Crystal Palace vs Wolves preview: Can the new FA Cup winners beat Pereira’s team?

Crystal Palace head into their penultimate Premier League match of the season with a sense of euphoria few clubs can match. The Eagles won their first-ever major trophy with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend, etching their name into English football history and securing a place on the European stage for the first time in their history.

Naturally, the emotional and physical impact of this victory could be felt for a long time. Manager Oliver Glasner even canceled training in the days following the Wembley triumph to allow his players to recover. This may have helped prolong the celebrations, but the Austrian boss will now need to ensure his team is mentally healthy to finish their Premier League season on a high.

Their return to Selhurst Park for the first time since that feat will be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, and the Eagles will be looking to channel that energy into a winning performance. However, their home record against mid-table and top-half opponents leaves something to be desired.

Excluding matches against the bottom four, Palace have won just two of their 13 home league games this season (D6 L5). That said, they have historically finished the season well at home, losing just one of their last 12 home league games (W8 D3).

The wolves want to spoil the party

Wolves arrive in south London with pride and a position at stake. A top-half finish is mathematically out of reach, but a solid 11th or 12th-place finish would mark a respectable first season under Vítor Pereira. Their motivation could also come from ending an unwanted run of eight consecutive defeats in their final away league game of the season, a record dating back to their promotion in 2018.

Their recent record against Crystal Palace, however, is hardly encouraging. Wolves have lost each of their last four Premier League away games at Selhurst Park and have not won in the south London borough since returning to the top flight. Their overall struggles in the capital are also glaring, with Wolves not having kept a clean sheet in any of their last 23 Premier League games in London (W4 D6 L13).

This defensive vulnerability is reflected in their record this season, particularly when travelling to London, where they have conceded at least two goals in each of their six away games (W1, D1, L4). With Palace’s forwards brimming with confidence after their FA Cup victory, this could prove a difficult task for Pereira’s men.

An important point to note is the tactical familiarity between the two coaches. Pereira’s Fenerbahçe met Glasner’s Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League group stage, with both games ending 1-1. This could add an interesting tactical dimension to this mid-table match, even if the stakes are mostly symbolic.

Players To Watch

For the hosts, few players have been as influential in recent weeks as Eberechi Eze. The playmaker scored the decisive goal at Wembley and has shown great form throughout the spring, directly contributing to several of Palace’s recent wins.

He will be particularly excited about this opponent, having scored four Premier League goals against Wolves, including a brace in the return leg earlier this season.

Wolves will be hoping Jørgen Strand Larsen can once again deliver up front. The Norwegian striker has been in fine form, scoring in five of his last seven appearances, including the equalizer in the sides’ 2-2 draw in the first leg.

While Wolves are expected to stay back and hit on the counter, his presence up front will be crucial if they are to capitalise on any Palace errors.

Hot Stats

The team to score first has won seven of Wolves’ last eight away league games (W4 L4), highlighting the importance of a fast start and how momentum often dictates their away results.

Prediction

Palace, still fresh from their historic cup win and now playing in front of a roaring home crowd, should have the motivation to beat a struggling Wolves side away from home, especially in London. However, a post-cup hangover is not out of the question, and if Wolves open the scoring, they could well hold on.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-1 Wolves