Crystal Palace

vs

HSK Zrinjski Mostar

Preview

Palace

• Palace have won two, drawn two and suffered a capitulation against Burnley in their last five matches in the Premier League and Europe.
• Palace are 13th in the table with 35 points from 27 matches.
• Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1 system emphasises aggressive wing-backs, mid-block pressing and counter-attacks.
• Jørgen Strand Larsen brings physicality and directness to the forward line.

Zrinjski

• Zrinjski have been resilient at home in Europe and have a domestic league run of wins and draws punctuated by occasional defeats to top rivals.
• Zrinjski are currently second in the Premijer Liga on around 40 - 43 points from 21 matches in the 2025/26 season.
• Igor Štimac’s side sit deep, pack the middle and are dangerous on the break and from set pieces.

Head-to-Head

• The first leg in Mostar finished in a stalemate.
• This is a stylistic clash between Glasner’s Palace and Štimac’s Zrinjski.
• Palace’s 3-4-2-1 invites wide play and mid-block pressing while Zrinjski are compact and set-piece oriented.
• Palace start as heavy favourites at 1.12, the draw is 8.0 and Zrinjski are big outsiders.

Key Players

• Palace
  • Sarr is the main goal threat for Palace and gave them the lead in Mostar.
  • Jørgen Strand Larsen created Sarr’s goal and provides a physical presence up front.
• Zrinjski
  • Abramović is their chief goal threat from set-pieces.
  • Leo Mikić gets involved from wide areas and offers counter-attacking danger.

Betting Insights

• Palace are 1.12 favourites, the draw is 8.0, and Zrinjski are big outsiders.
• Odds for Over 2.5 goals are 1.42 and look unappealing.

Prediction

• Expect a tense, tactical and low-scoring game.
• Lean towards a draw or Zrinjski to at least force extra time.