Crystal Palace host Manchester City on 28/08/2026 in Round 2 of the Premier League, with kick-off at 19:00 GMT+0 at Selhurst Park. The home side come into this fixture as heavy underdogs against one of the most decorated clubs in English football’s recent history, yet Selhurst Park has produced surprise results before, and form heading into the new season carries some weight.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Betting Tips and Match Insights
Backing Crystal Palace to take anything from this game requires more than optimism. The head-to-head record across their last ten meetings heavily favours City. Yet fixture context matters: this is Matchday 2, squad rotations are common, and Crystal Palace under their current setup have shown they can frustrate top-side offences through defensive compactness.
The total goals market deserves attention. Six of the last ten meetings between these clubs produced three or more goals, driven largely by City’s output. Palace, however, have kept clean sheets in multiple league fixtures at home in recent campaigns when organised properly.
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Crystal Palace Recent Form
Three wins, one draw and one defeat from Crystal Palace’s last five completed matches represent a competitive run of results. The win at Tottenham (3-1) stands out, showing this side is capable of performing on the road against top-half opposition. The Conference League draw at Zrinjski Mostar suggests they can hold shape in tighter matches. The defeat at Manchester United (2-1) was close and against a rival of similar stature to City.
| Date | Competition | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace | 1-3 (W) |
| 2026-03-01 | Premier League | Manchester United vs Crystal Palace | 2-1 (L) |
| 2026-02-26 | Conference League | Crystal Palace vs Zrinjski Mostar | 2-0 (W) |
| 2026-02-22 | Premier League | Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton | 1-0 (W) |
| 2026-02-19 | Conference League | Zrinjski Mostar vs Crystal Palace | 1-1 (D) |
Their attacking output has leaned on Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has shown consistent finishing ability in central areas. Eddie Nketiah provides a dynamic alternative off the line or out wide. The midfield press, anchored by Adam Wharton, has been effective at disrupting opponents in the opening phases of games.
Manchester City Recent Form
Four wins and one draw from Manchester City’s last five completed matches tells the story of a side finding its rhythm. The 3-0 victory at home to Fulham and the 2-0 win at Liverpool are the standout results, showing capacity at both ends. The draw at Tottenham (2-2) suggests the defence can be exposed on the counter, though it remains a creditable away result.
| Date | Competition | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-14 | FA Cup | Manchester City vs Salford City | 2-0 (W) |
| 2026-02-11 | Premier League | Manchester City vs Fulham | 3-0 (W) |
| 2026-02-08 | Premier League | Liverpool FC vs Manchester City | 1-2 (W) |
| 2026-02-04 | EFL Cup | Manchester City vs Newcastle United | 3-1 (W) |
| 2026-02-01 | Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City | 2-2 (D) |
Erling Haaland remains the focal point of their attack. Phil Foden in midfield adds creativity and vertical play. The defensive unit, anchored by Rúben Dias, has proved capable of organising against counter-attacks, which will matter at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester City Head-to-Head
Ten meetings across the last two seasons have produced an overwhelming picture. City have won six of those encounters, with Crystal Palace claiming just one victory and three draws. The Selhurst Park fixture in May 2026 ended 0-3 to City, and the December 2025 game at Selhurst also ended 0-3. Crystal Palace’s only win came in the FA Cup (1-0) in May 2025.
| Date | Competition | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 | Premier League | Manchester City vs Crystal Palace | 3-0 |
| 2025-12-14 | Premier League | Crystal Palace vs Manchester City | 0-3 |
| 2025-05-17 | FA Cup | Crystal Palace vs Manchester City | 1-0 |
| 2025-04-12 | Premier League | Manchester City vs Crystal Palace | 5-2 |
| 2024-12-07 | Premier League | Crystal Palace vs Manchester City | 2-2 |
Six City wins against one Palace win in the last ten reflects the underlying quality gap. The one exception was a cup tie where tactical changes and lower stakes altered the dynamic.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace:
Henderson (GK), Canvot (DF), Richards (DF), Tomiyasu (DF), Mitchell (MF), Wharton (MF), Kamada (MF), McNeil (MF), Nketiah (FW), Haraldsson (FW), Mateta (FW).
Manchester City:
Donnarumma (GK), Lewis (DF), Dias (DF), Khusanov (DF), Gvardiol (DF), Anderson (MF), Foden (MF), Semenyo (MF), Haaland (MF), Doué (MF), Torres (FW).
Key Factors
- Manchester City have won six of the last ten meetings with Crystal Palace and scored three or more goals in three of those fixtures.
- City’s away record at Selhurst Park in the Premier League is notably strong: two wins by 3-0 and 0-3 in the last two visits.
- Crystal Palace’s defensive structure at home has produced clean sheets in recent league fixtures, but City’s pressing intensity creates different problems.
- Erling Haaland has scored against Crystal Palace in multiple Premier League appearances, making the over goals market particularly relevant.
- Crystal Palace’s one recent win against City came in a cup fixture under different conditions, not in a standard league context.
Free Tips to Watch
- Consider backing Manchester City to win, given six wins in the last ten meetings with Palace and their superior squad depth at the start of a new league season.
- The under 2.5 goals angle fits a controlled City win with Palace limited on the counter, even if recent visits to Selhurst Park have sometimes gone higher.
- Examine Erling Haaland to score at any time, with his record against Crystal Palace across multiple Premier League appearances supporting the case.
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Our Prediction: Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City
| Match Result | Prediction | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Match Result | Manchester City Win | 1.65 |
| Total Goals | Under 2.5 | 1.73 |
| Both Teams to Score | No | 2.12 |
Manchester City’s record against Crystal Palace over the last two seasons is hard to argue against. Six wins in ten, three goals without reply in their two most recent Premier League meetings, and a squad that has retained its core attacking threat: these are not small margins. Crystal Palace showed character in their cup win, but that was a different context. Admittedly, Selhurst Park generates real noise and has caused upsets before. But the weight of evidence points firmly in one direction. Manchester City are the logical selection here.
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