Crystal Palace begin their first ever major European campaign on Thursday when they face Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Conference League at Lublin Arena, Poland.
The Eagles arrive on a high after their dramatic 2-1 win over Liverpool last weekend, with Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time strike keeping Oliver Glasner’s side unbeaten this season.
Palace sit third in the Premier League and boast an 18-game unbeaten run, the longest of any team across Europe’s top leagues, built on a rock-solid defence that has conceded only three goals.
Glasner, who guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022, is hoping to create more history with Palace after steering them to FA Cup success last term. The South Londoners edged past Fredrikstad in the playoff round and now look to make a statement in the league phase.
Dynamo Kyiv, meanwhile, are no strangers to continental football, with three European trophies in their history. However, they have made a stuttering start to the domestic season, drawing their last two league matches. The Ukrainian champions also have a poor record against English clubs, winning only five of 30 encounters.
Both sides are unbeaten domestically this term, but Palace will fancy their chances of making a winning European debut.
Dynamo Kyiv vs. Crystal Palace lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Dynamo will once again be without defender Denys Popov, who remains sidelined with a calf injury. That means Aliou Thiare or Taras Mykhavko could step in to partner Kristian Bilovar at centre-back.
Veteran winger Andriy Yarmolenko is pushing for a start on the right, though the former West Ham man has yet to find the net this season.
In attack, Nazar Voloshyn and captain Vitaliy Buyalskyi — the team’s joint-top scorers — are both expected to feature from the off.
Dynamo Kyiv predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Neshcheret (GK) — Karavayev, Bilovar, Mykhavko, Dubinchak — Pikhalyonok, Mykhaylenko, Buyalskyi — Yarmolenko, Guerrero, Voloshyn
Injured: Popov (calf)
Suspended: None
Palace remain without Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad and Caleb Kporha, while goalkeeper Walter Benitez is not ready to return.
Marc Guehi should wear the armband and line up with Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards in defence, while Borna Sosa is competing with Tyrick Mitchell for a wing-back role.
Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta looks set to lead the line, with Justin Devenny, Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino among the options to support him.
Crystal Palace predicted starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Henderson (GK) — Richards, Lacroix, Guehi — Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Sosa — Devenny, Pino — Mateta
Injured: Doucoure (knee), Riad (knee), Kporha (back), Benitez (finger dislocation)
Suspended: None
Dynamo Kyiv vs. Crystal Palace match details
- Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
- Kickoff time: 6:45 p.m. local / 12:45 p.m. ET / 9:45 a.m. PT / 2:45 a.m. AEST (October 3)
- Location: Lublin Arena (Poland)
- Competition: UEFA Conference League league phase matchday one
- Referee: Lothar D’Hondt (BEL)
- VAR: Jan Boterberg (BEL)
