Palace in Europe: Get to know AEK Larnaca

Club

17 Mar 2026

Crystal Palace are taking on Cypriot Cup holders AEK Larnaca for the third time this season in the UEFA Conference League this Thursday (19th March, 17:45 GMT / 19:45 EET local time) – on this occasion, with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

The Cypriot side were the shock winners in their first visit to Selhurst Park back in October, emerging 1-0 victors on matchday two thanks to a well-taken effort from Riad Bajic.

Last week's first leg saw Palace similarly dominant but once again frustrated by Larnaca, with the first leg finishing goalless.

Ahead of the return leg at the AEK Arena this Thursday, here's a quickfire guide to our opponents....

Larnaca's season so far...

The summer saw the reigning Cypriot Cup holders navigate a demanding UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign – eliminating Partizan Belgrade, NK Celje, and Legia Warsaw in impressive fashion – but the dream faltered at the final hurdle.

A 6-1 aggregate defeat to Norwegian outfit SK Brann saw the Yellow-Greens drop into the UEFA Conference League, returning to a competition they last featured in during the 2022/23 season – reaching the Round of 16 before falling to eventual winners West Ham United.

But they have risen to the challenge with an excellent European campaign so far that saw them go unbeaten in the league phase.

While undoubtedly the highlight for the Cypriots was that win in South London, they also demolished another qualifier for the knockouts, AZ Alkmaar, 4-0.

A top eight place was secure on the final day with a 1-0 win over Shkëndija, giving the Yellow-Greens 12 points from six games and direct passage to the last 16.

Larnaca also had the meanest defence in the league phase, conceding just one goal – a 94th-minute injury-time equaliser against Swedish side BK Hacken.

Domestically Larnaca were aiming to move closer to league champions Pafos after finishing third last year, eight points behind the champions.

They began by adding more silverware to the cabinet, defeating Pafos on penalties in the Cypriot Super Cup, following a 1-1 draw.

Their league campaign began with a confident 2–0 win over AEL Limassol, courtesy of an Enzo Cabrera brace. A hard-fought 1–1 draw away at Anorthosis followed, where Milicevic’s first-half penalty was cancelled out in the second-half against the run of play.

But as we approach the league split – where the top six play one another twice more – Larnaca lie eight points behind Omonoia, having lost 1-0 to them away from home earlier in the season.

It means they will need a huge effort in the final stage of the season to close the gap and potentially become domestic champions for the first time since 1987/88.

That league positioning was not enough for Larnaca to retain the services of head coach Imanol Idiakez, who was behind that win at Selhurst, or technical director Xavi Roca. The duo departed the club at the beginning of the month.

Making his debut in the managerial dugout in the first leg, therefore, was Spanish coach Javi Rozada, formerly of Real Oviedo, Racing Santander and, most recently, Cypriot team Krasava ENY Ypsonas FC, whom he guided into the top-flight last season.

Despite being appointed just three days before the first leg, Rozada has made quite the start, however, with last week's 0-0 draw in SE25 being followed up with a solid 2-0 win at Ethnikos Achna on just Monday evening.

Now, attentions turn to Cyprus, where Palace – to advance – must turn their 27 previous shots into at least one goal, against Larnaca's impressive defence.

Larnaca's European history

Formed in 1994 after a merger of two historical Larnaca clubs, EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos, AEK Larnaca have since finished as Cyprus Championship runners-up on six occasions.

For a relatively young club, the Yellow-Greens have plenty of European pedigree.

Larnaca's first taste of European football came back in 1996/97 in the old UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. A storming 5-1 aggregate win over Armenian club Kotayk Abovyan got them past the first round.

Who should they face in the next round? Only European heavyweights Barcelona.

The Catalans, who at the time were managed by former England and Newcastle United Manager Bobby Robson, would ultimately progress and win the tournament.

But Larnaca certainly didn't disgrace themselves. They lost out 2-0 on aggregate – a 2-0 defeat in Camp Nou followed up by a credible goalless draw on home soil.

The player who scored the Barcelona goals? A Brazilian by the name of Ronaldo, wonder whatever happened to him...

It would be eight years before the Yellow-Greens returned to continental competition, qualifying for the UEFA Cup after winning the Cypriot Cup the season before.

A 3-0 home leg win against Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva had them on course for progression, only for a dramatic 4-0 collapse in the second leg to see them crash out.

That would lead to another prolonged absence, before they were able to qualify in 2011/12. With the tournament now renamed as the UEFA Europa League, Larnaca navigated three qualifying rounds to write their name in history as the first Cypriot club to play in the group stage of the competition.

Although they finished fourth in a pool with Steaua Bucuresti, Schalke 04 and Maccabi Haifa, they did win a game at this stage for the first time, defeating Haifa 2-1 at home.

Domestically Larnaca were also progressing rapidly. An influx of Spanish players following the arrival of sporting director Xavi Roca saw a new technical style of play which reaped results. 2014/15 saw them finish as runners-up for the first time in their history, a feat they repeated 12 months later.

A runner-up finish in 2022 ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in club history.

Drawn against Danish side Midtjylland in the second qualifying round, Larnaca more than matched their far more experienced opponents.

After a hard-fought two legs finished 2-2 on aggregate, the tie was eventually settled by a penalty shootout, with Larnaca unfortunately exiting the tournament 4-3 on spot kicks.

Dropping into the UEFA Europa League, a third-place finish in Group B saw the Cypriots move

into the UEFA Conference League at the play-off round. This was only the second time a Cypriot club had played a UEFA group stage and avoided elimination.

Ukrainian side Dnipro were seen off 1-0 over two legs to secure a place in the last 16, and until this season the furthest the club have progressed in a European tournament.

West Ham were the opponents, Larnaca’s first meeting with a Premier League club.

Despite a valiant effort, particularly in the first leg in Cyprus, the Hammers won 6-0 on aggregate and would go onto lift the trophy.

Although Larnaca are yet to lift a domestic league title since their merger/formation in 1994, they have won the Cypriot Cup on three occasions, the most recent instance being last season.

Where do they play?

Larnaca play at the relatively new AEK Arena – George Karapatakis, which was opened in 2016 and has a capacity of just over 8,000.

A UEFA Category 4 stadium, it often hosts Cyprus national team fixtures.

One to watch

Gus Ledes has been a source of creativity for the Cypriot Cup holders.

Operating from a deeper midfield, Ledes is a constant presence on the ball, ranking in the 85th percentile or higher in both touches and passes completed.

He is rarely dispossessed and constantly looking to progress the ball into advantageous areas.

And although we said 'one', it would be remiss not to give credit to Serbian goalkeeper Zlatan Alomerović.

Formerly of Borussia Dortmund, Kaiserslautern and Jagiellonia Białystok, Alomerović's heroics at Selhurst Park kept the scores level going into the second leg.

Oone particularly impressive save from Tyrick Mitchell close to half-time helped the 'keeper claim a sixth European clean sheet of the season – and second in SE25.

Match Details

AEK Larnaca v Crystal Palace

Thursday, 19th March
17:45 GMT / 19:45 EET local time
AEK Arena
UEFA Conference League play-off round, second leg
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+.

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