Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Southbound

> Widely regarded as one of his country's finest goalkeepers, Dean Henderson signed for Crystal Palace in August 2023 after 12 years at boyhood club Manchester United.

The then 26-year-old England international signed a five-year contract with the club, becoming Palace’s third senior arrival of the 2023 summer transfer window alongside Jefferson Lerma and Matheus França, and made his Premier League debut for the club away at Manchester City in December as the Eagles fought back from two goals down.

Like many goalkeepers before him, Henderson started as an outfield player, on the books of Carlisle United as a schoolboy.

He wasn’t just a footballer, however, and was an accomplished enough cricketer to be noticed at county level as a wicket keeper.

Joining Manchester United as a 14-year-old, Henderson quickly rose through the ranks and was soon the Under-18s regular goalkeeper, earning a nomination for the club’s prestigious Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award.

He began to gain experience out on loan, joining first Stockport County in non-league and then Grimsby Town in League Two, before being recalled to provide cover for Manchester United’s injury crisis.

A full season with Shrewsbury Town saw his reputation sky-rocket, and he began to feature for England’s Under-21s side while earning a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year.

Henderson’s move to Sheffield United on loan in 2018/19 saw the Blades secure a first promotion to the Premier League since 2007, and the ‘keeper shone.

He scooped the Championship Golden Glove award (keeping 20 clean sheets), the Blades' Young Player of the Year award and the Community Player of the Year award, for his work in the local area.

It was during this season that Henderson was also called up to the senior England squad for the first time in October 2019.

Returning to Sheffield United a year later, he won the Young Player of the Year award once again, keeping 11 clean sheets as the Yorkshire side earned a historic top-half Premier League finish.

And he also made the next step up internationally, coming on at half-time for his senior Three Lions debut when he replaced Nick Pope in a 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in a November 2020 friendly.

After his stellar performances on loan, Henderson returned to his parent club and began to compete with David De Gea for the No. 1 spot.

He made his senior debut in the League Cup in September 2020 before making his Champions League debut just over a month later. His Premier League bow for the Red Devils came against Southampton in November as a replacement for the injured Spaniard.

Henderson made the No. 1 spot his own in De Gea’s absence, playing 13 Premier League games and making 26 appearances overall during the 2020/21 campaign.

However, De Gea’s return saw his first-team opportunities limited, and so another loan beckoned – this time to Nottingham Forest, where Henderson impressed once again before injury curtailed his 2022/23 season.

Now, in south London, Henderson had to wait for his chance to make his debut between the sticks as his friend and fellow England teammate Sam Johnstone impressed early on in 2023/24. Ironically, Henderson's debut came against his boyhood club Man Utd in the Carabao Cup.

He lasted only 20 minutes at Old Trafford due to a hamstring injury, however he returned to make his Premier League debut a few months later - also in Manchester, albeit against the sky blue half at the Etihad.

His first season in red and blue concluded with 19 appearances in all competitions, with five clean sheets to boot. Henderson's performances in the latter part of the campaign earned him a spot in the senior England squad which finished runners-up in the 2024 UEFA European Championship.

In 2024/25, Henderson took the No. 1 jersey and made it his own - playing in every single minute of every game in the Premier League. He also played three games in the FA Cup and kept three clean sheets, including one in the final against Manchester City.

Henderson was named Player of the Match for his heroics in the FA Cup final, where he produced save after save and even stopped Omar Marmoush's spot-kick.

League One, 2017/18

PFA Team of the Year

Sheffield United, 2018/19 & 2019/20

Young Player of the Year

Sheffield United, 2018/19

Community Player of the Year

September 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

2018/19

EFL Championship Golden Glove

Henderson

Twitter

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Appearances

Clean sheets

Dean and Maxence speak on European win at Selhurst

Pre-match Press Conference: Zrinjski Mostar (H)

The Best of Dean Henderson | Wolves (H)

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves | Palace TV+

Match Action: Crystal Palace 1-0 Wolves

The captain on building momentum

Dean reflects on the performance at Forest

The Art of Waiting | An FA Cup Winners Exhibition

Henderson on resilient win

Best of Dean Henderson | Aston Villa (A)

Henderson praises team effort

Pre-Match press conference: Fredrikstad (H)

Best of Dean Henderson | Community Shield

Henderson talks through penalty shoot-out

Henderson, Wharton, Benítez & Matthews Go Golfing

Catches

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Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Touches

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

Crystal Palace were without the Colombian full-back in the UEFA Conference League match against AEK Larnaca on Thursday evening, after he sustained a shoulder injury in last week's win over Tottenham.

