Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Born in the USA

> After a remarkable two-year journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich, Chris Richards fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2022.

Born in Alabama, USA, Richards began his career near Houston before joining F.C. Dallas’ Academy and earning a professional contract there.

He moved to Houston and then Dallas aged 16 – both over 600 miles from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents still live – and initially lived alone with a host family. He then made the even larger jump of joining Bayern Munich aged 18, where he learnt fluent German and made his senior debut shortly after signing.

From here Richards’ rise was swift: he made his senior debut in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in 2019, and his full Bayern debut in June 2020. A few months later he featured as a substitute in the German side’s DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund.

The young defender went on to represent Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in 2021. He has played a total of 82 professional matches.

Richards began his international career early, too, competing with the US Under-20s to win the CONCACAF U20 Championship aged 18. His performances at this level earned him a senior debut in November 2020, coming on as a substitute against Panama. Richards has since amassed seven further caps.

He made his debut for the Eagles at Anfield as a second-half substitute in August 2022. Richards went on to make his first start for the club, after a leg injury, in January 2023 in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Commenting on his first start he said: “It was worth the wait! Being able to make it \[my first Premier League start\] at home, especially in a game like tonight, was amazing."

His performances against Manchester United home and away, along with keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United, saw him win the club's Player of the Month award in January 2023.

Richards' first domestic season in red and blue ended with 10 appearances in total, however he also managed to score his first international goal in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League against Canada to guide the United States to a 2-0 win.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Richards establish more of a place in the side, playing multiple roles as a centre-back, defensive midfielder and even as a right-back. He racked up 30 appearances in total, and scored his first goal against Burnley in a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park in February 2024.

Richards also found CONCACAF Nations League success once more, winning the title again in a 2-0 win over Mexico in March 2024. He was also recognised for his exceptional work with the Palace for Life Foundation - winning the PFA Community Champion award.

In 2024/25, Richards made 32 appearances across all competitions - six of which were in the FA Cup, where he played every single minute on the way to making history in the final against Manchester City.

2020

IFFHS Men's World Youth Team

January 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

2023/24

PFA Community Champion

Richards

Twitter

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Richards reflects on Mostar

Richards reflects on 100th Palace appearance

CPFC x SunExpress aircraft livery

Chris Richards Previews Fulham

The best of our Defenders | Brighton (H)

Chris speaks on victory against Brentford

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Millwall

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Millwall | Palace TV+

Chris speaks on win against Millwall

Richards reflects on victory at Villa Park

Chris speaks on tough game against Nottingham Forest

Chris speaks on solid performance against Chelsea

Richards on the final game at Anfield 

Fa Cup Final | Chris Richards & Matt Turner | Post Match Interview

Richards praises team spirit

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

In defeating AEK Larnaca on Thursday evening, the Eagles became the first English team to reach the quarter-finals of a major UEFA competition in their debut European season since 1979.

Next month, that adventure will continue against Serie A side, Fiorentina, who have reached two of the UEFA Conference League’s four finals. Palace will therefore be counting on the full South London support on **Thursday, 9th April (20:00 BST kick-off)** for a historic night under the lights at Selhurst Park.

Ticket prices are frozen from previous rounds, meaning supporters can enjoy a European quarter-final from as little as £20.

More information regarding the second leg in Florence – scheduled for Thursday, 16th April – will be made available in due course. We are once again exploring a chartered flight for our supporters, following the success of our trips to Strasbourg and Mostar.

**Supporters are urged to read the below information about the home leg in full before purchasing tickets.**

#### **Sales Phases**

*All phases subject to availability.*

**Phase 1:** **Season Ticket Holders** can purchase their own, reserved seat by following the step-by-step guide under the heading ‘How to purchase in Phase 1’ below.

- **From 10:00, Wednesday 25th March:** Online only
- **From 14:00, Wednesday 25th March**: Via all methods (online, over the phone, or in person)
- *Please note that this sales phase will close at 17:30 on Thursday,26th March.*

**Phase 2:** **All displaced Season Ticket Holders** can purchase up to two tickets per person.

- **From 18:00, Thursday 26th March:** Online only
- **From 09:00, Friday 27th March:** Via all methods (online, over the phone, or in person)

**Phase 3:** Season Ticket+ Holders, Gold Members and Junior Gold Members can purchase up to two tickets per person.

- **From 15:00, Friday 27th March:** Online only
- **From 09:00, Saturday 28th March:** Via all methods (online, over the phone, or in person)

**Phase 4:** All other Members and Season Ticket Holders can purchase up to two tickets per person.

- **From 10:00, Sunday 29th March:** Online only
- **From 09:00, Monday 30th March:** Via all methods (online, over the phone, or in person)

**Phase 5**: All Season Ticket Holders and Members can purchase four tickets per person (or two or three additional tickets if already purchased, up to a maximum of four per person).

