This week, Crystal Palace are one of the five remaining English teams left in European competitions, and nationally, probably the fifth-most important. Nonetheless, from the Palace fan standpoint, the arrival of Fiorentina at Selhurst Park marks the first time a club of this stature has travelled to SE25 in the Conference League. For dedicated or casual watchers of Football Italia in the 1990s, Serie A and teams like Fiorentina hold a special place in our football experience. In an era when glimpses of most international talent were restricted to selected Champions League games and international tournaments, the stars in Italy were as accessible as Premier League players were on Match of the Day. Still, this match marks the start of the business end of the competition.

Source: BBC April 07, 2026 14:56 UTC