Round of 16 Europa Conference League results: Crystal Palace draws at home, Fiorentina defeats Rakow

Update on football results from the Europa Conference League Round of 16: Crystal Palace failed to secure a victory against AEK Larnaca. Meanwhile, Fiorentina won 2–1 against Rakow...

Crystal Palace struggled to achieve a 0-0 draw at home against AEK Larnaca in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League (Europa Conference League) Round of 16.

The London-based team created numerous opportunities at Selhurst Park but still could not score against the Cypriot representative. This marks the second time this season Palace has been powerless against Larnaca, having previously lost 0-1 during the league phase.

French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who came off the bench late in the match, made his first appearance for Palace since January 25th, following the collapse of his transfer to AC Milan due to concerns about a knee injury.

Manager Oliver Glasner's team will travel to the away venue next week aiming to keep their hopes alive in the club's first full European campaign.

If they advance past this round, they could face Fiorentina, a team that has twice been runners-up, in the quarter-finals. The Italian side overcame Rakow from Poland with a 2-1 score in Florence thanks to a penalty in stoppage time.

Strasbourg, the top team from the league phase, continued their unbeaten run in this season's European cup with a 2-1 victory at Rijeka (Croatia).

Former Tottenham striker Troy Parrott scored both goals to help AZ Alkmaar defeat Sparta Prague 2-1, while Spain's Rayo Vallecano won 3-1 at the Turkish club Samsunspor.

AEK Athens is nearing the quarter-finals after a 4-0 victory at Celje (Slovenia), and Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-1 at Lech Poznan. Bundesliga club Mainz drew 0-0 at the Czech team Sigma Olomouc.

Round of 16 Europa Conference League results

AZ Alkmaar 2–1 Sparta Prague

Lech Poznan 1–3 Shakhtar Donetsk

Rijeka 1–2 Strasbourg

Samsunspor 1–3 Rayo Vallecano

Celje 0–4 AEK Athens

Crystal Palace 0–0 AEK Larnaca

Fiorentina 2–1 Rakow

Sigma Olomouc 0–0 Mainz