UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Crystal Palace 4 - 0 FT Lech Poznan
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
10' Yeremy Pino
27' Chris Richards (Adam Wharton)
HT
↓ Allahyar Sayyadmanesh ↑Filip Jagiełło 61'
↓ Mikael Ishak ↑Y. Agnero 61'
62' ↓ Quinten Timber ↑Dwight McNeil
62' ↓ Anan Khalaili ↑Oscar Mingueza
↓ Joel Pereira ↑Robert Gumny 70'
↓ Patrick Walemark ↑Leo Bengtsson 70'
74' ↓ Jörgen Strand Larsen ↑Eddie Nketiah
74' ↓ Daichi Kamada ↑Ismaila Sarr
74' ↓ Chris Richards ↑Jaydee Canvot
↓ Pablo Rodriguez Delgado ↑Daniel Håkans 81'
89' Eddie Nketiah (Dwight McNeil)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Crystal Palace
Goalkeepers
Walter Benitez 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Chris Richards 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Axel Disasi 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Honest Ahanor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Anan Khalaili
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Quinten Timber 
SWEEPER
4
Cleanups
4
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
1
Blocks
Adam Wharton 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
69%
Pass Acc
Tyrick Mitchell 
ENFORCER
3
Tackles
3
Tackles
3
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Forwards
Daichi Kamada 
MAGNET
39
Activity
39
Activity
36
Passes
3
Duels
Jørgen Strand Larsen 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
5
Shots
7.2
Rating
Yeremy Pino
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
52%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Remi Matthews 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jaydee Canvot 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Ben Chilwell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Óscar Mingueza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takehiro Tomiyasu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Williams
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Darío Osorio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dwight McNeil
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
16%
Pass Acc
Eddie Nketiah 
CLUTCH HERO
89
Goal Time
89
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.1
Rating
Ismaïla Sarr
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lech Poznan
Goalkeepers
Mateusz Lis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Joel Pereira
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Wojciech Mońka
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
70%
Duel Win %
Terry Yegbe 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Michał Gurgul
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
80%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Radoslaw Murawski 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
4
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Pablo Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Patrik Wålemark
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
12%
Pass Acc
Luis Palma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Mikael Ishak
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
BENCH
Wiktor Obremski
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mateusz Pruchniewski
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mateusz Skrzypczak
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Moutinho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robert Gumny
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Filip Jagiełło
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daniel Håkans
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leo Bengtsson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mel Agnero
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wojciech Szymczak
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Crystal Palace
Lech Poznan
Crystal Palace
Lech Poznan
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
A Ruthless Palace Masterclass at Selhurst Park
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. An unrelenting attacking display and goalkeeping heroics combined to give Crystal Palace a perfect start to their European campaign.
A Blistering Opening Act
A barrage of 33 combined shots turned Selhurst Park into an absolute shooting gallery on matchday one of the UEFA Europa League. Crystal Palace approached the fixture with ferocious Intensity, refusing to let Lech Poznan settle into a rhythm. The hosts were rewarded almost immediately when Yeremy Pino found the back of the net in the 10th minute, setting off rapturous celebrations. Rather than sitting back, the London side kept their foot firmly on the accelerator. By the 27th minute, Adam Wharton picked out Chris Richards, who doubled the advantage with a clinical finish. Despite the visitors carving out attacking sequences of their own, the sheer volume of early pressure from the hosts dictated the tempo. The Poles were forced onto the back foot, struggling to weather an aggressive storm that showed no signs of slowing down.
The First-Half Pivot
The true Balance of the contest shifted irrevocably in the 34th minute. A foul in the penalty area presented Jörgen Strand Larsen with a golden opportunity from the spot, and he dispatched it flawlessly to make it three. However, the scoreline heavily belied the visitors' genuine attacking threat. The away side racked up 17 total attempts over the ninety minutes, forcing six crucial interventions from W. Benítez. The Palace goalkeeper was an absolute fortress, single-handedly denying any whisper of a potential Upset. His commanding presence in the box neutralised a barrage of set-piece pressure that included five opposition corners. Without his heroics between the posts, the visitors could have easily mounted a spirited comeback before the halftime whistle even blew, altering the entire complexion of this European tie.
A Resounding Resolution
After the interval, the hosts comfortably edged possession and managed the Stakes with mature tactical discipline. The visitors pushed for a consolation goal but grew increasingly frustrated as the clock ticked down. That frustration boiled over in the 87th minute when Radosław Murawski was shown a straight red card, reducing his side to ten men. Crystal Palace showed zero mercy, instantly exploiting the fresh gaps in the disjointed defensive line. A brilliant sequence off the bench saw Dwight McNeil deliver a pinpoint assist for fellow substitute Eddie Nketiah, who buried the fourth goal in the 89th minute to cap off a flawless 4-0 home victory. It was a comprehensive statement on the continental stage, underpinned by lethal finishing and resilient defensive shot-stopping when it mattered most.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Radosław Murawski impact the match?
Radosław Murawski's 87th-minute dismissal shattered Lech Poznan's remaining structure, allowing Eddie Nketiah to immediately capitalise with a fourth goal two minutes later.
What made W. Benítez the Man of the Match?
Despite the 4-0 scoreline, Lech Poznan threatened constantly. Benítez commanded his box and produced six crucial saves to secure an invaluable clean sheet.
How did substitute W. Benítez change the game?
While W. Benítez was actually a starter, his foundational presence and six crucial saves effectively killed any Lech Poznan momentum before it could even begin.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Palace Poised to Cruise in Europa League Opener
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 50/100. A heavily one-sided affair awaits under the lights, where the Premier League hosts should comfortably brush aside their Polish visitors.
The Setup
Opening night of the UEFA Europa League league stage brings Lech Poznan to Selhurst Park. For Crystal Palace, the mission is simple: secure early points to push toward top-eight direct qualification and avoid sweating out the top-24 playoff line later in the campaign. With an opening matchday, the overall Stakes remain modest, but the competitive Balance is heavily tilted toward the London club. Neither side boasts blistering Form right now, but Palace's sheer squad depth makes this a lopsided encounter on paper.
Key Battle
With a glaring gap in overall quality, the contest boils down to whether the visiting backline can survive a relentless siege. The Polish side will likely bunker down in a deep defensive block, challenging Palace to find the lock-picks. Expect the home midfield, orchestrated by the vision of A. Wharton, to dictate the tempo. The real test is whether forwards J. Strand Larsen and I. Sarr can turn territorial dominance into goals, leveraging their status as genuine attacking Stars against an overmatched defense.
Our Prediction
We fully expect Palace to dictate proceedings from the first whistle. Once the initial defensive resistance is broken, the floodgates should open. A comfortable multi-goal victory for the hosts is on the cards, offering them a perfect start to their European adventure.