Besiktas dismisses Solskjaer following Championship League setback, Crystal Palace progresses despite close call
In the world of football, several significant events unfolded this week. Crystal Palace, making their first-ever European campaign, advanced to the league phase after a 1-0 aggregate win over Fredrikstad. The only goal of the match, scored by Nathan Butler-Oyedeji in the first half, was enough to secure their progression.
Fredrikstad rarely posed a threat throughout the two legs, with Crystal Palace's new manager, Oliver Glasner, guiding the team to significant success since his appointment on February 19, 2024. Marc Guehi, heavily linked with Liverpool, captained the Crystal Palace team on his manager's 51st birthday, as they extended their unbeaten run to 13 competitive matches, a run that dates back to April 16 when they lost 5-0 to Newcastle in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, in a match played in Lublin, Poland, Lausanne and Besiktas ended in a draw. Despite Nathan Butler-Oyedeji's early goal, Besiktas, managed by the former Manchester United, Cardiff City, and Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, fought back valiantly. However, Solskjaer's team had won only one league game so far this season, and his tenure was terminated following the match. Solskjaer had lifted Besiktas from sixth to fourth place in the Super Lig since his hire in January.
The second half of the Lausanne vs Besiktas match was played with 10 men after Felix Uduokhai was sent off in the 46th minute. Despite the disadvantage, Besiktas did not manage a shot on target, and the match ended in a stalemate.
Elsewhere, Strasbourg won in Brondby, while AZ Alkmaar, Fiorentina, Rayo Vallecano, Mainz, and Strasbourg also advanced to the league phase. In a surprising turn of events, Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced in the Europa League qualifying round despite losing the second leg.
In the Crystal Palace vs Fredrikstad match, Jean-Philippe Mateta went close twice for Crystal Palace, but could not find the back of the net. The lacklustre draw extended Crystal Palace's unbeaten run, setting them up for an exciting European campaign ahead.
Patrick Vieira, the Crystal Palace manager, stated he did not want to discuss transfers on the day of the match, keeping the focus on the team's European journey. As the football season continues to unfold, these teams will undoubtedly face challenges and opportunities, making for an exciting spectacle for football fans around the world.
