Manchester City remain a shadow of their former selves as they continue to battle for Champions League qualification. The race for the top five is as open as ever, so Pep Guardiola’s side cannot afford to take anything for granted.
Crystal Palace are more than capable of throwing a spanner in the works. Can City hold them off and collect all three points?
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace best bets
- Draw – 7/2 with Spreadex
- Under 2.5 goals – 11/8 with Parimatch
- Ebere Eze to score or assist – 9/4 with Sky Bet
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace odds
Find the latest match odds for Manchester City vs Crystal Palace. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace predictions
With the title race done and dusted and the relegation battle as good as over, the only major point of interest over the last seven Premier League gameweeks is the fight for European football.
Arsenal’s stunning 3-0 triumph over Real Madrid on Tuesday made it official that England will be granted five places in the Champions League next term.
The Gunners have almost sewn one of them up, while Liverpool will also be sitting at the continent’s top table in 2025/26.
That leaves three places up for grabs. Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Newcastle United would qualify if the campaign ended today, but Manchester City, Aston Villa, Fulham and perhaps even Brighton & Hove Albion are in the conversation too.
Indeed, there is a gap of just six points between Chelsea in fourth and Brighton in ninth. This one will almost certainly go right down to the wire.
The bookies expect Forest to hold on to third place. And despite their present position, Manchester City are the next favourites to qualify for the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side are through to the FA Cup semi-finals too, so there is still plenty for them to play for this term.
Not that you would have realised that by watching last weekend’s Manchester derby. An uneventful match featuring two passive, listless teams will not live long in the memory. It was further evidence of how far City have fallen in a relatively short space of time.
Crystal Palace will arrive at the Eithad Stadium in a buoyant mood. They beat their arch-rivals Brighton last weekend and are now counting down the days until their FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa on April 26.
Palace might still be in the European mix themselves. Currently 12th, they are only four points off eighth, which may well end up being a Conference League berth. Palace also have a game in hand on the sides around them.
City, of course, would not be content with anything other than a top-five finish.
“If we are able to qualify for the Champions League, it would be a huge success from my point of view. There are seasons that you have to live that,” Guardiola said last month.
“It depends on us and our behaviours and our football whether we will be there or not.”
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace betting tips
Manchester City are favourites to beat Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend.
Draw
Crystal Palace’s remarkable form over the last few months has gone a little under the radar.
Oliver Glasner’s side started the season slowly, but since the beginning of December they have been the third-best performing side in the Premier League.
In that time Palace have collected more points per game than anyone but Liverpool and Arsenal.
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The Eagles have been particularly adept at getting results on the road. Since December 1 they have amassed 20 points on the road, the most in the league. Liverpool are in second place despite having played two more away games than Palace over that period.
That, together with Manchester City’s continued struggles, makes it worth backing a draw in Saturday’s early kick-off.
Back a draw at 7/2 with Spreadex
Under 2.5 goals
Crystal Palace’s aforementioned success on their travels has been built on a rock-solid backline.
Glasner’s team have often been an immovable object on hostile territory, shipping just two goals in their last eight matches at opposition grounds.
There has been plenty of talk about whether or not Erling Haaland is the ideal centre-forward for a team coached by Guardiola.
Yet even if he is not as polished in the build-up as other strikers, Haaland scores goals at an unparalleled rate. Manchester City are a poorer team without their injured Norwegian.
Goals could be at a premium in this one.
Choose under 2.5 goals at 11/8 with Parimatch
Ebere Eze to score or assist
Ebere Eze has had an inconsistent season overall, but he has been much more effective in the last few weeks.
The England international provided two assists in the 2-1 defeat of Brighton last weekend.
That means he has had five direct goal involvements in his last four appearances in all competitions.
Eze is a livewire when he is on form and Manchester City will have to keep a close eye on him.
The former QPR attacking midfielder can bring his influence to bear on this encounter.
Tip Ebere Eze to score or assist at 9/4 with Sky Bet
How to watch Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
- Location: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England.
- Date and time: Saturday 12th April, 12.30pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 1.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
- Premier League winner predictions
- Premier League top scorer odds
- Premier League relegation odds
- Champions League winner odds
- Championship promotion odds
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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