- **From 17:30, Monday 30th March:** Online only
- **From 09:00, Tuesday 31st March:** Via all methods (online, over the phone, or in person)

#### **Premium Matchday Packages**

Upgrade your matchday to make this European clash even more special, creating memories with friends or family that will be cherished for generations to come. 

With a range of Premium lounges to choose from, all of which offering modern dining and inclusive drinks throughout your night, and prices starting from **£234 inc. VAT**, explore our packages now or speak to a member of our team today to start your planning.

Speak to our team

#### **Ticket Distribution**

All general admission tickets for this fixture will be emailed approximately one week before the game to the transaction owner.

Tickets will be available as PDF Print at Home tickets, or Digital tickets to download to your Apple or Google Wallet.

#### **How to purchase in Phase 1**

Season Ticket Holders looking to purchase their own seats can do so by following the step-by-step guide below:

1. Log in to **[the Ticketing section](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc?utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=WebStory-270226-LarnacaTickets)** of the website.
2. Click the **‘My Account’ icon** in the top-right hand corner of the screen.
3. Click **‘Reserved Tickets’**.
4. Click **'Show Reserved Tickets'** and then add the tickets you wish to purchase to your basket.
5. Click the **basket** in the top-right of the screen and then follow the remaining on-screen instructions to checkout.

Season Ticket Holders who wish to purchase their own seats should note that they will be **unable to change the age band** of their usual ticket. For example, if your Season Ticket was purchased as an Adult, you can only purchase your reserved ticket as an Adult.

#### **Prices**

**Season Ticket Holders (Phases 1 & 2):**

- **Adults:** £35
- **Seniors (65+) and 18-21s:** £25
- **Under 18s:** £20

**All ticket purchases from Phase 3 onwards:**

- **Adults:** £40
- **Seniors (65+) and 18-21s:** £30
- **Under 18s:** £25

#### **Important Information**

After Phase 1, all tickets can be purchased in the standard way via our **[Ticketing website](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/)**.

To purchase tickets on behalf of a friend or family member, you must have a strong relationship, which can be set in the **Friends and Family section** of the Ticketing website. **[Click here to find out how to do this](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/how-to-use-palace-app-and-website).**

Unfortunately, due to UEFA requirements and the addition of a singing section, a small number of Season Ticket Holders will be displaced and instead offered a priority on all remaining seats in Phase 2. All displaced supporters will be emailed in advance of tickets going on sale.

#### **Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v ACF Fiorentina**

- Thursday, 9th April
- 20:00 BST
- Selhurst Park
- UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, first leg

Tickets for the first leg of our UEFA Conference League quarter-final against ACF Fiorentina, which will be played at Selhurst Park, will go on sale to supporters from 10:00 GMT this Wednesday.

Witness history: Tickets for Fiorentina (H) on sale 10:00 Wednesday

Crystal Palace

UEFA Conference League

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Fiorentina

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Over two legs, firstly at Selhurst Park and then at Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Eagles will face the Italians for a place in the last four of the competition.

Fiorentina were one of the pre-tournament favourites before the season began and have an excellent record in this competition over recent years.

Ahead of what promises to be a bumper two-legged tie, let’s find out a little more about our next European opponents…

#### **A brief history**

Known as the Viola (the Purples) due to their distinctive, stylish kit, Fiorentina were originally founded in 1926.

They have two Scudetto titles to their name, bringing the league title to Tuscany in both 1955/56 and 1968/69.

1956/57 also saw them reach the final of the European Cup in only the competition’s second season, where ultimately, they were beaten by Spanish giants Real Madrid 2-0 at Bernabéu.

Historically, Fiorentina have always been considered one of Italy’s top clubs, with only Inter, Juventus, Roma and Milan having competed in more Serie A seasons.

The Viola’s ‘golden era’ came in the late-1980s/1990s where they were a force in European competition. Having finished as UEFA Cup runners-up in 1989, under the ownership of Cecchi Gori they signed the likes of Brian Laudrop, Rui Costa, Stefan Effenberg – and, most famously, Argentine forward Gabriel Batistuta over the next decade.

Batistuta would become the club’s leading goalscorer in Serie A with 152 strikes for the Viola, helping them to a Coppa Italia crown in 1995/96, whilst also finishing joint-third in the league.

They followed that up with a Supercoppa title the following season, whilst also reaching the semi-finals of the old UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, only losing to eventual winners Barcelona.

Bankrupted by years of mismanagement, Fiorentina were relegated to Italy's fourth division, Serie C2, in 2002 – forced to start close from scratch.

Star players had to leave and a ‘Phoenix’ club was formed to ensure football would continue in the Renaissance city.

