Mateta Makes Instant Impact as Palace Thrash Fiorentina 3-0

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrated his first start since January with a goal as Crystal Palace dominated Fiorentina, winning 3-0 in the Conference League quarter-final first leg. Mateta, who had not started a match since January 25, scored from the penalty spot before Tyrick Mitchell took advantage of Fiorentina's poor defense to score the second goal. Ismaila Sarr sealed the victory with a late goal, putting Palace in a strong position ahead of the second leg in Florence. Palace are now unbeaten in five matches and have not lost in their last seven Conference League games. The team's performance was a significant improvement from their recent matches, with a renewed energy evident from the start. Fiorentina, who are struggling to avoid relegation in Serie A, were unable to cope with Palace's intense pressure. The win was a testament to the team's hard work during their three-week break, with manager Oliver Glasner praising Mateta's performance. Mateta expressed his happiness at scoring and thanked his teammates for their support. Glasner also praised the team's overall performance, highlighting their energy and determination. The victory has set Palace up for a strong chance of advancing to the semi-finals, with the second leg to be played in Italy.