Can the Eagles shock Manchester City once again?
The first leg came as a thumping surprise on October 30, 2021, when Crystal Palace prevailed 2-0 away at Manchester City. It was one of only two home defeats in league play that the Sky Blues have suffered this season. Pep Guardiola’s side will be wary of the Londoners, who have not lost any of their last six away games (five wins, one draw).
The Citizens come to Selhurst Park favored, where the Eagles have failed to score a goal of their own in six of their last eleven Premier League home games against the Sky Blues. Ahead of the clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester City, the odds are clearly swinging in the direction of the visitors.
However, City is likely to take this away trip very seriously if only because it has become tight again in terms of the table due to the winning streak of main chaser Liverpool. The lead over second place has shrunk to three points, which means Guardiola’s eleven should act with the necessary seriousness.
Nevertheless, it makes a lot of sense to bet on the home side with an Asian handicap of +1.5 on Crystal Palace against Manchester City. In addition to another surprising point win, this also covers the Sky Blues’ away win with a one-goal difference.
Crystal Palace – statistics & current form
Crystal Palace has been playing continuously in the Premier League since the summer of 2013, where the team from London has not been able to finish a single season in a single-digit position, but has never finished worse than 15th in the final table.
Last season, the Eagles finished twelfth in their first year under Patrick Vieira, before knocking on the door again and again this season. After a brief hiatus with just one win from nine consecutive league games, the Eagles have now picked up seven points out of a possible nine from their last three matches.
In the no man’s land of the Premier League
Overall, the Glaziers currently occupy eleventh place and are a bit of a no man’s land in the Premier League. At twelve points behind sixth place, the train to Europe is likely to leave without the Londoners.
On the other hand, with a twelve-point lead over the 18th-placed team, the team’s chances of staying in the league are as good as in the bag. Accordingly, the FA Cup is already casting its shadow ahead, in which the Eagles have realistic chances of reaching the semifinals next week at home against Everton.
Only four defeats among the 14 Premier League home games
For this task, Vieira’s eleven could now take a proper confidence boost against the reigning champions. For the first time since the 1987/88 season, the Londoners could defeat the Citizens in both duels in league play.
In view of the fact that only four of the 14 home games in league play have been lost, the chances of winning a point have certainly been worse at times. However, since no own goal was scored in six of the last eleven Premier League home games against the Sky Blues, betting on a point win for the Glaziers at Crystal Palace against Manchester City is not under the most favorable omens.
Predicted lineup of Crystal Palace:
Guaita – Mitchell – Guéhi – Andersen – Clyne – Schlupp – Kouyaté – Zaha – Gallagher – Olise – Mateta
Last matches played by Crystal Palace:
Premier League
03/05 2022 – Wolverhampton 0 – 2 Crystal Palace
FA Cup
03/01 2022 – Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Stoke
Premier League
02/26 2022 – Crystal Palace 1 – 1 Burnley
02/23 2022 – Watford 1 – 4 Crystal Palace
02/19 2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Chelsea London
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester City admittedly had slight teething problems as reigning national champions, needing until matchday 15 to take the top spot in the table for the first time in the 2021/22 season.
Since then, however, the Sky Blues have not relinquished their place on the sunny side of the table and even threatened to slip away completely after a long unbeaten streak. However, also due to recent point losses at Southampton (1-1) and at home against Tottenham (2-3), the lead over Liverpool shrank to three points.
The best away team in the Premier League
Dependently, Pep Guardiola’s eleven must continue to play with concentration in league play. After all, including the away trip to Selhurst Park, where five of the last six away Premier League games have been won (one draw), there are still ten league games to play with 30 points up for grabs.
On the positive side, the Sky Blues are the best away team in the Premier League. No team has won as many away games (11) and conceded as few goals overall (eight) in as few defeats away from home (one) as the Citizens.
Also in the running in Champions League and FA Cup
The Sky Blues also have other dates on the agenda, however. During the week, City finished the job against Sporting CP and advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals with a goalless draw. Next week, the Sky Blues could also reach the cup semifinals with victory in their FA Cup away game at Southampton.
In between, bettors reckon Guardiola’s eleven have a good chance of keeping the Reds at bay in the Premier League title race with a treble in London.
Predicted Manchester City lineup:
Ederson – Zinchenko – Laporte – Stones – Walker – Gündogan – Rodri – Silva – Grealish – Jesus – Mahrez
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Champions League Finals
03/09 2022 – Manchester City 0 – 0 Sporting CP
Premier League
03/06 2022 – Manchester City 4 – 1 Manchester United
FA Cup
03/01 2022 – Peterboro 0 – 2 Manchester City
Premier League
02/26 2022 – Everton 0 – 1 Manchester City
02/19 2022 – Manchester City 2 – 3 Tottenham
Crystal Palace – Manchester City Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 17 – 14 – 35
There have been a total of 66 meetings between the two teams so far and with 35 wins, the Sky Blues lead the head-to-head comparison. In the first leg, however, the Glaziers surprisingly prevailed 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium after five consecutive winless duels.
Crystal Palace – Manchester City betting tips
With Crystal Palace against Manchester City, the prediction basically goes clearly in the direction of the Sky Blues, who, however, may be forced to rotate again in the hamster wheel of the many English weeks. In view of the fact that both teams want to take advantage of the big chance to reach the FA Cup semifinals in a few days, we also do not expect a battle of attrition, but a rather moderate Premier League duel.
While another point win for the Eagles cannot be ruled out, at least a big win for the Sky Blues does not seem overly likely. Most eventualities, meanwhile, can be covered with an Asian handicap of +1.5 on the Londoners.
