Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates as he scores for Crystal Palace against FredrikstadGetty Images

Crystal Palace previously played European football in the 1998 Intertoto Cup

At a glance

  • Jean-Philippe Mateta scored Palace's first European goal

  • Palace will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg

  • Arsenal-bound forward Eberechi Eze left out of squad

  • PLAYER RATINGS

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored Crystal Palace's first European goal as they began their Conference League campaign with a 1-0 victory against Fredrikstad.

The French forward's effort epitomised a game which comprised equal parts dominance and frustration for Palace, with Mateta heading inside the far post after Will Hughes sent a deflected strike back into the box.

Palace were without Eberechi Eze, their FA Cup final match-winner, who is expected to join Arsenal in the coming days.

Their Norwegian opponents were determined but clearly second best, spending the game largely pinned into their defensive third as Palace looked to fashion opportunities.

Fredrikstad's deep line proved troublesome for Palace to break down and, for the most part, restricted the hosts to efforts from outside the box or attacks from wide areas.

Palace's chances were rarely clear-cut openings but they should have scored more, with a deflected effort from Mateta hitting the post in the first half and Daniel Munoz heading against the post in the second half.

There were occasional reminders of the opposition's threat when Fredrikstad tried to hit them on the break, showing more aggression late on, but Palace remained resolute.

Oliver Glasner's Premier League side therefore take a narrow advantage to Norway for the second leg next Thursday, when victory on aggregate would seal their place in the Conference League group stage.

Analysis: Determined Palace seize first-leg advantage

Palace had expected to enjoy a Europa League campaign having won the FA Cup in May, but they were demoted for breaching multi-club ownership rules.

That did not dampen spirits for their first Conference League fixture, though, and persistence brought about a hard-earned Palace win at Selhurst Park.

They continually pushed to find ways through the Norwegian side's defence, stretching them wide when possible in an attempt to open up gaps, and Mateta made the breakthrough soon after half-time.

All the same, Fredrikstad will be left with a glimmer of hope that they can overturn their deficit in the second leg.

With Eze absent, Palace were missing a creative edge.

They had 74.3% of possession and 25 attempts to score, but they hit the target with just five of those and only scored once despite their chances amounting to 2.31 expected goals.

While Fredrikstad were particularly solid in the early stages, they quickly tired and Palace did not make the most of that.

Fredrikstad are a side who are eighth in the Norwegian top flight. While they brought a fighting spirit to the match, Palace are far superior on paper, having recently beaten Liverpool to win the Community Shield.

Yet, without a clearer cutting edge in Norway next week, the Londoners risk letting this tie slip from their grasp.

What's next for these teams?

They meet again for the second leg in Norway on Thursday, 28 August, at 17:00 BST.

Before that, Palace host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at 14:00 BST on Sunday in their next fixture.

Where next?

Player of the match

W. Hughes
6.93
19 W. Hughes
6.93
14 J. Mateta
6.56
6 M. Guéhi
6.43
20 A. Wharton
6.24
5 M. Lacroix
6.20
1 D. Henderson
6.17
24 B. Sosa
5.97
2 D. Muñoz
5.96
8 J. Lerma
5.60
55 J. Devenny
5.52
7 I. Sarr
5.44
22 O. Édouard
4.81
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