Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca Prediction: More home joy for the Eagles

Crystal Palace will look to maintain their winning start in the Uefa Conference League as they host AEK Larnaca at Selhurst Park on Thursday (20:00 BST, TNT Sports 3). The Eagles were 2-0 victors against Dynamo Kyiv in matchday one, while Larnaca triumphed 4-0 in their European opener.

Read on for my Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca predictions, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee) and Caleb Kporha (back) all remain sidelined with injuries for Palace, while Naouirou Ahamada is ineligible after he was left out of the club’s Europa League squad.

Boss Oliver Glasner is likely going to rotate his side where he can despite not having the squad depth he would desire. Borna Sosa is suspended for this game, so Tyrick Mitchell will likely continue at left wing-back.

The likes of Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta could be rested for this clash, while Nathaniel Clyne, Jefferson Lerma, Will Hughes, Romain Esse, Justin Devenny and Eddie Nketiah are the leading contenders to come into the XI.

Football Odds

Larnaca goalkeeper Kewin Komar is yet to make an appearance this season due to a broken hand and he remains in the infirmary, so Zlatan Alomerovic will continue in net for the Cypriot side.

Enzo Cabrera and Karol Angielski have scored five goals between them this season, but both attackers are in the treatment room with respective knee and muscle problems, while Angel Garcia has a muscle tear.

Hrvoje Milicevic has already scored five penalties this season, is set to continue in the heart of the back line, while Riad Bajic could be joined in attack by Waldo Rubio and Yerson Chacon.

Today's Football Fixtures

Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca Odds

Palace are 1/6 favourites to win this clash. You'll find a better price in adding both teams to score to the selection, as there have been goals at both ends in four of the Eagles' last five matches. This is marketed at 2/1, which has an implied probability of 33.3%.

BTTS on its own is valued at 5/4.

The draw is marketed at 6/1 while Larnaca are 16/1 win in south London.

Crystal Palace to win to nil @ 7/10

Palace came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend, but the Eagles will likely look to return to their defensive structure that served them well at the start of the campaign.

The Eagles have kept six clean sheets in their 11 competitive appearances this season, winning on five of those occasions. They may not boast the squad depth that some of their domestic rivals have, but they still have a lot of quality and on home soil this should serve them well against the visitors.

The hosts cannot underestimate Larnaca, though, after they fired four goals past AZ on matchday one. That being said, Palace's defence should be a much tougher test for the Cypriot outfit, and I think the Eagles can record another clean sheet with a victory.

Eddie Nketiah anytime goalscorer @ 9/10

Mateta was Palace's hat-trick hero against Bournemouth but he is likely to be given a well-earned rest ahead of a tough Premier League trip to league leaders Arsenal.

Former Gunner Nketiah should then be given a start on Thursday in the Conference League, and after finding the net in the win over Dynamo Kyiv, he should come into this game with confidence.

The 26-year-old has two goals in all competitions this term and he will be hoping to improve his output so that he can push for more minutes, but it's going to be tough up against Mateta.

Nketiah will likely have an opportunity to impress Glasner on Thursday and I believe he will take his chance.

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