Manchester City vs Crystal Palace Preview

• Draw or City win
• Over 2.5 goals

The battle for UEFA Champions League qualification took an interesting twist in midweek, with the confirmation that a fifth-place finish in the Premier League will now secure a spot at Europe’s top table. That news may provide some comfort to Manchester City, who currently sit sixth in the standings.

However, Pep Guardiola’s men are part of a tightly packed group of four clubs from fourth to seventh, separated by just two points, meaning there’s little room for error as the season approaches its final stretch.

City struggling to find rhythm

While it’s difficult to imagine a Manchester City side missing out on a top-five finish, their recent form raises some eyebrows. The reigning champions have managed just one win in their last four Premier League outings (D2, L1), a run of results that falls well below their usual high standards at this stage of the campaign.

The upcoming fixture against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium would typically be considered the perfect opportunity to respond, especially as City have won seven of the last 12 top-flight head-to-heads with the Eagles (D4, L1).

However, there is cause for concern. All three of City’s Saturday lunchtime kick-offs in 2024 have ended without victory (D1, L2), a rare blip in the Guardiola era and a potential factor heading into this clash. With the title seemingly slipping out of reach, City must quickly rediscover their sharpness to ensure they do not fall further behind in the Champions League race.

Palace flying under the radar

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have quietly emerged as one of the form teams in the division. Over the last ten Premier League fixtures, only leaders Liverpool (23) have picked up more points than Palace. Their impressive run has sparked talk of a late-season push for European qualification, especially with the potential that eighth place may now be enough to secure continental football due to Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup success.

For a club with no previous experience in major European competitions, such a milestone would be historic. Palace’s form on the road has been a key driver of their surge, with the Eagles unbeaten in eight consecutive away league matches (W6, D2). Even more impressively, they have kept clean sheets in seven of those fixtures, underlining the defensive solidity Oliver Glasner has instilled in the squad.

History favours City, but caution advised

Despite Palace’s brilliant away form, their record at the Etihad does not make for encouraging reading. The visitors have conceded at least two goals in ten of their last 11 Premier League away games against Manchester City, a statistic that could prove significant. That said, Palace have produced strong performances away at big clubs this term, including a 2-0 win at Manchester United, in which Jean-Philippe Mateta was on the scoresheet.

City, for their part, remain a formidable side on home turf. With the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden capable of unlocking any defence, they will aim to reassert their authority and keep their European ambitions firmly on track.

Key players to watch

Rico Lewis: The young City full-back has a curious knack for finding the net against Palace, scoring all three of his Premier League goals against the Eagles.

He will look to make another telling contribution here.

Jean-Philippe Mateta: The Palace striker enjoys a big occasion, having netted a brace in his last visit to Manchester against United.

He also scored in both the home and away fixtures against City last season and could be a pivotal figure once again.

Stats and trends

• Manchester City have won seven of their last 12 Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace.
• City are winless in three Saturday lunchtime kick-offs in 2024 (D1, L2).
• Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last eight away league games (W6, D2).
• The Eagles have kept seven clean sheets in that run.
• Palace have conceded at least two goals in ten of their last 11 Premier League away H2Hs against City.

Prediction

This fixture has all the ingredients for a compelling contest. Manchester City will be desperate to bounce back and reassert themselves in the top-four chase, while Palace have nothing to fear given their recent exploits. The visitors’ defensive resilience will be tested to the maximum, but City’s quality and need for a result may prove decisive.

Score prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Crystal Palace

Expect a hard-fought encounter, with the home side narrowly edging it thanks to their attacking firepower.

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Man City v Crystal Palace, 2024/25 | Premier League