Back of the Nest

The Premier League season concluded at a sultry Selhurst Park with a narrow 2-1 defeat to the newly crowned champions. With the historic Conference League Final in Leipzig just days away, Oliver Glasner heavily rotated his squad, giving several fringe players and youth prospects a chance to test themselves against the best in the land. Despite falling two goals behind, a spirited late rally proved that the Eagles' competitive fire is fully intact ahead of their trip to Germany.

The Eagles were forced to settle for a point in West London as a resilient Brentford side twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw. On an afternoon where Palace initially looked sharp and dangerous, failure to kill the game off when they had the upper hand ultimately allowed the Bees to push back late. We're grading a performance that showed flashes of real quality, but was ultimately undone by a lack of ruthlessness and some tired legs in the closing stages

The Eagles were forced to settle for a point in West London as a resilient Brentford side twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw. On an afternoon where Palace initially looked sharp and dangerous, failure to kill the game off when they had the upper hand ultimately allowed the Bees to push back late. We're grading a performance that showed flashes of real quality, but was ultimately undone by a lack of ruthlessness and some tired legs in the closing stages

The "Etihad Gauntlet" proved too much for a rotated Palace side as Manchester City kept their title hopes alive with a clinical 3-0 victory. Despite a bright start that saw the Eagles nearly lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta, City's quality told with two quick-fire goals before the break. While the second half saw a spirited effort from the bench, the focus remains firmly on managing the squad's fitness for the historic date in Leipzig.

The "Etihad Gauntlet" proved too much for a rotated Palace side as Manchester City kept their title hopes alive with a clinical 3-0 victory. Despite a bright start that saw the Eagles nearly lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta, City's quality told with two quick-fire goals before the break. While the second half saw a spirited effort from the bench, the focus remains firmly on managing the squad's fitness for the historic date in Leipzig.

The Eagles head to the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday for a midweek clash that carries massive implications at both ends of the table. While Palace are still basking in the glow of reaching the Conference League Final, they face a Manchester City side that is practically perfect on home turf in May. With Pep Guardiola's men sitting just five points behind league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, the stakes couldn't be higher for the hosts-while Palace look to play the role of ultimate spoilers.

The "European hangover" was palpable at Selhurst Park as a weary Palace side twice came from behind to rescue a point against Everton. Just days after securing their place in a historic European final, Oliver Glasner's men looked second-best for large periods, particularly struggling with set-pieces once again. We're grading the squad on their powers of recovery on a day where individual brilliance from the usual suspects saved them from a domestic slip-up.

History has been made at a rocking Selhurst Park! For the first time in their 120-year history, Crystal Palace are heading to a major European final. While the aggregate score reads a comfortable 5-2, the second leg was a night of high tension and "goosebump" moments under the South London lights. Oliver Glasner’s 50th win as manager proved to be his most significant, as the Eagles navigated a spirited Shakhtar fightback to book their flight to Leipzig.

The European hangover hit hard at the Vitality Stadium as a weary Palace side fell to a 3-0 defeat against a high-flying Bournemouth. With one eye on the upcoming semi-final second leg, Oliver Glasner's heavily rotated squad struggled to find their rhythm against an Iraola side that has now stretched their unbeaten run to a record 15 matches. We're grading a difficult afternoon where individual errors and physical fatigue combined to halt the Eagles' recent momentum.