Crystal Palace vs Lech Poznan Preview
Crystal Palace have big defensive problems this season and concede plenty of goals. Lech Poznan know how to get on the scoresheet and goals are anticipated in the Europa League.
Key Stats - Palace High-Scoring
- Crystal Palace have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 4 games.
- Crystal Palace have seen BTTS in 5 of their last 6 home matches.
- Lech Poznan have seen over 2.5 goals in 7 consecutive away matches.
H2H - First Encounter
This will be the first-ever meeting between Crystal Palace and Lech Poznan.
Crystal Palace Lacking Defensive Structure
Crystal Palace have been wide open in defence recently. The Eagles have failed to keep a clean sheet in seven of their previous eight and shipped 16 goals.
Pierre Sage’s side have started 2026/27 in unconvincing form. Palace lost their first two games against Everton away 2-0 and Man City at home 4-1.
The south Londoners recovered with back-to-back wins. A 3-2 triumph at Fulham came before a 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough.
Palace’s defensive issues continued on Saturday following a 3-2 home defeat to Ipswich. Sage’s team faced six shots on target, allowed 1.68 XG and Anan Khalaili Jorgen-Strand Larsen scored consolation goals.
Lech Poznan Have a Dangerous Attack
Polish outfit Lech Poznan are a tough-to-beat side and have lost just twice in their last 27 fixtures. They have scored at least once in 25 of those matches.
Poznan won three of their four Europa League Qualifiers, including big wins against Klaksvik 5-0 and Thun 7-0.
Niels Frederiksen’s side followed their Europa League qualification campaign with three domestic wins in a row. Victories over Widzew Lodz 3-2 and Jagiellonia 2-1 came before a 1-0 triumph against Rakow.
The Railwaymen lost for the first time since July last time out after a 2-1 defeat at Gornik Zabrze. Allahyar Sayyadmanesh opened the scoring before Poznan allowed 1.32 XG and conceded twice in the final 15 minutes.
Predicted Starting Lineups & Team News
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Walter Benitez; Chris Richards, Axel Disasi, Honest Ahanor; Anan Khalaili, Adam Wharton, Quinten Timber, Tyrick Mitchell; Daichi Kamada, Yeremy Pino; Jorgen-Strand Larsen
Attackers Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta are ruled out due to injury. Defender Chadi Riad and is also unavailable with a long-term knee injury.
Dean Henderson has missed the last two games following a foot problem. Pierre Sage provided a fitness update on the goalkeeper and said:
“He played injured from the beginning of the season because he was injured in Freiburg. But the pain is too hard for the moment and we don’t have to take a risk.”
Lech Poznan (4-2-3-1): Mateusz Lis; Joel Pereira, Terry Yegbe, Wojciech Monka, Michal Gurgul; Radoslaw Murawski, Filip Jagiello; Patrik Walemark, Pablo Rodriguez, Luis Palma; Mikael Ishak
Winger Ali Gholizadeh is sidelined due to a knee issue. Midfielder Antoni Kozubal and centre-back Alex Douglas are also injured.