English Premier
2025-04-12 - Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 12th April 2025 - Kick Off 12:30pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
The goalless draw in the Manchester derby saw the home team take more criticism from the pundits rather than Manchester City, but you have to believe that Pep Guardiola will be reminding his players that he needs more. With the top five now officially in the running for the Champions League spots, it would be a huge underachievement if Manchester City are not playing in the top UEFA competition again next season.
For much of the campaign it has been one of disappointment and Manchester City are 6th in the Premier League table, albeit just a point behind 4th placed Chelsea and with the opportunity to play first this weekend. The side have a 9-3-3 record at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League and Manchester City have scored 32 goals and conceded 19 in those matches.
Manchester City are unbeaten in 4 games in all competitions since losing 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, but the draw with Manchester United means they have won 1 of their last 4 Premier League fixtures. That victory was earned against Championship-bound Leicester City in the last fixture played at the Etihad Stadium, but Manchester City have failed to win half of their last 6 here in all competitions.
Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Erling Haaland are all expected to miss the rest of April. Phil Foden had a noticeable limp after being withdrawn before the hour mark in the derby and has to be considered a doubt to start.
Crystal Palace
It may not have been the best performance produced by Crystal Palace in recent weeks, but beating Brighton at Selhurst Park would have made the fans very happy. Oliver Glasner has been linked with potential vacant roles at big European clubs, but the Crystal Palace manager is only focused on securing a strong end to the campaign for his team who are on the edge of the European places in the Premier League and also have a big FA Cup Semi Final to come.
The Eagles may be 11th in the Premier League table, but they have overcome a slow start and are 5 points behind 8th placed Fulham and with a game in hand to play. That fixture has been set for Wednesday next week at St James' Park, but Crystal Palace will only be focusing on this Saturday lunchtime kick off and improving the impressive 6-5-3 away record in the top flight.
Crystal Palace are not only unbeaten in 7 in all competitions, but the most impressive part of their form is that they have won 11 of 15 games played since the turn of the calendar year. They had won all 6 away games played in all competitions in 2025, but that run was ended in the 1-1 draw at Southampton earlier this month.
Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah will serve one game suspensions this weekend. There is also every reason to believe Maxence Lacroix will miss out having been withdrawn with a concussion in the win over Brighton.
Head to Head
These two teams played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park earlier this season.
Manchester City have only won 2 of their last 6 home games against Crystal Palace and they have suffered 2 defeats in that time.
The last meeting between the clubs at the Etihad Stadium ended 2-2 in December 2023.
Prediction
You cannot ignore the form that Crystal Palace have been producing in 2025 and they might have been worth chancing for the upset if they had a full squad available this weekend.
However, losing Marc Guehi to suspension and potentially having Maxence Lacroix miss out with an injury means they defence may be a bit more vulnerable in this fixture.
Crystal Palace have been basing their strong form on solid foundations, especially away from home, but that may not be so solid without two of the first choice three centre halves. That may also free up the thought process for the manager though and Crystal Palace certainly have players in the final third that can create chances and cause plenty of problems for this Manchester City team.
Despite the investment in January, Pep Guardiola's team have struggled for any kind of consistency and Manchester City look a bit more untrustworthy when set as short priced favourites. The top five may be making the Champions League, but Manchester City cannot expect to coast into those places and a team that have struggled at the back have also not been the most consistent in the final third.
Erling Haaland is a miss, although it is the players that have tried to step up in the wide areas who have not really performed to a level expected. Omar Marmoush has shown some positive signs after arriving in January, but Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Savinho have not hit the levels expected and Kevin De Bruyne is soon to move on.
Pep Guardiola has work to do with that in mind and this season is all about just making sure Manchester City are playing in the Champions League again next season. This is a big game with that in mind, but Crystal Palace have tended to cause plenty of problems for Manchester City even when the latter have been at their best.
The early kick off on Saturday can be tough for players, but 4 of the last 5 between these clubs have featured at least four goals shared out.
With the defensive issues that both Manchester City and Crystal Palace have on Saturday, attack may prove to be the best form of defence and this could be another fixture between these two teams that ends up featuring plenty of scoring on the day.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 3.5 Goals at 2.50 with BetFred
