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Who are AEK Larnaca?

Crystal Palace v AEK Larnaca

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

AEK Larnaca are not to be overlooked, that's according to fans Costa and his son Constantine wrapped in yellow and green scarfs.

"Larnaca had a big 4-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in our first match and we're a regular in Europe - we've played West Ham twice before although we did lose both times," Costa told BBC Sport just outside Selhurst Station.

"Football in Cyprus is so much better than it once was. Pafos are in the Champions League."

Constantine added that Larnaca are seen as the nearly men of Cyprus, having finished runners-up in the league six times without ever winning.

They are the Cypriot cup holders - a bit like Palace against Manchester City they overcame the odds to beat Pafos in last season's final.

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Crystal Palace v AEK Larnaca (20:00 BST)

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport

Waka Waka by Shakira is playing at a sold-out Selhurst Park in the drizzle just before kick-off.

That tune's been used for a banger of a chant by Palace fans this season which I can't repeat here because it has a naughty word in it.

It's followed by the Vengaboys.

Ange-ball to Dyche-ball

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

From Ange-ball to Dyche-ball, could the two be more different?

Here's what Sean Dyche had to say about his playing style ahead of his first game in charge of Forest: "The players are aware of it.

"I took a lot of feedback from the players and not just me. They are very proud of what they did last season.

"Now, can we mould it slightly differently but keep that winning mentality? Long ball, short ball? You have just got to play effective football. That will never go out of fashion."

'I'd question Forest's direction of travel'

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

Rory Smith

Football correspondent for the Observer on the Monday Night Club

I think Sean Dyche makes a lot of sense in the situation Forest are. But it is hard to say that they are working towards some sort of grand vision given the strangeness of the Postecoglou interlude. I can see why they want Dyche now but if I was a Forest fan I would have a question over their general direction of travel.

'Forest's fans love Marinakis'

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on the Monday Night Club

It's a mess. If Sean Dyche gets over the line at Nottingham Forest, perhaps the owner is prioritising staying in the division this season. It is an admission maybe that he got the Postecoglou appointment wrong. I have sympathy for Postecoglou. The game at the weekend, in some ways they were making progress. He wasn't given long enough and there is the connection between the manager and the fans. The fans love Marinakis and it seems that he is giving them a manager who matches what they want.

'The loyalty of Forest fans is with Marinakis'

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

Rory Smith

Football correspondent for the Observer on the Monday Night Club

Forest are the most owner-defined club since Abramovich at Chelsea, where the loyalty of the fans seems to skip the manager and is with Marinakis because of everything he has done for them.

You can see why they adore him so much and why they are willing to tolerate.

'Dyche is a sensible appointment'

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on the Monday Night Club

Dyche proved himself to be a very capable manager at Burnley and he did well at Everton as well. He took over a team who were in relegation trouble, stabilised the club and then they had all the points deduction and all that.

In the end, it didn't end well and the Everton fans were disgruntled with him but over the whole time, with where they were when he took over I think there will be a respect from Everton fans for what he did.

Going into Forest, it is another club who are languishing and they want to stay in the Premier League and so it seems to be a sensible appointment. They won't go down.

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Crystal Palace v AEK Larnaca

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

It's a big one for Crystal Palace tonight. The first ever match in a major European competition proper at Selhurst Park.

There's a buzz on the approach to the ground. Don't be surprised if there's an extra roar in the stands.

Palace's European home history so far is a 2-0 loss to Samsunspor in the third round of the Intertoto Cup in 1998 and a 1-0 win over Fredrikstad in the Europa Conference League play-off round in August.

It's not what you'd call large. Tonight is a chance to start something.

Whatever happens this season the Eagles will get at least three home matches in the League Phase. The first is this evening against AEK Larnaca. They play AZ Alkmaar in November and the Finnish side KuPS just before Christmas.

Three wins?

'We always look at what's best to win the game'

Crystal Palace v AEK Larnaca (20:00 BST)

Palace boss Oliver Glasner says it can be a big risk to make too many changes to the team.

"Before it was [Christantus] Uche, now it's Eddie [Nketiah] – but we can talk about Will Hughes, about Jeff Lerma, about Jaydee Canvot, about Romain Esse, about Justin Devenny," he said yesterday.

"They all deserve to get more minutes, but at the end, we always look at what's best to win the game.

"It's not a gift - but sometimes if you change eight or nine positions at once it doesn't work out because you never train together.

"We could see this against Millwall [in the Carabao Cup] and then it's a little bit unfair.

"Then, all of a sudden, you are judged for something you are not accusable of, because when you never train together - how can we expect that everything works out?"

'Is Edu part of the problem?'

Nottingham Forest v Porto (20:00 BST)

Stephen Warnock

Former Liverpool defender on the Monday Night Club

There should be more organisation more forward thinking. To change the style of play or think that they can do that midway through the season (is confusing).

You would think have they made a mistake bringing Edu into the football club and is he one of the issues?

Click here to read article

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