The Eagles took on FC Union Berlin in the German capital for a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon, with the home side coming out the winners with two second half goals.





Both sides are known for their passionate support and it seemed as though the game was being competed as much on the turf as it was in the terraces, with both sets of fans making plenty of noise.





Despite the raucous atmosphere, it was a slow, tentative start to the match, with neither side really looking the more likely to hurt the other.





It looked as though Glenn Murray had drawn first blood, when his bullet header rippled the back of the Berlin net, but it was ruled out, as the striker was deemed to have fouled a defender in the build-up.





Chances were few and far between during the entire first period, with Murray's disallowed effort the best of them, and both sides went in level at the break.





Wholesale changes during the interval meant that only Ward and Mutch remained on the pitch for Palace, with the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Joe Ledley and Yohan Cabaye entering the action.





The two sides continued to compete for dominance, with neither able to take the advantage. Brede Hangeland went close with a powerful header from a Cabaye free-kick, but Union Berlin got away with it.





It was the home side who eventually broke the deadlock on 57 minutes, when Steven Skrzybski latched onto a through-ball and slotted coolly beyond Wayne Hennessey.





Cabaye then had the ball in the back of the net for the Eagles, but his effort was disallowed, as Martin Kelly was offside in the build-up.





Palace continued to press, but couldn't get through the Berlin backline, limiting the Eagles to half-chances and missed opportunities. Sullay Kaikai had an effort from long-range that nearly beat Mohamed Amsif, but the Berlin goalkeeper managed to tip it over the crossbar.





Late in the second half, Skrzybski grabbed a second, smashing low beyond Hennessey after a mix up between Hangeland and Cabaye in the Palace area, giving the home side a two-goal advantage.





The game finished 2-0 to the Berliners, with the Eagles getting a good run out, but no reward come full-time.





Palace starting XI: Speroni (Hennessey, 45); Ward (Bannan, 69), Dann (Kelly, 45), Delaney (Hangeland, 45), Souare (Binnom-Williams, 45); Puncheon (Bolasie, 45), McArthur (Cabaye, 45), Jedinak (Ledley, 45), Gayle (Guedioura, 45); Mutch (Kaikai, 60); Murray (Campbell, 45).





FC Union starting XI: Haas, Kessel, Fuerstner, Brandy, Daube, Thiel, Nikci, Kreilach, Quaner, Trimmel, Parensen.





Subs: Amsif, Quiring, Puncec, Prychynenko, Wood, Redondo, Skrzybski, Kock, Schoenheim, Leistner.