Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa tips and predictions: Back Eagles to finish season on a high
- George Dempsey
- 16 May 2024
Red-hot Crystal Palace will hope to end the season on a high when they host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon (1600 BST).
The curtain closes on another Premier League season at Selhurst Park on Saturday, as Crystal Palace take on Aston Villa in a dead rubber.
Both teams can take a bow after the final act, with the Villans looking forward to Champions League football and Oliver Glasner’s Eagles finishing on a high.
Such is their form in recent weeks, Palace could finish more than 20 points clear of the relegation zone, something they previously feared, and less than 10 outside of Europe.
The hosts have won five of six, including a perfect away performance at Anfield where they won 1-0, and a 4-0 thumping of Man Utd at home, leaving them on 46 points.
Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta have lit up the Premier League with their goals and performances since the end of February.
There’s no doubt Villa’s standards have dropped at the end of a long, tiring season. Unai Emery’s side are winless in five, scoring 12 goals in the process.
Nonetheless, Emery and his players have written themselves in the history books. Villa were promoted to the Premier League in 2019 and have secured a seat at the top table for the first time since the 1982-83 season.
They’ve conquered nearly every side in the league this season, most notably beating Arsenal twice, Man City, Tottenham, and beating Brighton 6-1 at home.
Sunday’s finale feels like it has the potential to be a party atmosphere for free-flowing Palace, while Villa may be looking forward to a well-earned break.
Team news
Crystal Palace will be without the services of Sam Johnstone, Rob Holding, Cheick Doucoure, Matheus Franca and Naouirou Ahmada.
Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes are under consideration after injury, but there’s no need to risk them if they aren’t 100% fit.
Boubabar Kamara, Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers and Matty Cash have been ruled out for Aston Villa.
Alex Moreno and Nicolo Zaniolo will have their injuries assessed with the former more likely to make a return.
Key stats
- Crystal Palace have won five of their last six Premier League matches
- Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last six matches
- There have been 39 goals in Crystal Palace’s last 10 home matches
- Aston Villa are winless in five matches across all competitions
- Aston Villa have scored 18 and conceded 18 in their last 10 matches
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