Mateta Makes Impact on Return as Crystal Palace Overwhelm Fiorentina

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrated his first start since January with a goal, helping Crystal Palace secure a commanding 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final first leg. Mateta, who had been out of the starting lineup since January 25, converted a penalty before Tyrick Mitchell capitalized on a defensive error by Fiorentina to score the second goal. Ismaila Sarr sealed the win with a late strike, putting Palace in a strong position ahead of the second leg in Florence. This win extends Palace's unbeaten run to five games and marks their seventh consecutive Conference League match without a loss. The team's performance was revitalized following a three-week break, with a renewed energy evident from the start. Fiorentina, currently five points above the relegation zone in Serie A, struggled to cope with Palace's intense beginning. The home side's brisk start culminated in a penalty when Evann Guessand was fouled by Dodo in the area, which Mateta calmly slotted past goalkeeper David de Gea. Shortly after, Mitchell scored the second goal after De Gea saved Mateta's initial effort from a cross by Daichi Kamada. Although Fiorentina briefly threatened in the second half, they were largely ineffective, with Sarr eventually scoring the third goal from a Kamada cross. In a post-match interview, Mateta expressed his happiness at scoring and praised his teammates, particularly Mitchell. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner commended Mateta's dedication and work ethic, highlighting his importance to the team. Glasner also praised the overall performance of his team, acknowledging a brief period of struggle in the second half but emphasizing the positive energy and result.