(Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP)

Man City v Crystal Palace Odds, Preview and Tips

Game time & date: 1500 BST, Saturday August 27
Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Last result between the two: Palace 0-0 City, Premier League, May 2022
Broadcast: N/A

Manchester City dropped points for the first time this season at the weekend, drawing 3-3 away to Newcastle, but they have a chance to get back on track with Saturday’s visit of Crystal Palace.

The Eagles head north on the back of an impressive 3-1 defeat of Aston Villa last time out but the Man City v Crystal Palace betting odds to win suggest they are in for a tough task in this one.

City actually lost at home to Palace last season, though, so could there be a shock result on Saturday?

Could Palace be City’s bogey team?

While the Man City v Crystal Palace betting odds to win indicate this should be a cakewalk for the defending Premier League champions, their head-to-head record against Palace is not great.

The Eagles took four points from two games against City last term, keeping clean sheets in both games. City have lost two of their past four home league matches against Palace, winning only one of them.

Few teams have such a strong record against City, who shipped three goals in a thriller at Newcastle last weekend. Nathan Ake limped off in the first half of that game and might lose his spot to Ruben Dias.

City have won 13 of their last 15 home matches in the Premier League while there have been over 2.5 goals scored in their last eight home league games too. Those who want to back the champions to get back to winning ways can take 4/6 with 888Sport for City to win with over 2.5 goals scored on Saturday.

Vieira hoping for happy Etihad return

Eagles boss Patrick Vieira ended his playing career at the Etihad, then took charge of the City academy team in 2013. Perhaps it should not have been a surprise to see Palace win 2-0 away to City last season, Aymeric Laporte having been dismissed for Pep Guardiola’s side just before the half-time interval.

Goals from Wilf Zaha and Conor Gallagher saw Palace collect all three points on that occasion and while the latter has returned to parent club Chelsea after a superb loan spell, Zaha is in fine form.

Palace’s star man Zaha has three goals in three games this season, following up a superb strike at Liverpool with a double at home to Villa last time out. He will be a major threat for City to handle, especially as they appeared to struggle with the pace of Allan Saint-Maximin on Sunday.

The Man City v Crystal Palace betting odds point to a comfortable home win, but Newcastle showed the champions are perhaps not quite up to full speed yet.

There could therefore be value in backing Palace to avoid defeat. Odds of 4/1 on Palace double chance stand out as top value with 888Sport, with the handicap market offering another option here too.

Palace +2 can be backed at 33/20 with 888, meaning the wager would win if City triumphed by one goal.

Predictions

It should be a comfortable home win according to the Man City v Crystal Palace betting odds but Palace’s recent record at the Etihad suggests they will be hard to beat.

Value in backing the champions can be found at City to win with over 2.5 goals – 4/6 with 888Sport – but perhaps it is a better option to side with the Eagles, who won this game 2-0 last term, this time out.

The 4/1 on Palace double chance looks very big, while Palace +2 can be backed at 33/20 with 888 too.

Zaha’s fine form means he is of interest on the goalscorer markets for Saturday’s match as well. Zaha is 16/5 with 888Sport to score any time and a hefty 12/1 to get the first goal, as he did at Anfield.

Author: Jamie Smith