Date and Time: Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 7:30 PM GMT
Venue: Selhurst Park, London
Competition: English Premier League
Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are set to face off in an exciting Premier League clash at Selhurst Park. Both teams are coming off strong performances, with Crystal Palace securing a 2-0 win against Fulham and Aston Villa defeating Chelsea 2-1. With crucial points at stake, this match promises to be a competitive encounter.
Team Form & Standings
Crystal Palace
- Current Position: 13th
- Recent Form: W-D-L-W-L
- Points: 30 from 17 matches
- Manager: Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace has been relatively stable under Glasner, with Jean-Philippe Mateta emerging as a key player. The Eagles will be looking to use their home advantage to break their mid-table status and push further up the league. Mateta, who has scored 25 goals in 39 appearances, will be the primary attacking threat.
Aston Villa
- Current Position: 8th
- Recent Form: W-D-L-W-W
- Points: 38 from 24 matches
- Manager: Unai Emery
Aston Villa is fighting to break into the European spots and has shown resilience in recent fixtures. Their victory over Chelsea was a big boost, and another win here could bring them closer to the top five. However, Villa has struggled at Selhurst Park in recent years, losing five of their last six visits.
Head-to-Head Record
- Total Matches: 55
- Crystal Palace Wins: 18
- Aston Villa Wins: 23
- Draws: 14
- Last Meeting: Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa
While Aston Villa has a historical advantage, their struggles at Selhurst Park could play a factor in this matchup.
Key Players to Watch
Crystal Palace
- Jean-Philippe Mateta – The in-form striker has been a key figure in Palace’s attack and will be looking to add to his impressive tally.
- Eberechi Eze – The creative midfielder can unlock defenses with his dribbling and passing.
- Marc Guéhi – A rock in Palace’s defense, tasked with stopping Villa’s attacking threats.
Aston Villa
- Ollie Watkins – Villa’s top scorer with 12 goals this season, he remains a constant danger in front of goal.
- Youri Tielemans – The midfielder’s vision and passing could be crucial in breaking down Palace’s defense.
- Emiliano Martínez – The Villa goalkeeper has been in top form, making crucial saves in recent matches.
Injury Updates and Team News
Crystal Palace
Out:
- Joel Ward (Injury)
- Cheick Doucouré (Injury)
- Kays Ruiz-Atil (Injury)
Aston Villa
Out:
- Tyrone Mings (Long-term injury)
- Pau Torres (Muscle injury)
- Boubacar Kamara (Knee injury)
- Ross Barkley (Hamstring injury)
- Amadou Onana (Fitness concerns)
- Morgan Rogers (Knock)
Villa is dealing with several injuries to key players, which could impact their performance.
Match Prediction and Betting Tips
- Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-1 Aston Villa – Given Palace’s strong home record against Villa and the visitors' injury concerns, a closely contested draw seems likely.
- Betting Tip: Under 2.5 Goals – Both teams have strong defensive setups, which could lead to a low-scoring affair.
- Player to Watch: Ollie Watkins to Score Anytime – Watkins is in good form and remains Villa’s main goal-scoring threat.
Both teams will be eager to secure all three points, but Aston Villa’s poor away record against Crystal Palace could work against them. With Palace looking to build on their last win and Villa aiming for European qualification, this match promises to be a hard-fought battle at Selhurst Park.