For all the ugly moments this season, from the Marc Guehi exit to the Oliver Glasner spat, Crystal Palace are still on their way to making club history.
Their Europa Conference League run hasn't been pretty, but with victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of their quarter-final tie, they will have one foot in the last four.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner before the match
To say it's not an easy task would be an understatement. This is not the same Fiorentina side panicking about their Serie A status, but this is still the same side with a glaring weakness that one Palace star can exploit.
How Glasner could dismantle Fiorentina
A disastrous European campaign for Italian sides could get far worse if Crystal Palace compile Fiorentina's misery on Thursday evening. Historically speaking, it's a tough draw for the Eagles, but if they put history to one side, they may just notice the tactical edge that they've got over their opponents.
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Glasner's 3-4-2-1 system is an ideal matchup for Paolo Vanoli's 4-3-3 preference. It should allow Crystal Palace to outnumber Fiorentina's midfield three, with the wide-men likely proving to be key, whilst also matching up three vs three with their frontline.
It's the same system that fared well against Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 at Selhurst Park earlier this season and is likely to be key once again in Europe.
It's also a game in which take-on success could be key. Fiorentina left-back Robin Gosens has struggled up against quick, tricky wingers in Serie A so far this season and has been dribbled past 11 times as a result.
It's a clear weakness that gives Glanser a big decision to make about his wide players.
As impressive as Evann Guessand has been, the Aston Villa loanee has completed just 34.2% of his dribbles so far this season and is not the player that will put Fiorentina to the sword this evening.
Crystal Palace must start their new Eze in Europe
In a dream world, Crystal Palace would still have Eberechi Eze to call on in these situations. The take-on king himself would have torn Gosens apart, but could not resist a move to Arsenal last summer.
But whilst that departure was a major blow, it did pave the way for Yeremy Pino to arrive and he's as good a weapon as Palace have to turn to if they are to exploit Fiorentina's greatest weakness.
Yéremi Pino of Crystal Palace makes a run with the ball during the Premier League match Sunderland vs Crystal Palace
Occasions like tonight are exactly why Pino arrived for £26m last summer and Glasner would regret handing him a bench role in such a big game.
25/26 PL stats Guessand Pino
Minutes 887 1,730
Successful dribbles 13 16
Dribbles percentage 34.2% 43.2%
Shots per 90 mins 1.12 1.98
As an attacking threat, the Spaniard provides far more than the Villa loanee, albeit whilst having less trust going the other way.
Selhurst Park craves entertainment under the lights after a tough season. Pino would offer exactly that. Glasner must take full advantage of his side's home advantage and unleash what could prove to be Gosen's worst nightmare in South London.
Crystal Palace's Evann Guessand celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
If the Eagles can't turn to Eze, then the closest thing they've got to their former star will certainly do the job. The only remaining question for those in South London should be where Pino plays.
Like Eze, the summer arrival can play both out wide and centrally. Whilst it will be tempting to exploit Gosen's take-on threat, allowing Pino to join Ismaila Sarr and Jorgen Strand Larsen could offer another threat entirely.
If Fiorentina dare to control possession, that trio provide a rapid foundation for transitions. Glasner's 3-4-2-1 system will provide a natural block to soak up any pressure too, before hitting the Italians on the counter.
It's a large reason why Palace defeated Manchester City in last season's FA Cup final. It's why they've defeated so many other big hitters in England and why they could end the tie before La Viola have even retreated to Florence.
Tactically, Palace have the edge and Pino, be it out wide or centrally, should be the key.
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