Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Crystal Palace welcome Nottingham Forest to Selhurst Park on Sunday for their opening Premier League home clash of the new season.
The encounter ranks among the weekend̢۪s most hotly anticipated games, fueled by lingering tension between the clubs following the controversy that led to Palace̢۪s relegation to the Conference League earlier this summer.
Crystal Palace
Instead of Nottingham Forest having to contest a Conference League qualifier on Thursday, it was Crystal Palace who were forced into action, as UEFA̢۪s ruling on multi-club ownership saw the Eagles demoted from the Europa League, with Forest handed their place in Europe̢۪s second-tier competition.
That decision has sparked bitterness between the two fanbases, with Forest openly lobbying UEFA to clamp down on Palace.
The setback tarnished what had otherwise been a golden summer for Oliver Glasner̢۪s men, who lifted the FA Cup, claimed the Community Shield, and finally made their European bow by edging Fredrikstad 1-0 in Norway.
Eberechi Eze was absent from that squad, however, as the England playmaker moves closer to sealing a transfer to Arsenalâ€"a major blow for supporters so close to the deadline. He ought to have marked his farewell at Chelsea with a winning free kick last weekend, only for it to be disallowed on a rare technicality.
That stalemate at Stamford Bridge marked Palace̢۪s fifth draw in seven outings, more than any other Premier League side in that period. Their 11-match unbeaten run now faces stern tests, with Forest̢۪s visit followed by a trip to Aston Villa.
History offers little encouragement: Palace have lost 12 of their 16 Premier League home openers, scoring just once across the last nine seasons.
Team News
Eberechi Eze’s absence from Palace’s Conference League lineup on Thursday has effectively sealed his impending departure, though Marc Guehiâ€"linked with Liverpoolâ€"retained his place in the back three.
Jefferson Lerma stepped in for Chris Richards at centre-back, while Borna Sosa was chosen over Tyrick Mitchell in the only other change, but aside from the outgoing Eze, the same side that started at Chelsea is expected here.
On the fitness front, Daichi Kamada is nearing a return, yet Eddie Nketiah, Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucoure and Matheus Franca remain unavailable.
Nottingham Forest
Forest, meanwhile, are an especially troublesome for the Eagles. Palace have never beaten them in 10 Premier League meetingsâ€"the longest winless streak they have endured against any opponentâ€"while Forest’s eight-game unbeaten streak at Selhurst Park stretches back to 2003.
Even goals are scarce when the two meet: their six clashes since Forest̢۪s 2022 promotion have produced just eight, with May̢۪s 1-1 draw unusually lively by comparison.
Goals flowed freely for Nuno Espirito Santo̢۪s side on opening weekend, as Nottingham Forest brushed aside Brentford 3-1 at the City Ground to banish any lingering doubts after a winless pre-season in which they played out five goalless stalemates.
The result not only steadied nerves but also amplified the sense of anticipation around the club, with optimism fuelled by a busy summer in the transfer market.
With West Ham to come at home next week, Forest now turn their attention to maintaining the outstanding away form that underpinned their top-seven finish last season. Nuno’s men collected 33 points on the roadâ€"bettered only by Liverpool and Arsenalâ€"winning 10 of their 19 away fixtures.
That return is especially impressive given their struggles in previous campaigns; across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons combined, Forest managed just 24 away points from 38 games. Their transformation into one of the Premier League̢۪s most effective travelling outfits has been a cornerstone of their resurgence.
Team News
Chris Wood will aim to build on his opening-day brace, having netted against Palace in two of his last three outings.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s attacking ranks could also feature three new arrivalsâ€"James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson and Arnaud Kalimuendoâ€"while Nicolas Dominguez is ruled out for several months with a knee injury.
Conclusion
All six Premier League clashes between Palace and Forest since the latter̢۪s 2022 promotion have either finished level or been settled by a single goal, suggesting another cagey affair is likely.
Forest̢۪s squad has been boosted significantly by recent additions, while Palace must contend with the looming loss of Eberechi Eze.
Even so, the Eagles remain solid across several areas of the pitch and should still prove competitive in front of their home crowd.
Verdict: Draw
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker: ZetBet