Mateta Scores in First Start Since January as Crystal Palace Overwhelm Fiorentina

Jean-Philippe Mateta made a triumphant return to Crystal Palace's starting lineup, scoring his first goal since New Year's Day and helping the Eagles secure a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarterfinals. Mateta, who had not started a match since January 25, converted a penalty kick before Tyrick Mitchell capitalized on a defensive blunder by Fiorentina to score the second goal. Ismaila Sarr added a third goal late in the game, putting Palace in a commanding position ahead of the second leg in Florence. This win extends Palace's unbeaten streak to five games and marks their seventh consecutive Conference League match without a loss. Crystal Palace's energetic start, following a three-week break, caught Fiorentina off guard. The Italian side, currently five points above the relegation zone in Serie A, struggled to cope with Palace's intense pressure. The pace of the game led to Dodo's late challenge on Evann Guessand in the area, resulting in a penalty kick that Mateta slotted past David de Gea. Shortly after, Daichi Kamada's pass found Daniel Munoz, who played the ball to Mateta. Although De Gea saved Mateta's initial shot, Mitchell was on hand to score the rebound. Fiorentina had a brief spell of threatening in the second half but ultimately failed to test Henderson significantly, except for a shot that hit the bar. Before Sarr sealed the win with a goal from a Kamada cross, Palace had already taken control of the match. In a post-match interview, Mateta expressed his happiness at scoring and praised his teammate Mitchell. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised Mateta's dedication and work ethic, stating that he deserves the goal and has been working hard to recover from a tough period. Glasner also commended the team's overall performance, particularly in the first half and the final 20 minutes of the game.