(Photo by Damien Meyer / AFP)

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Odds Preview and tips

Game time & date: 1500 BST, Saturday August 20
Location: Selhurst Park, London
Last result between the two: Palace 1-1 Villa, Premier League, May 2022
Broadcast: N/A

A pair of sides that have made a middling start to the new Premier League season meet at Selhurst Park, with Crystal Palace still seeking their first win and Aston Villa looking to follow up beating Everton.

Both clubs are likely to be targeting a finish in the top half of the table but this could be a tricky one for Palace as they took a single point from their two matches against Villa last season.

Home advantage means that the Crystal Palace v Aston Villa betting odds to win have the Eagles as the narrow favourites, but perhaps there could be better value elsewhere for this clash.

Palace need improvement

Patrick Vieira’s side took the lead against the run of play at Liverpool on Monday night thanks to Wilf Zaha’s superb counter-attack goal, but the 10-man Reds claimed a point after Luis Diaz’s stunning strike.

Palace were always likely to find it tough to build on the success of last season, especially with loan star Conor Gallagher having returned to parent club Chelsea, but the early signs have not been good.

They were well beaten at home by Arsenal on the opening weekend but will be hoping Villa is a slightly less stern test after facing two of the traditional ‘big six’ first up.

Palace home games tend to be close affairs. Indeed, in a run dating back to last season, seven of their past eight league matches at Selhurst Park have seen under 2.5 goals scored. With Villa having drawn a blank in two of their past four away league games, under 2.5 goals is favoured at 3/4 with 888Sport.

As Palace have only scored more than one goal in a home game once since January, it seems safe to say there is not going to be a lot of entertainment and action for the fans at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Away team

Villa can take confidence from a solid record in the head-to-head against Palace, having won 2-1 in this fixture last season thanks to goals from Matt Targett – now at Newcastle – and new captain John McGinn.

Indeed, Villa have won three of their past five meetings with Palace, which perhaps suggests the Eagles being priced up as the favourites in the Crystal Palace v Aston Villa betting odds to win is incorrect.

The evens on Villa draw no bet at 888Sport has to be worth considering for this one, but a draw is a very possible outcome between two sides that are likely to be closely matched in this game.

A price of 11/5 at 888Sport for the draw stands out as a good option for Saturday’s clash while the price of 5/1 on a final score of 1-1, the result in the last game between the sides, looks like decent value too.

Predictions

Palace and Villa are yet to show their best football and will be looking to build some momentum, with Premier League icons Vieira and Steven Gerrard looking for strong progression from their sides.

Villa have the edge in the recent head-to-head record in this game, so the evens on Villa draw no bet at 888Sport appeals although the draw itself at 11/5 looks to be good value as well.

Palace’s home games tend to be close with under 2.5 goals recommended at 3/4 with 888Sport, where a price of 5/1 stands out for a 1-1 draw on the correct scores market.

Author: Jamie Smith