Conference League Semi-Final 1st Leg Tips
A 4-2 aggregate victory over two-time runners-up Fiorentina ensured Crystal Palace remained favourites to lift the Conference League and they will be keen to again prove their credentials when taking on Shakhtar Donetsk in the semis on Thursday.
The Eagles, aiming to follow West Ham and Chelsea, are on track to become the third London club to lift the trophy since its inception in 2022 and they will be eager to win in neutral Warsaw ahead of next week's return leg at Selhurst Park.
Should they succeed, either Rayo Vallecano or Strasbourg will await in the final, with that pair also kicking off their semi-final on Thursday, when four teams will look to make progress towards featuring in the Leipzig showpiece.
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace to beat Shakhtar Donetsk @ 10/11
An uninspiring league-phase campaign bled into the start of the knockout stage for Palace, but they have found their feet since and are beginning to prove why they are the outright favourites to lift the trophy.
A significant injury crisis was a big reason for their narrow victories over minnows Larnaca and Zrjinski in the opening knockout rounds but they looked much better in the quarter-finals, especially in their 3-0 first-leg victory over in-form Fiorentina.
Daniel Munoz's creativity from right-back and Jean-Philippe Mateta's presence up front had been sorely missed by the Eagles but both are back fit now and Glasner's side are now the team to beat.
Shakhtar enjoyed an impressive first-leg victory of their own in the quarters, beating AZ Alkmaar 3-0, but just two wins from six Conference League home games - albeit their 'home' ground is in Warsaw - isn't enough to suggest they are at the level of Palace.
The Eagles had their momentum knocked slightly on Saturday as they were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool. However, they were a tad unlucky, having won the expected-goals battle 2.26-1.14, and if they repeat that performance in Warsaw it is hard to see them not taking a lead back to London.
Rayo Vallecano vs Strasbourg
Over 2.5 goals in Rayo Vallecano vs Strasbourg @ 49/50
Despite playing in a stadium with no hot water or WiFi in the press boxes, Rayo Vallecano have meandered their way into the Conference League semi-finals.
Inigo Perez has worked wonders on a shoestring budget and an exceptional home record suggests they may not be done with their miraculous journey yet.
Rayo have lost just one of their last nine home games and with that run including 3-0 routs of Atletico Madrid and AEK Athens, as well as draws with Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, they are not in the Conference League semi-finals to simply make up the numbers.
Perez's side will go on the front foot against a young, inexperienced Strasbourg and with over 2.5 goals landing in four of their last five matches, plenty of net-bulging action can be expected.
Gary O'Neil's visitors won 4-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final against Mainz, so they are clearly capable in the attacking department, too, and over 2.5 goals should land for the sixth time in eight games for the French outfit.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
