It is not a surprise that many observers have written off Fredrikstad in their Europa Conference League playoff tie against Crystal Palace. On paper, the English side are clear favourites, and considering that they lifted the FA Cup by defeating Erling Haaland’s Manchester City in the final, the expectation is that they should advance comfortably.
Crystal Palace’s squad includes some of the strongest players in the Premier League, with several being linked to moves to top clubs in the coming weeks. Against that backdrop, Fredrikstad arrive as underdogs, representing Norwegian football on the continental stage. They are a smaller club with fewer resources, but their journey to this point has been earned on merit; they have fought through the qualification rounds and deserve to stand on this stage.
Why Fredrikstad should not be underestimated
Despite the success of Bodø/Glimt in last season’s Europa League, Norwegian clubs are still often underestimated in European competition. That dynamic could play in Fredrikstad’s favour. Palace will be seen as the more glamorous side, yet the nature of cup football has always left room for surprises. For Fredrikstad, the challenge is immense, but the pressure is not on them. Instead, they can play with freedom, hoping to frustrate their more illustrious opponents and capitalise on any weaknesses.
Another factor that could tilt slightly toward the Norwegians is the timing of the seasons. While the Premier League is still in its early stages, Fredrikstad are deep into its domestic campaign. That means they arrive with greater match sharpness and competitive rhythm. Fitness and form, especially in European qualifiers, often play a more decisive role than the names on a team sheet.
Crystal Palace distractions
Palace also enter this tie amid uncertainty around key players. Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze are central to their system, yet transfer speculation continues to swirl around them. Such distractions can alter focus and may influence team selection, with the possibility of a rotated lineup leaving gaps for Fredrikstad to exploit.
Cup football has always been unpredictable, and this fixture has the ingredients to be more competitive than many expect. Fredrikstad may lack the pedigree of their opponents, but their determination, fitness, and resilience could allow them to test Palace. While the English side remains favourites, dismissing the Norwegians entirely would be a mistake, as this competition has repeatedly shown that reputations alone do not guarantee victory.
As a Palace fan, I can assure you that no one at Crystal Palace is underestimating the task against Fredrikstad. For many years, Crystal Palace has been regarded as the underdogs against some of the biggest sides in the Premier League. Despite that, the players and staff have found ways to win against these teams and I’m sure the players and staff at Fredrikstad will be just as incentivised in the Conference league knock out to beat Palace.