Speaking after Thursday's match, when Glasner conducted his press conference to preview Sunday's game at home to Leeds, the Manager confirmed Muñoz's condition will require further assessment.

Glasner also discussed Palace's quick turnaround this week, with the Eagles chasing a third win in four in the Premier League; Jean-Philippe Mateta's return; and the kind of match he expects to face on Sunday.

**Read on below for the key talking points...**

Pre-match Press Conference | Leeds (H)

#### On Daniel Muñoz…

It's more likely [he plays] than yesterday! It's still a question mark. 

Sometimes it seems that Dani doesn't feel pain where everybody else is feeling pain, so I'm quite hopeful. Let's see if he can train with us tomorrow. 

Of course, we have to be a little bit aware of his shoulder, but if he can train fully with us on Saturday, then he will be in the squad here.

#### On managing Jean-Philippe Mateta’s return from injury…

We have just one league game and one Conference League game [this month]. It was the plan now to get him back and also have him available and give him a few minutes to get him back in. Then, we have three weeks.

Of course, I wish for him to be called up by France, but I can't see it right now because he was injured for a long time. 

Then, we’ll use the three weeks to get him into a better shape and into a better rhythm. Hopefully, we are then qualified for the quarter-finals, but again, respect for Larnaca. It will be a tricky game as well there. 

And then having JP in a better shape than he is now and helping us maybe for 30 minutes or 45 or even for 60 minutes. 

I think after the international break, Eddie Nketiah will be back for us and also on Sunday, Christantus Uche is available. I was really pleased with his 15 or 20 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur – Uche fought and really made it difficult for them, and we need this now.

We have more players available and that should help us.

#### On whether Mateta and Jørgen Strand Larsen could play together…

Yes, we were talking about it on the bench with my assistants and discussing it. We have trained them together. I think in the first leg, it's not to go all in.

But having this opportunity, having two tall strikers, their biggest strength is in the box. It's good to have this option. 

#### On the kind of game Glasner is expecting on Sunday…

A very physical game, like at Elland Road. 

It's a very physical team. I remember I was really upset because we conceded four goals [at Leeds in December] from set-plays, two throw-ins, and we couldn't compete with their physicality in that game.

This would be important to nominate the right players who can cope with their physicality.

#### On Leeds boss Daniel Farke…

[He’s been] Excellent, getting promoted and doing so well, and also turning the right tweaks during the season. 

I think they had a difficult start, and then were doing really well, especially at home. It looked like it was a fortress very long, or it is still, I think, with just the [0-1] loss against [Manchester] City, but I think they could have won this game. They didn't take their chances, and then they got punished in one game.

I think he plays a different style here at Leeds than he played in Germany with Borussia Mönchengladbach. There were many more short passes here, and is also quite direct, with [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin as the target player. Great in set-plays. I think Anton Stach, the German player, has scored three or four direct free-kicks, one against us.

This is what we will face. Of course, we will face a team that could prepare the entire week and could rest. For us, it's busy again. That's what I meant before, to find the right players who can cope with the intensity and the physicality we will face.

#### On how he hopes Palace will finish the Premier League season…

I think the team is doing excellent. We had a couple of weeks where we were really struggling. We talked about it due to different reasons. 

Overall, I'm really pleased with the performances in the last weeks and with the results we got and the consistency. It’s now our fourth clean sheet since Mark Guéhi left. It's really a credit to all the players, to the whole team, and especially to the defenders. 

We will try to get as many points as possible. As I said, I always want more than the season before. If we can achieve it, I don't know right now, but we will definitely go into every single game to get the win. 

We also know that in the Premier League, you never can take it for granted that you win a game. Therefore, huge respect for the Leeds side.

#### On lessons from the last meeting with Leeds…

We'll watch them tomorrow. I never prepare the next game before we've played the game before, so we'll watch them tomorrow.

Of course, the analysts have prepared everything, but I think now – I'm watching maybe too many football games – but there's no surprise. No team, I think, can surprise us, can surprise me right now.

