On a brisk February night at the Bijeli Brijeg Stadium, the UEFA Conference League knockout play-offs delivered a tale of two English sides on divergent paths. Nottingham Forest soared to a commanding 3-0 away victory over Fenerbahce in their Europa League play-off first leg, while Crystal Palace’s European ambitions were left hanging in the balance after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Zrinjski Mostar.
Let’s start with the night’s high-flyers: Nottingham Forest. Under the guidance of Vitor Pereira, who was taking charge for the very first time, Forest looked like a side reborn. Talk about making a statement! The visitors wasted no time asserting themselves in Istanbul, with Murillo opening the scoring from range—a thunderous strike that left the home crowd silenced and set the tone for what was to follow. As the match wore on, Forest’s confidence only grew. Jesus doubled the lead, capitalizing on a defensive lapse, before Gibbs-White added a third, effectively sealing the first leg and putting one foot firmly in the next round.
It was a night to remember for Pereira, whose tactical tweaks and motivational touch clearly paid dividends. After the final whistle, the Forest bench erupted in celebration. The three-goal cushion gives them a significant advantage heading into the return leg and marks an auspicious start to Pereira’s tenure. Few could have predicted such a comprehensive result, especially given the pressure cooker atmosphere of a packed Fenerbahce stadium.
Meanwhile, over in Mostar, the story was far more complicated for Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner’s men came into the Conference League tie with a point to prove. After a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Burnley in the Premier League just eight days prior, Glasner rang the changes, introducing Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa, and Brennan Johnson into the starting lineup in place of Jefferson Lerma, Tyrick Mitchell, and Evann Guessand. The Eagles’ eleven featured Dean Henderson as captain, Daniel Muñoz, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa, Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton, Brennan Johnson, Ismaïla Sarr, and Jørgen Strand Larsen.
The match, played in front of 7,152 spectators, began with Palace showing early intent. Wharton and Sarr both had chances, and Sarr even found the back of the net—only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations. At the other end, Palace’s defense was tested, but Henderson, despite a nervy moment with a loose pass, kept Zrinjski at bay with the help of Riad.
Zrinjski, for their part, fielded a determined squad: Karacic, Vranjkovic, Barisic, Dujmovic, Mamic, Djurasek, Savic, Abramovic, Ivancic, Mikic, and Cuze. They nearly took the lead when Antonio Ivancic fluffed a golden chance just five minutes before halftime. That miss would prove costly. On the stroke of halftime, Palace finally broke through. Jørgen Strand Larsen, a January signing, teed up Ismaïla Sarr, who fired low through a crowded box and into the net. The away supporters erupted—Palace had the advantage, and it looked like their European fortunes might be turning.
But football’s never that simple, is it? After the break, Palace pressed for a second but soon lost their rhythm. A misplaced pass from Wharton in midfield gifted Zrinjski an opportunity, and the hosts pounced. Leo Mikic found Karlo Abramovic, who drilled the equalizer into the far corner, leaving Henderson with no chance. The home crowd roared as Zrinjski clawed their way back into the contest.
Palace’s struggles in front of goal continued. Mario Cuze missed a glaring one-on-one with Henderson, a let-off for the visitors, but they failed to capitalize. Adam Wharton came closest to restoring the lead, rattling the crossbar with just under 20 minutes to go. Substitute Yeremy Pino forced a save from Karacic, and Chris Richards headed off target, but Palace couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Drama unfolded late on when Zrinjski thought they’d won a penalty for a Muñoz handball. The referee was called to the monitor but ultimately waved play on, much to the relief of the Palace faithful. Henderson was called upon again, denying Matej Sakota in a frantic finish. As the final whistle blew, there was a sense of frustration for Palace, who had been touted as one of the favorites to win the competition just months ago. Now, they must regroup and hope for a more inspiring display at Selhurst Park next week if they are to keep their European dream alive.
Despite the disappointment, Glasner’s changes showed promise, with new faces like Strand Larsen making an instant impact. “We have to take our chances and be smarter in key moments,” Glasner said post-match, emphasizing the need for composure and clinical finishing in the return leg. The Eagles’ hopes are still alive, but they will need to dig deep to progress.
As for Zrinjski, their resilience was on full display. Abramovic’s cool finish and the team’s defensive grit kept them in the tie. The Bosnian side will travel to London with belief, knowing that another performance like this could see them pull off a memorable upset.
Elsewhere on the continent, Forest’s emphatic win over Fenerbahce stands out as one of the night’s most impressive results. Murillo’s opener, Jesus’ clinical strike, and Gibbs-White’s late goal capped a performance that will have Forest fans dreaming of a deep run in Europe. For Vitor Pereira, it’s the perfect start—one that sets the bar high for the rest of his tenure.
With the second legs looming, the stage is set for another dramatic week of European football. Will Forest finish the job at home? Can Palace turn things around at Selhurst Park? The answers are just around the corner, and fans across Europe will be watching every twist and turn.
For now, Nottingham Forest can celebrate a night of triumph, while Crystal Palace must regroup and prepare for a do-or-die clash on home soil. European nights rarely disappoint—and this round has already delivered its fair share of thrills and spills.