Two new managers finding their feet lock horns on Thursday, August 28th, 2026, when Crystal Palace host Manchester City at Selhurst Park for their first Premier League home game of the season.
The Eagles hope to bounce back from their opening-day defeat, while the Citizens look to continue their winning start to the campaign.
Team Form
Crystal Palace: Kicked off their term with a 2-0 loss against Everton.
Manchester City: Collected points in their opening fixture by beating Bournemouth 2-1 after a Community Shield defeat.
Key Stats & Head-to-Head
Palace have lost six of their last 10 meetings with City, winning just once across that stretch: the famous 1-0 victory in the 2025 FA Cup final.
Palace opened with a 2-0 loss to Everton despite generating 2.04 xG to Everton's 1.12; worst conversion since 2018.
Palace are winless in eight Premier League games, their longest run since March 2023.
City have not kept a single clean sheet under new boss Enzo Maresca so far.
City won only two of their final five away league fixtures last season.
Haaland scored in all five Premier League meetings with Palace, netting eight goals.
City haven't kept a clean sheet in seven consecutive matches.
Man City Won only four of their last 10 top-flight away matches in 2026.
What to Expect From Both Teams
Crystal Palace | Form: L
Pierre Sage's men have a lot to live up to after Oliver Glasner's historic reign delivered FA Cup and Conference League glory.
A 2-0 opening defeat to Everton stings, but the underlying numbers suggest Palace could have taken something from that game with sharper finishing.
Facing one of the league's dominant forces so early is a stern early test for Sage's project.
Manchester City | Form: LW
Maresca's side are taking their first steps into the post-Guardiola era, bouncing back from a 3-0 Community Shield mauling by Arsenal with a battling 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
City trailed at the break before goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol turned the contest around late on.
A Man City side that lost Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones this summer in a major midfield and defensive overhaul, still with a porous defensive record so far means Palace could find gaps if they're clinical in front of goal.
Predicted Lineups
Crystal Palace (possible):
Henderson, Canvot, Richards, Tomiyasu, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, McNeil, Nketiah, Mateta.
Manchester City (possible):
Donnarumma, Lewis, Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Guehi, Foden, O'Reilly, Semenyo, Haaland.
Matchups & Players to Watch
Jean-Philippe Mateta: Palace's striker will need to be clinical after his side missed four big chances against Everton.
Erling Haaland: City's talisman leads the line, flanked by a reshuffled attacking trio in Doku's absence.
Marc Guehi: Faces his parent club after starting in Maresca's double pivot, with a big-game goal already under his belt this season.
Antoine Semenyo: Set to line up in City's front three, offering width and pace against Palace's backline.
Odds Market on MSport
Crystal Palace/Home to win = 1.25
Manchester City/Away to win = 11.31
Both teams to score (GG/NG Yes) = 1.83
Over 2.5 total goals = 1.38
This clash pits a Palace side searching for their first points of the season against a City team still finding defensive solidity under Maresca. Selhurst Park should be set for a tense evening of Premier League action.