We know how they're going to play, but of course it's watching them, analysing, showing the players, giving them a plan of what we want to do. 

On the other side, we don't change our plan completely because it's how we are successful and how we did really well in the last games. 

And I think it's different because we played them away 48 hours after the KuPS Kuopio game. Now, it’s a normal rhythm, so we also had a full week to prepare, and then it was there it was right before Christmas, 10 weeks in a row, playing every third day, so at that time we were really exhausted with many players not available.

Now I see it completely different. But, again, every single Premier League game is very competitive and it's a huge challenge.

#### On double gameweeks…

I didn't think about the Leeds game [before Larnaca]. That's what I learned in managing almost 500 games: if you plan it before things happen in the game, you can throw all your plans into the bin and start again! So that's why I waited for what happens [against Larnaca].

Now, fortunately, it looks like we don't have any injuries, so that makes it, of course, easier and better. For me, this is, I don't know, call it karma or whatever, I think it would show less respect for the opposition we are playing, for Larnaca, if we already talk about Leeds, I will never do this.

Of course, the analysts are preparing everything, so tomorrow, after the training, we will sit watching them. 

They will show us how they play, how their patterns are, and especially what suits our patterns, because, of course, we don't change it, we don't have time to train a lot, and therefore we stick to the way we are playing and then try to find the right tweaks.

### Match Details

**Crystal Palace v Leeds United**

- Sunday, 15th March
- 14:00 GMT
- Premier League
- Selhurst Park
- [Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/)

Oliver Glasner says Daniel Muñoz's fitness will need to be assessed ahead of the visit of Leeds United to Selhurst Park on Sunday (15th March, 14:00 GMT).

Glasner on Muñoz fitness, Mateta, team selection & more ahead of Leeds (H)

Crystal Palace v Leeds United (2026-03-15)

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There will be no Thameslink services calling at the station, but Southern and London Overground services will still be in operation.

Supporters should note the reduced service is likely to lead to increased crowds via all other available routes, and potential queues as a result of the additional demand.

As always, we advise supporters to check their route before travelling and aim to arrive as early as possible.

We recognise the impact this disruption will have on your matchday experience, and would once again like to thank all supporters for your immense, continued support and understanding in helping us maintain a safe and enjoyable matchday experience for everyone.

Supporters planning to attend this Sunday’s match between Crystal Palace and Leeds United (15th March, 14:00 GMT) at Selhurst Park should note that, due to engineering works, there will be a reduced service calling at Norwood Junction.

Reduced service at Norwood Junction for Leeds (H)

The two teams could not be separated in South London, as a resilient AEK Larnaca kept the Eagles at bay – 0-0 the score heading into the second leg in Cyprus.

**As the UEFA Conference League Round of 16 got underway, let's find out what happened across the rest of the continent...**

#### **Fiorentina edge out Raków with late winner**

In the meeting of the two teams Palace could potentially face in the quarter-finals, two-time finalists **Fiorentina** managed to squeeze past Polish side Raków Częstochowa in injury time, thanks to goals from Cher Ndour and Albert Gudmundsson.

Raków, who were unbeaten in the league phase, edged in front when Jonatan Braut Brunes scored on 60 minutes, before La Viola responded instantly – Ndour finding the net just two minutes later.

Roberto Piccoli then hit the bar with Fiorentina chasing a winner, and substitute Gudmundsson was there to convert from the spot in the 93rd minute following Michael Ameyaw's handball.

#### **Wondergoal sees Shakhtar shine in Poznan**

In terms of potential semi-final opponents, **Shakhtar Donetsk** claimed an impressive 3-1 away win in Poland against Lech Poznan.

After a tight first-half, Arda Turan's visitors broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when Kauã Elias played inMarlon Gomes with a back-heel, the latter finishing cooly.

Newertton doubled the lead just after half-time and, while Mikael Ishak pulled one back for the hosts on 70 minutes, Isaque netted an incredible overhead kick with five minutes remaining to give Shakhtar a comfortable cushion ahead of the return leg, which will be played in Krakow.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shakhtar Donetsk manager Arda Turan ran onto the pitch after Isaque Silva’s bicycle kick this evening 🤩<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/discoveryplusUK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@discoveryplusUK</a> <a href="https://t.co/6RCeoOm1OS">pic.twitter.com/6RCeoOm1OS</a></p>&mdash; Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/2032185066625876177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### **Alkmaar edge Sparta**

Troy Parrott,  was once again the hero of the hour as Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar snatched a late win over Sparta Praha at home – in the meeting of Palace's other two potential semi-final opponents.

