Saturday, at 12:30, the 30th Premier League is open to Crystal Palace – Brighton & Hove Albion, where Florin Andone could start playing as a reserve. The Romanian international scored the decisive defeat of Huddersfield’s (1-0) victory in the previous round and manager Chris Hughton wants to use his freshness in the second half of the London game. Palace is a difficult adversary on Selhurst Park.
Palace is 13th in the Premier League and has not escaped the relegation worries (35-39 golaveraj), with 33 points, three more than Brighton. “The Seagulls” are on the 15th position (goal 30-41) and do not allow the wrong steps, given the fact that they have won a single round of the last 6! On the other hand, Roy Hodgson’s “eagles” have three wins in the last five stages and have found their void since the transfer of Michy Batshuayi. Londoners have scored 13 goals in the last 6 games and have only one defeat in the last 8 official matches. So, the shape of the moment recommends a good result of the hosts.
Brighton comes in 1-0 with Huddersfield but has had modest results before this match, such as 1-2 in Leicester, 1-3 with Burnley, 0-0 with Watford or 2-4 at Fulham. Brighton, without excelling in the game, will come to London to play a defensive game in front of a team that benefits from the talents of players such as Batshuayi, Zaha or Townsend. Brighton has only two wins in the 14th of this season’s season, while the red-blue players have the 19th league balance in terms of home matches (3-4-7)! In fact, Roy Hodgson’s team gives a much better off-road performance, boasting the 6th English championship balance. The form of the moment is encouraging for the hosts.
Direct matches do not indicate a clear picture in this duel, because each team has scored two wins and two draws in the last six games. Given that only 21% of the matches played by the Palace on their own land this season have had more than two goals scored, the “safest” bet seems to be the one under “Under 2.5 goals in the match.” On the other hand, in 7 of the last 8 games of the “eagles” they scored both bands, which complicates our choice.
We know, however, that both bands will practice a cautious football in the first half, especially as Brighton has scored four consecutive shots in its last fours and has already attracted the attention of the Premier League rivals. From the hosts, Souare and Sakho can not play, while Chris Hughton does not have the Balogun, Hemed, Steele and Gross injuries.
PROBABIL TEAMS AT CRYSTAL PALACE – BRIGHTON:
Crystal Palace: Hennessey – Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Dann, Van Anholt – Kouyate, Milivojevic, Meyer – Zaha, Batshuayi, Schlupp / Townsend
Brighton: Ryan – Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo – Bissouma, Stephens, Propper – Knockaert, G. Murray, Jahanbaksh
PREDICTION: Crystal Palace to win @ 1,85
