How heavy are the Glaziers’ legs after the big party?
The 2024/25 season has another surprise in store – and the previously empty trophy cabinets in Crystal Palace’s clubhouse finally have their first major trophy. The Eagles defeated Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, securing the FA Cup and with it a ticket to the 2025/26 Europa League group stage. The extensive celebrations will probably also have an impact on the Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton tip. In this article, we will analyze the extent to which this is likely to be the case.
The Wolves of two weeks ago would probably have immediately capitalized on the fact that the Glaziers have to be back on the pitch just three days after the biggest success in their club history. However, after six wins in a row, the Wanderers have suffered two defeats, failing to score in either game. This is also not insignificant for our Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton prediction.
However, we would not overestimate the Wolves’ two goalless games. Especially against a London side that may not be completely focused and clear-headed for the entire 90 minutes, they should at least be able to end their goalless streak. However, a 1-0 away win for the Wanderers, who have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 23 Premier League away games in London, is not really likely either.
Crystal Palace – Statistics & current form
Crystal Palace can go into the final stages of the season with their heads held high as newly crowned FA Cup champions. They have won six of their last eight Premier League games against the Wolves (one draw, one defeat), with both exceptions coming away from home. The Londoners are unbeaten in their last four league home games against Wolverhampton, winning each time. The Wolves have lost only four of their last 18 away games at Palace (seven draws, seven defeats).
A look at the home record on the last matchday is also promising: In the past twelve seasons, the Glaziers have lost only once in their last home game (eight wins, three draws) – a 1-3 defeat to Arsenal in 2020/21. With 49 points currently, the Eagles could now break the 50-point mark in the country’s top flight for the first time since the 1991/92 season. If Crystal Palace beat Wolverhampton, it would set a new Premier League record. No team has ever picked up 52 points after failing to win any of their first eight games of the season.
Will Eze and Muñoz work their magic in the Premier League too?
Eberechi Eze has been in strong form recently, scoring the winning goal in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley. He has also been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven Premier League games (five goals, two assists). He has now scored in three league games in a row. Only Christian Benteke (four games in May 2021) and Neil Shipperley (five games in December 1997) have achieved this more often in a Glaziers shirt.
Daniel Muñoz is also making headlines: the full-back has already been directly involved in nine goals this Premier League season (four goals, five assists). In the last game against Tottenham, he set up the opening goal, just as he did in the FA Cup final. No Eagles defender has ever achieved double digits in goal involvement in a single Premier League season.
Wolverhampton – Statistics & current form
Wolverhampton Wanderers may have put any relegation worries to rest early on thanks to a strong second half of the season, but with 41 points they are still miles away from a European spot. They now face a difficult task in the final game of the season, as the West Midlands team traditionally struggles at Crystal Palace. The last four away games at Selhurst Park have all been lost.
In their last 23 Premier League away games against London clubs, the Wolves have failed to keep a clean sheet and conceded 50 goals in the process. Their last clean sheet on the Thames came over three years ago, in February 2022 at Tottenham (2-0). Historically, the Wanderers’ last away game of the season does not bode well either: they have lost all of their last eight such games. The last time Wolverhampton did not lose their final away game of a league season was in 2015/16 (1-1 against Nottingham Forest). Their last away win at the end of the season dates back to 2014/15 (1-0 at Wigan).
Will Wolverhampton end their goalless streak on the Thames?
Even now, the odds are against the visitors at Crystal Palace against Wolverhampton. Interwetten is offering odds of 2.80 for a win for Crystal Palace and currently has a 100% bonus up to $100 available with the Interwetten bonus. This is not surprising, given that Vitor Pereira’s men have lost two in a row without scoring a goal after six consecutive wins. The Wolves are facing a series of three defeats without scoring for the first time since October 2022.
The only hope lies in the form of Jörgen Strand Larsen, who has made 109 targeted “off-the-ball runs” into the penalty area, the most of any player in the league. Admittedly, however, he has lacked sustained impact in recent games. The visitors will nevertheless do everything they can to end the season on a high note and somehow capitalize on the fact that the evenings after the FA Cup triumph on the Thames are likely to have ended in revelry. At the very least, we believe the West Midlands side are capable of scoring an away goal.
Crystal Palace – Wolverhampton Head-to-head record / H2H record
Head to head: 27 – 20 – 30
A total of 77 matches have been played between the two teams so far, with Wolverhampton Wanderers narrowly leading the head-to-head record with 30 wins. However, six of the last eight Premier League matches between the two teams have gone to Crystal Palace (one draw, one defeat). The Eagles have also won their last four Premier League home games against the Wolves in a row, after previously only managing four wins from 18 home games (seven draws, seven defeats).
Crystal Palace – Wolverhampton Tip
It was just three days ago that the Eagles celebrated the greatest triumph in their club history. Despite the team’s seriousness, it is clear that the home side are likely to be the more tired team, especially as the visitors from the West Midlands played their last competitive game on May 10. Accordingly, the prediction for Crystal Palace against Wolverhampton is that the Wanderers will end their two-game Premier League scoreless streak at Selhurst Park.
However, considering that the Wolves have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 23 Premier League away games in London (the last time was a 2-0 win at Tottenham in February 2022), the Eagles are also likely to score. As a result, the best value is offered by betting on both teams to score, especially as a 1-1 draw would certainly be an acceptable result for both sides.