Crystal Palace Thrash Lech Poznan 4-0 for Record European Win
Crystal Palace produced their largest European victory with a 4-0 win over Polish opposition at Selhurst Park, delivering the attacking display Sage had been seeking after a difficult opening month of the 2026-27 campaign.
A needed response at Selhurst Park
Palace entered Thursday’s match in need of encouragement. One victory and three defeats from their opening four Premier League fixtures had left them 16th, while last weekend’s 3-2 loss to newly promoted Ipswich Town added to the early pressure.
There was no such uncertainty in Europe. Palace established control before the interval and scored three times through Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards and Jorgen Strand Larsen. Radoslaw Murawski was dismissed late on for the visitors, who were reduced to 10 men, before Eddie Nketiah completed the scoring.
- Final score: Crystal Palace 4-0 Polish opposition
- First-half scorers: Yeremy Pino, Chris Richards and Jorgen Strand Larsen
- Late development: Radoslaw Murawski sent off
- Fourth Palace goal: Eddie Nketiah
- Significance: Palace’s biggest margin of victory in European football
Wharton sees signs of progress
Adam Wharton said the performance represented an important move forward for a squad still adapting to a new manager and several new arrivals. He accepted that the side remain a work in progress, with defensive moments still requiring improvement, but felt the team had begun to find its connections.
The midfielder pointed to Sage’s attacking approach, saying the players have been rehearsing the manager’s preferred patterns on the training ground. Palace’s sharper one-touch exchanges and willingness to push higher up the pitch helped bring the Selhurst Park crowd into the contest, with the atmosphere giving the home side further momentum.
Wharton also believes last season’s Conference League experience can be useful. European ties demand a different rhythm and can be more tactical than Premier League matches, but the group are no longer approaching those occasions as unfamiliar territory.
Strand Larsen ends penalty concern
Strand Larsen’s goal took him to four in six appearances this season. His contribution carried extra weight after he assumed responsibility for a penalty despite having failed to convert his previous two spot-kicks for club and country.
The forward admitted he felt he had to strike the ball decisively after those misses, even if his effort finished higher than intended. He said Pino might have had a case to take the kick, describing his team-mate as “my brother”, but felt he needed the opportunity to respond.
Strand Larsen said the squad want to give supporters performances they can enjoy and argued Palace could have added further goals. He also acknowledged that Sunday’s league match had remained in the players’ thoughts.
League points now the priority
Palace must now carry their European confidence into Sunday’s domestic fixture before the international break. The challenge for Sage is to reproduce the front-foot football shown at Selhurst Park while improving the defensive discipline Wharton identified.
A win would ease the concern generated by the club’s early league form and help Palace move away from the prospect of an immediate relegation battle. After their 4-0 result, the mood at Selhurst Park has at least been given a timely lift.