The Republic of Ireland international put Alkmaar ahead just before the half-hour mark, only for Matyáš Vojta to equalise shortly after the break for Sparta.

AZ responded by throwing everything at the visitors, with Sparta goalkeeper Jakub Surovčík denying all of Weslley Patati, Kees Smit, Sven Mijnans and Peer Koopmeiners – only for Parrott to pop up with an improvised volley in the 87th minute and give his side a 2-1 lead at the halfway mark of the tie.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="nl" dir="ltr">Ro-Zangelo Daal 🔗 Troy Parrott x2 ⚽️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UECL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UECL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AZAlkmaar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AZAlkmaar</a> <a href="https://t.co/5WQYTpjAyt">pic.twitter.com/5WQYTpjAyt</a></p>&mdash; UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) <a href="https://twitter.com/Conf_League/status/2032426698806092174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### **AEK Athens rampant in Slovenia**

The biggest winners of the night – albeit on the other side of the draw – were AEK Athens, who were totally dominant against Slovenian side NK Celje after January addition Barnabás Varga nodded the Greek side ahead just three minutes in.

They were 3-0 up by the half-time whistle, with Mauritania winger Aboubakary Koita doubling the lead on 33 minutes before Mijat Gaćinović volleyed into the top left corner just three minutes later.

Harold Moukoudi put the icing on the cake in the second-half, leaving Celje with it all to do next week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">AEK Athens with a dominant display in Celje 😤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UECL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UECL</a> <a href="https://t.co/eZ4y4rUbF5">pic.twitter.com/eZ4y4rUbF5</a></p>&mdash; UEFA Conference League (@Conf_League) <a href="https://twitter.com/Conf_League/status/2032217788748636391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### **Strasbourg make it six from seven**

Also on the other side of the draw to Palace, the unbeaten French visitors made it an impressive six wins from seven in the Conference League, following an impressive win in Croatia.

Argentina forward Joaquin Panichelli fired Le Racing ahead on 73 seconds, marking his second Conference League goal of the campaign. 

Panichelli should really have had more though, as he later clipped the woodwork and finished the first-half with five shots and a team‑high xG of 1.58.

Substitute Martial Godo doubled the visitors' advantage on 72 minutes, before Ante Majstorović grabbed one back for Rijeka four minutes later.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VICTORY! 💙💙💙<br><br>Racing take a slender advantage into the second leg thanks to goals from Panichelli and Godo! <br><br>90&#39;+4 | 1️⃣-2️⃣ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HNKRRCSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HNKRRCSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/PWuPzMHdkW">pic.twitter.com/PWuPzMHdkW</a></p>&mdash; Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCSA_English/status/2032181067067576678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

#### **Full results from the Round of 16, first legs**

- Rijeka 1–2 Strasbourg 
- Lech Poznań 1-3 Shakhtar Donetsk
- AZ 2-1 Sparta Praha
- Samsunspor 1-3 Rayo Vallecano
- Crystal Palace 0-0 AEK Larnaca
- Sigma Olomouc 0-0 Mainz
- Fiorentina 2-1 Raków Częstochowa
- Celje 0-4 AEK Athens

#### **What happens next?**

We are only halfway in the round of 16, with the second legs to be played on Thursday 19th March.

Palace will make the trip out to Cyprus, with everything still to be play for. Kick-off next Thursday will be at 17:45 GMT (19:45 local time) at the AEK Arena in Larnaca.

It was goalless at Selhurst Park – but there was plenty of action elsewhere across the UEFA Conference League last night.


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Glasner on Muñoz fitness, Mateta, team selection & more ahead of Leeds (H)

Reduced service at Norwood Junction for Leeds (H)

What else happened in the UEFA Conference League this week?

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Glasner on Muñoz fitness, Mateta, team selection & more ahead of Leeds (H)

Reduced service at Norwood Junction for Leeds (H)

What else happened in the UEFA Conference League this week?

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