KuPS, Goalkeeper Johannes Kreidl and the central defensive pair of Ibrahim Cisse and Samuli Miettinen are set to start in the Conference League fixture.
Taneli Hamalainen will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI at right-back at the expense of Bob Nii Armah, while Jaakko Oksanen has scored a team-high three goals in the Conference League tis term and is expected to begin in centre-midfield.
Piotr Parzyszek will likely get the nod to lead the line ahead of Agon Sadiku, who scored 14 goals in the 2025 domestic campaign, while Mohamed Toure and either Otto Ruoppi or captain Petteri Pennanen could start out wide.
Crystal Palace probable line-up
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa; Sarr, Pino; Nketiah.
KuPS probable line-up
Kreidl; Hamalainen, Cisse, Hamalainen, Antwi; Voutilainen, Arifi, Oksanen; Toure, Parzyszek, Pennanen.
Softfootball Prediction
Crystal Palace are favourites to win this encounter and should win easily. Crystal Palace 2-0 KuPs.
