Crystal Palace Vs Aston Villa

Crystal Palace and Aston Villa are both looking to secure back-to-back wins in the Premier League as they prepare to face off at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night.

Crystal Palace, currently positioned 13th in the league standings, enter this fixture on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over Fulham last Saturday. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, sitting in eighth place, claimed a notable 2-1 triumph over Chelsea on the same afternoon, further strengthening their aspirations for a higher finish this season.

As the season progresses, Palace find themselves with a tally of eight wins, nine draws, and nine defeats across 26 matches, amassing a total of 33 points. This leaves them 16 points clear of the relegation zone and 10 points adrift of Bournemouth, who currently occupy sixth place. Although The Eagles finished last season in 10th place, a lack of consistent goal-scoring has hindered their ability to secure a higher position in the current campaign. However, with several games still remaining, the possibility of improvement remains within reach.

Their recent performance against Fulham showcased their resilience, with an own goal by Joachim Andersen providing them with the initial breakthrough in the first half before Daniel Munoz sealed the victory in the 66th minute. That win marked Palace’s third triumph in their last four matches across all competitions. However, it is worth noting that all of these victories came away from home, with their home form being less than ideal, evidenced by consecutive defeats to Brentford and Everton at Selhurst Park.

Palace’s struggles at home have been a recurring issue this season, with only two Premier League victories at Selhurst Park. Despite that, Villa’s away form has also been far from convincing, having managed to collect just 14 points from their 12 league matches on the road, a statistic that does not align with a top-four contender’s performance.

For Villa, their recent success over Chelsea was a hard-fought one, with Marco Asensio playing a pivotal role, netting a brace in the second half to overturn a deficit and secure a crucial three points. Their momentum has been steadily building, as this result followed a commendable 2-2 draw against Liverpool the previous week, leaving the squad in a confident state.

Unai Emery’s men are now unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, and although their win over Chelsea initially propelled them into seventh place, Newcastle United’s victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday saw them drop back into eighth. Nevertheless, Villa remain just two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, meaning their ambitions of securing a Champions League qualification spot are very much alive.

Beyond the Premier League, Villa are still competing in two additional tournaments. They will face Cardiff City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday before traveling to Belgium to take on Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on March 4. With such a packed schedule, squad rotation and maintaining momentum will be key for Emery’s side.

However, Villa have struggled against Palace in recent encounters, failing to win in their last three league meetings. The memory of their previous visit to Selhurst Park in May 2024, where they endured a heavy 5-0 defeat, will still linger, providing them with extra motivation to set the record straight.

As the two sides prepare to battle it out, both will be eager to claim a vital three points for their respective ambitions. For Palace, a win would boost their chances of finishing higher up the table and provide much-needed confidence in their home performances. On the other hand, Villa will be determined to continue their push for a top-four finish and prove their credentials as serious contenders for European qualification. With both teams having plenty to play for, this clash at Selhurst Park promises to be an exciting and fiercely contested encounter.