Crystal Palace are soaring towards history. After a dominant 3-0 first-leg victory at Selhurst Park, Oliver Glasner's Eagles head to Florence with a commanding lead and their sights firmly set on the UEFA Conference League semi-finals.

It's been a dramatic journey for Palace. Just ten months after lifting their first-ever FA Cup, a controversial multi-club ownership ruling saw them ejected from the Europa League. Undeterred, they've battled their way through the Conference League, and now stand on the brink of another historic achievement.

The first leg was a masterclass. Goals from Tyrick Mitchell, Ismaïla Sarr, and the returning Jean-Philippe Mateta transformed a potentially tense affair into a commanding advantage. This confidence is well-founded against a Fiorentina side that has struggled immensely this season, currently languishing in 15th in Serie A.

For Palace, the season has been a tale of two halves. A strong start was derailed by the confirmed departures of key figures like captain Marc Guéhi, manager Glasner, and star striker Mateta. The news impacted form, with the team winning just once in five league games and slipping to 14th.

Now, with European qualification via the Premier League unlikely, the Conference League has become the singular focus—and Palace are emerging as clear favorites. The return of key players from injury has provided a timely boost, allowing the squad to channel all its energy into finishing the job in Italy and securing a historic semi-final berth.