June 16 2004

Crystal Palace

Palace fans could spot the next Luis Figo when Portugal's Sporting Lisbon visit Selhurst Park for a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, July 28, exclusive by Joseph O'Shea.

Managerless Lisbon came third in Superliga last year, and will use the friendly to prepare for the Champion League qualifiers in August.

Three of their current squad, defenders Bete Severo, Rui Jorge and goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira, are in Portugal's Euro 2004 squad, along with Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, who started their careers at the José Alvalade

Stadium.

That fixture is the highlight of a hectic pre-season schedule for IAIN DOWIE 's squad. Palace play Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday July 24, before facing Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road a week later.

Four other fixtures including two on a tour of Northern Ireland have yet to be confirmed by the club.

Pre-season fixtures

July 14 Crusaders (a)

July 17 Glentoran (a)

July 20 Woking (a)

July 24 Ipswich (a)

July 28 Sporting Lisbon (h)

July 31 QPR (a)

August 3 Bromley (a)