Ismaila Sarr Shines as Crystal Palace Secures Europa Conference League Victory

Ismaila Sarr has emerged as a key player for Crystal Palace this season. The Senegalese forward has scored three goals in the Premier League and has taken on a bigger role since Eberechi Eze departed for Arsenal. Eze left the club after producing 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 appearances, so replacing him was never going to be easy.

However, Sarr has risen to the challenge. He has scored eight goals in just 15 matches across all competitions. His impact was clear on Thursday night, when he scored twice in a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar. This victory marked Palace’s first home win in the Europa Conference League and strengthened their position as serious contenders in the tournament.

Sarr was a threat throughout the game. He attacked defenders with pace, controlled the ball confidently, and linked up well with Jean-Philippe Mateta. Early on, he struck the post and later won a penalty, although Mateta could not convert it. Just before half-time, Sarr bundled the ball over the line to give Palace the lead. He scored his second goal after the break, finishing calmly from Mateta’s assist.

Former Palace defender Joel Ward spoke highly of him on TNT Sports. He said:

“Sarr is in hot form. When he has space to attack, very few can keep up with him. His composure tonight was excellent.”

Sarr has now scored four goals in his last three appearances, closing in on his total of 12 from last season. Palace signed him from Marseille for around £12.5 million in 2024, originally to replace Michael Olise after his move to Bayern Munich. With Eze also leaving, that transfer now looks even more important.

Manager Oliver Glasner praised Sarr’s influence on the team.
He said:

“He handles the demands of the game very well. His pace and his runs create space for others. That is invaluable for us.”

Crystal Palace now aim to follow in the footsteps of English teams who have won the Europa Conference League in two of the last three seasons. The win over AZ Alkmaar was especially important after the earlier home defeat to AEK Larnaka.

Glasner added:

“The atmosphere tonight was fantastic. I hope this is not our last home win. The performance and the result pleased everyone.”