Europa Conference League: everything we know so far

Report as Crystal Palace earned a commanding lead to take back to Selhurst Park in pursuit of a place in the Europa Conference League final; Ismaila Sarr scored a record-breaking opener, with further strikes from Daichi Kamada and Jorgen Strand Larsen. Europa Conference League has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Zimbabwe.

Key facts

• Report as Crystal Palace earned a commanding lead to take back to Selhurst Park in pursuit of a place in the Europa Conference League final; Ismaila Sarr scored a record-breaking opener, with further strikes from Daichi Kamada and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
• Crystal Palace earned a 3-1 advantage to take back to south London in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.
• Crystal Palace will carry a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final after a 3-1 away win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
• Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League.
• Crystal Palace win at Shakhtar Donetsk in Conference League semi-final first leg.

What we know

Going deeper, Crystal Palace earned a 3-1 advantage to take back to south London in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.

On the substance, Crystal Palace will carry a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final after a 3-1 away win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Beyond the headlines, Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League.

More precisely, Crystal Palace win at Shakhtar Donetsk in Conference League semi-final first leg.

It is worth noting that Sarr goal after 21 seconds - fastest-ever Conference League goal.

By the numbers

At this stage, Nottingham Forest have beaten Aston Villa 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.Follow all the reaction to that one here.

On a related note, Ismaïla Sarr’s opener after just 21 seconds was the fastest goal in Conference League history and the Senegal forward now has eight in 11 appearances so far in this competition.

Going deeper, before next Thursday's return leg at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace go to European-chasing Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off at 2pm.

On the substance, Winner will play Rayo or Strasbourg in final on 27 May.

What they're saying

“I promised I will give my best and try to be the best Oliver Glasner I can be until the last day and I think this is what we now experience,” he said. “Because that is also my character, and I am not fleeing or running away.

The wider context

On a related note, Four years ago it was Daichi Kamada who scored the winning goal for Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against West Ham on their way to lifting the trophy.

Going deeper, Latest Crystal Palace news | Conference League fixtures & results.

On the substance, all the signs are that he will follow Glasner in leaving at the end of the season, although perhaps qualifying for the Europa League that would be the result of winning this competition after being controversially demoted could be enough to persuade him to stay.

Beyond the headlines, Palace would have taken a 2-1 lead but their opportunity to get the third, they took it.

More precisely, a first goal in Europe for Jorgen Strand Larsen, who joined Palace in January for a club-record fee of £48m.He's got stiff competition in forward positions at the Eagles.He's now bagged four for the club in all competitions.Image source, Getty Images Share pageAbout sharing.

The bottom line

• All the signs are that he will follow Glasner in leaving at the end of the season, although perhaps qualifying for the Europa League that would be the result of winning this competition after being controversially demoted could be enough to persuade him to stay.
• Before next Thursday's return leg at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace go to European-chasing Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off at 2pm.
• A first goal in Europe for Jorgen Strand Larsen, who joined Palace in January for a club-record fee of £48m.He's got stiff competition in forward positions at the Eagles.He's now bagged four for the club in all competitions.Image source, Getty Images Share pageAbout sharing.
• Searches spiking right now: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Strasbourg: Rayo Vallecano take Europa Conference League semi-final lead, Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace LIVE: UEFA Conference League latest score, commentary, stats & updates, Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner's side take commanding lead in Europa Conference League semi-final, Crystal Palace in driving seat after Kamada punishes Shakhtar Donetsk.