2025-26 UECL Knockout Play-Offs: First Leg – Zrinjski Mostar vs Crystal Palace

Zrinjski Mostar host Crystal Palace in the first leg of their 2025-26 UEFA Conference League Play-Off tie. 

Zrinjski Mostar qualified for this stage with a 23rd-placed finish in the league phase, whilst Palace finished 10th as they missed out on a pass to the Round of 16 by just two points.

 

Team News

Zrinjski Mostar have no fresh injury concerns to report.

Toni Sunjic (knee), Antonio Ilic, Darick Koble Morris and Toma Palic (all ineligible) are ruled out.

Palace will be without midfielder, Jefferson Lerma after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 3-2 Premier League loss to Burnley.

Christantus Uche is ineligible after he was removed from Palace’s squad list for this competition’s knockout stage.

Eddie Nketiah (muscle), Jean-Philippe Mateta, Cheick Doucoure (both knee), Rio Cardines (adductor) and Caleb Kporha (back) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Zrinjski Mostar host Palace at HSK Zrinjski Stadium on Thursday 19 February at 6:45pm CET (5:45pm GMT), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Zrinjski Mostar’s first-ever meeting against Palace in all competitions.
• Palace are making their first trip to Zrinjski Mostar across all competitions.
• Zrinjski Mostar drew their only previous home match against English opposition, which came in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa in the Group Stage of this competition in the 2023-24 edition.
• Palace are facing Bosnian opposition for the first time in any UEFA competition.

 

Prediction

Having snuck through to this stage despite having kept a single clean sheet in the league phase, Zrinjski Mostar really need to produce a solid defensive display but be clinical up front if want to gain the advantage going into the second leg.

Palace however have had a week to reflect on their careless defensive implosion against Burnley from 2-0 up late in the first half to be 3-2 down at half time, so I do expect a serious response here if they can keep it tight defensively and be as clinical as they were against the Clarets prior to their switch-off.

Either way both teams aren’t exactly the best defensively at the moment so I can see this being quite a good game, but Palace have surely learned from last week and have the quality to win this.

Prediction: Zrinjski Mostar 1-2 Crystal Palace