By June 2004 they had already won their place back in Italian football’s top-flight, with a 2-1 play-off win against Perugia.

In 2019, Fiorentina was sold to Italian-American billionaire Rocco Commisso for around €160million. Commisso died earlier this year, immediately succeeded by his son Giuseppe as the club’s president.

Under coach Vincenzo Italiano, who arrived in 2021, Fiorentina reached the UEFA Conference League final in both 2023 and 2024, only to be narrowly defeated on both occasions, by West Ham and then Olympiacos.

#### **Familiar faces**

Paolo Vanoli’s side contains a number of players who have spent time in the Premier League.

Leeds United midfielder Jack Harrison is currently on-loan at Fiorentina and is the sole Englishman in their squad. Former Premier League title-winner and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea joined in 2024, and is the club captain.

Former Everton striker Moise Kean has eight goals in Serie A this season and leads the club’s goalscoring charts.

Ex-Brighton man Tariq Lamptey moved to Fiorentina on transfer deadline day back in September. However, he suffered an ACL tear not long after joining and is currently sidelined as he continues his recovery.

#### **Stadium**

The Stadio Artemio Franchi has been home to the Viola since first opening in 1931.

With a record attendance of 58,271 – for Fiorentina’s match against Inter – the stadium has a usual capacity of 47,832. However, due to significant renovation work, at the moment the capacity is around the 22,000 mark.

The stadium hosted fixtures at both the 1934 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as concerts from the likes of David Bowie, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.

#### **Season so far**

Fiorentina seem to have found form at the right time in their season after a difficult start to 2025/26.

In Serie A, a first win didn’t arrive for the Viola until mid-December. In their 16th game of the campaign, Udinese were thrashed 5-1 with Kean scoring twice as their season belatedly got going.

The new year has seen an upturn in fortunes. A run of eight points from four games, which included a point away at Lazio, helped lift them off the foot of the table.

A 3-0 defeat at Udinese at the start of the month was followed up with a three-match unbeaten run before the international break, topped off by holding league leaders Inter to a draw at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

At the time of writing, the Viola lie two points and two places clear of the relegation zone with eight games to play.

The UEFA Conference League campaign has proved more successful, although Fiorentina did have to navigate the play-off round after finishing 15th in the league phase.

Defeats to Mainz, AEK Athens and Lausanne-Sport were offset by wins over Sigma Olomouc, Rapid Wien and Dynamo Kyiv.

Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok were seen off 5-4 on aggregate in the play-offs, before their league rivals Raków Częstochow were beaten 2-1, both home and away, for a 4-2 aggregate victory for the Italians in the Round of 16.

That set up a last-eight meeting with the Eagles, where the winner over two legs will earn a place in the semi-final stage.

**Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v ACF Fiorentina**

- **Thursday, 9th April**
- **20:00 BST**
- **Selhurst Park**
- **UEFA Conference League quarter-finals, first leg**

Crystal Palace will face ACF Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League next month.

Palace in Europe: Get to know Fiorentina 

Palace fans will now have the unique opportunity to enjoy a drink in view of the Selhurst pitch on Sunday, when the Eagles welcome Charlton Athletic Women for a pivotal clash in the race for promotion.

This will be the first time in over 40 years that this will be possible for a game at Selhurst Park, and tickets are still available!

#### **Match Details**

- **Crystal Palace Women vs Charlton Athletic Women**
- **Sunday, 29th March (14:00 BST)**
- **Barclays Women's Super League 2**
- **Selhurst Park**

**Click the button below to secure your spot!**

Buy Charlton tickets here!

#### **Important Information**

- Supporters with tickets for the White Horse Lane Stand must enter via Entrance 8 (Entrance 7 will not be open for this fixture).
- Supporters for the Main Stand will enter via turnstile 9 or 11 depending on where they are sitting (this information will be on your ticket).
- Supporters cannot enter the stadium with alcohol, it must only be purchased once inside. 
- Alcohol purchased in the Fanzone must be disposed of before entering the stadium. 
- No alcohol can be taken/consumed in to block C. This is an alcohol free zone.
- No alcohol can be taken out of the stadium.

Want to know more about Sunday's Selhurst Showdown? 

**[Click here to find out what else you can expect from Palace Women's return to SE25.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/women/what-to-expect-from-palace-womens-selhurst-showdown/)**

Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm that Selhurst Park has been approved for the ongoing Alcohol in the Bowl trial in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.

Selhurst Park to participate in Alcohol in the Bowl trial

Crystal Palace Women v Charlton Athletic Women (2026-03-29)

Tickets

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Witness history: Tickets for Fiorentina (H) on sale 10:00 Wednesday

Palace in Europe: Get to know Fiorentina

Selhurst Park to participate in Alcohol in the Bowl trial

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