Crystal Palace don dey recover from the pain of their unbeaten run wey Everton scatter before international break, and now dem go host Bournemouth for Selhurst Park this weekend — one match wey nobody expect go turn hot like this. Both teams dey inside top six presently, so e go be serious showdown.
Match Preview
Before Palace waka go Everton new Hill Dickinson Stadium, dem don go 19 matches straight without any loss. For that 20th match, dem nearly carry draw, but na one late-late goal from Jack Grealish for 93rd minute break their hearts and end their unbeaten run. That loss even push dem comot from Champions League spots small.
Still, make we talk true — for club wey sell star boys like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze for back-to-back summers, to dey sixth for Premier League table no be small thing. Oliver Glasner boys dey overperform, and dem still never lose any Premier League game for Selhurst Park this season.
In fact, dem don play nine straight league matches for home without defeat — five wins, four draws. If dem avoid loss this weekend, e go be only the third time ever wey Palace go get 10-game unbeaten home run (the other times na 1979 and 1990).
But Bournemouth no come play.
Andoni Iraola boys dey cook fire football this season. The Cherries dey enjoy their best-ever start for Premier League history. Before the international break, dem beat Fulham 3-1 with Antoine Semenyo scoring two goals and Justin Kluivert add one more. That win even lift Bournemouth reach second for table at one point before Arsenal and Spurs later push dem to fourth.
Still, Bournemouth fans no get reason to worry — this team dey play with serious confidence. If dem beat Palace this weekend, na their 100th Premier League win. The last club wey reach 100 wins faster than that na West Ham back in 2000, so history dey on the line.
Statistically, Bournemouth fit even dey confident because dem don keep four straight clean sheets against Palace. The last two meetings between both sides even end goalless (0-0). If Saturday match end like that again, e go be just the fifth time for Premier League history wey two clubs draw 0-0 for three straight games. That one go be mad record.
Team News
For Palace side, Yeremy Pino and Pape Sarr don return fit after small worries before Everton game. So, na only Cheick Doucoure (knee), Caleb Kporha (back) and Chadi Riad (knee) still dey injury list. Riad sef fit come back soon in a few weeks.
Adam Wharton wey some people feel deserve England call-up still dey very fit and ready to ball. Na good news be that. Jean-Philippe Mateta go still lead the attack for Palace, though rumours dey say Barcelona and Manchester United dey eye am for transfer next year.
For Bournemouth, dem get one fresh wahala. David Brooks injure hamstring for Wales duty, so e don rule am out for this weekend. But Adam Smith fit return from thigh injury, while Enes Unal (knee) also dey close to comeback.
Antoine Semenyo go still lead the line, as the Ghanaian striker dey in wild form. In fact, only Erling Haaland don get more goal contributions than am for Premier League this season. That guy dey unstoppable presently.
Possible Lineups
Crystal Palace possible starting XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
Bournemouth possible starting XI: Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Prediction
Crystal Palace 1-1 Bournemouth
Na only Tottenham Hotspur don ever manage five straight clean sheets against Crystal Palace between 2016 and 2019, but e go hard for Bournemouth to continue that run. Palace go definitely find way to score this time for their home ground.
Still, Bournemouth form too solid to ignore. Even with small break from international matches, dem go still show sharpness and confidence. So this one fit end draw — Palace 1, Bournemouth 1 — and the Cherries go still need to wait small before dem reach their 100th Premier League win.
Live Update
This page go dey updated regularly as gist dey unfold. E dey LIVE — so check back often make you no miss any fresh update, team change, or injury news as e drop for ground.
