Will the Eagles' weakened defense withstand Haaland's pressure? Prediction for Crystal Palace vs Manchester City, 28.08.2026
On Friday, August 28, Selhurst Park will host a second-round Premier League clash as Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City. Kick-off is set for 20:00 UK time. The Eagles have already stumbled out of the gate, falling 0-2 to Everton, while Enzo Maresca's side will play their opening league match against Bournemouth on August 23.
Crystal Palace: Opening defeat and new defensive headache
Pierre Sage's first official match in charge of Crystal Palace ended in disappointment. In Liverpool, the Eagles lost 0-2 to Everton, conceding to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry. The result was perhaps a bit harsh on the visitors: in the first half, Palace created enough chances, struck the woodwork twice, and could easily have taken the lead themselves.
The main problem struck after the break. Chadi Riad suffered a leg injury and was stretchered off. The final diagnosis is yet to be announced, but given the nature of the incident, his involvement against City looks highly doubtful. This is especially worrying for Sage amid a reshuffle in the heart of defense: Maxence Lacroix left the club in the summer, and Palace have agreed a loan deal for Axel Disasi from Chelsea.
There are also concerns over Ismaïla Sarr. The Senegalese winger missed the Everton game due to a groin issue, so his fitness will need to be assessed closer to Friday. Without Sarr, the attacking line loses significant pace—and against a team that will dominate possession, breaking into open spaces could have been one of the hosts' key weapons.
Still, Sage can count on Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah, and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Palace are capable of creating chances and didn't look hopeless in the opening round, but their effectiveness in both penalty areas against Everton was severely lacking.
Manchester City: A new era begins with a rebuild
This is Manchester City's first season after the departure of Pep Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca taking the reins. His official debut came in the Community Shield and was a painful one—a 0-3 defeat to Arsenal. As a result, fans are expecting a swift response from the Citizens at the start of the league campaign.
Before the first round, Maresca confirmed that Jérémy Doku is sidelined with an injury sustained in the Super Cup. Matheus Nunes, on the other hand, has rejoined full training and is ready to play. Doku's recovery is expected to take several weeks, so counting on the Belgian in London seems unlikely for now.
Even without Doku, the visitors' attacking arsenal remains formidable. Erling Haaland is still the focal point up front, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki can operate between the lines, and Antoine Semenyo adds power and directness. Last season, Haaland netted 27 goals, and against a reworked Palace backline, the Norwegian should get plenty of opportunities once again.
There's another argument in favor of the visitors—the head-to-head record. In last season's two Premier League meetings, Manchester City beat Crystal Palace twice by the same scoreline: 3-0, first at Selhurst Park, then at home in May.
Probable lineups
- Crystal Palace: Henderson — Kanwo, Richards, Tomiyasu — Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell — McNeil, Nketiah — Mateta.
- Manchester City: Donnarumma — Khusanov, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Riley — Anderson, Kovačić — Semenyo, Foden, Cherki — Haaland.
Palace's lineup may change depending on Sarr's fitness and updates on Riad, while City's final setup will become clearer after their opener against Bournemouth. The Citizens' latest official medical update confirms Doku's absence and Nunes' return.
Match facts
- Crystal Palace started the season with a 0-2 defeat to Everton.
- Manchester City won both Premier League fixtures against Palace last season, 3-0 each time.
- In the opening round, the Eagles failed to convert their chances and drew a blank.
- Chadi Riad picked up an injury in round one, while Ismaïla Sarr missed the match with a groin problem.
The visitors' class should tell: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City prediction
Crystal Palace have enough quality to make life difficult for the favorites at Selhurst Park. The Everton match showed Sage's side can create opportunities, and the 0-2 scoreline doesn't tell the whole story. But heading into a clash with a title contender, the hosts are facing fresh selection headaches in precisely the areas where squad depth is most crucial.
City are also in transition. Maresca is still building his team, the 0-3 defeat to Arsenal in the Super Cup exposed some issues, and Doku's absence narrows their attacking options. Nevertheless, the visitors' individual quality is on another level. Haaland, Foden, Cherki, and Semenyo have the firepower to punish Palace for the same defensive lapses that appeared in round one.
Another factor—the recent head-to-head history. The last two league meetings between these sides finished with convincing 3-0 wins for City. While another rout isn't guaranteed, with odds above the required threshold, a straight win for the visitors looks the optimal bet.
Prediction: Manchester City win.
