2025-26 UEFA Conference League: League Phase – Shelbourne vs Crystal Palace

Shelbourne host Crystal Palace in their penultimate league phase clash of 2025-26 UEFA Conference League. 

Victory would keep Shelbourne’s faint hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive otherwise defeat would eliminate them from contention, whilst a draw would mean that they need results elsewhere to go their way for them to stay in contention.

Palace can move into the seeded knockout play-off spots with a win.

 

Team News

Shelbourne have no fresh injury concerns to report.

Sam Bone (calf), Conor Kearns (hamstring) and Sean Moore (groin) are ruled out alongside James Norris who is serving the second of his three-match European ban.

Palace will be without Jean-Philippe Mateta as he continues to manage a knee injury but is set to return for their Premier League match against Manchester City.

Daniel Munoz is also absent after he needed surgery on a knee injury.

Ismaila Sarr (ankle), Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (both knee), Rio Cardines (adductor) and Caleb Kporha (back) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Shelbourne host Palace at Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, on Thursday 11 December at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Shelbourne’s first competitive meeting against Palace in all competitions.
• Palace are making their first competitive visit to Shelbourne.
• Shelbourne are facing English opposition for the first time in all UEFA competitions.
• Palace opened the scoring in their two previous away games in the league phase (W1, L1), as they won 2-0 against Dynamo Kiev then lost 2-1 at Strasbourg.

 

Prediction

With just one point in four matches, Shelbourne know that this is do or die against their British neighbours because although they’ve only conceded four goals, they are yet to even score which is a huge worry coming into this game against tough opposition.

Palace meanwhile will rotate due to their fixture congestion but have been inconsistent in the league phase so far – having been expected to be fighting for the top positions, so this is a must-win if want a chance at a bypass to the Round of 16 in their final game of the phase.

Although Shelbourne clearly aren’t the easiest team to break down and will pose tricky opposition, I expect Palace to dominate and find a win somehow such is their quality.

Prediction: Shelbourne 0-2 Crystal Palace

Result: Shelbourne 0-3 Crystal Palace