Crystal Palace were forced to settle for a 0–0 draw against AEK Larnaca in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League round-of-16 clash on Thursday night.
Playing at Selhurst Park, Palace dominated much of the game and created several scoring chances in difficult weather conditions but failed to find the breakthrough against the Cypriot side.
The stalemate means manager Oliver Glasner and his team will head to Cyprus next week needing a victory in the return leg to keep alive their first full campaign in European competition.
French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta made his first appearance for Palace since January 25, coming on late in the match after a proposed transfer to AC Milan collapsed due to concerns over a knee injury.
Elsewhere in the competition, Fiorentina moved closer to the quarter-finals after edging Rakow Czestochowa 2–1 in Florence thanks to a stoppage-time penalty.
Strasbourg maintained their unbeaten European run this season with a 2–1 away victory over HNK Rijeka.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Troy Parrott scored both goals as AZ Alkmaar defeated Sparta Prague 2–1.
Spanish side Rayo Vallecano secured a 3–1 away win over Samsunspor, while AEK Athens thrashed NK Celje 4–0.
Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Lech Poznan 3–1, and Mainz 05 were held to a 0–0 draw by Sigma Olomouc.
