Liverpool transfer target Marc Guehi started as Crystal Palace qualified for the league phase of the UEFA Conference League with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Fredrikstad.
Jean Philippe-Mateta’s first-leg header was enough to send Palace through after holding out for a drab stalemate in Norway.
Guehi played the full 90 minutes amid links with a move to Liverpool, having entered the final year of his contract and turned down a new deal at Palace.
The centre-back was at the heart of Palace’s gritty second-leg performance, completing the most passes and making the second-most clearances.
Palace dominated with 60 per cent possession yet struggled to unlock Fredrikstad without the spark of Eberechi Eze in their frontline.
Chris Richards headed Palace’s best chance of the first half wide early on from Adam Wharton’s inswinging corner before Mateta was denied when one-on-one in the final minute as the visitors laboured into the league phase.
Palace are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, which equals their club record.
Richards: We are ready to make history in Europe
Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards told Channel 5:
“We have been defending really well so we were hoping we could continue doing that.
“Every game is not going to be pretty, but as long as you get the result, that’s the big thing.
“Everybody is super excited. We are an ambitious club. Now it is time to win some games in Europe. We are ready to make history.”