On Sunday, we will once again watch the London derby between Crystal Palace and Chelsea. This will be Chelsea’s second match of the week, after they defeated Pafos in the Champions League earlier. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are currently active in Europe. They are waiting for the continuation of the Conference League, where it will return to complete the playoff round against Zrinjski before possibly qualifying for the Round of 16.
Crystal Palace have sold Marc Guehi to Manchester City. After a very poor run of form, extremely inefficient performances, and a series of heavy defeats, the club entered this match as a clear underdog against Chelsea. At this moment, Palace looked like an ideal opponent for any Premier League team, with their form at rock bottom.
Knowing that Chelsea were coming to Selhurst Park as absolute favourites, both the club and Oliver Glasner reacted. It was confirmed that midfielder Ismaïla Sarr has returned to the first team after finishing his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Muñoz, who was injured earlier in the season, is now also available for this match.
The fact is that the team has been vulnerable and unstable, conceding a large number of goals. Chelsea were clear favourites, but the question is whether the returns of Muñoz and Ismaïla Sarr are enough to stop a Chelsea side that comfortably beat Brentford 2–0 in the previous round. Up to that point, Brentford had not only been one of the best teams in terms of form in England, but also beyond.
One of the key characteristics of Palace since Glasner’s arrival has been compactness and direct passing. The question is whether, in this poor run of form, the team can withstand Chelsea’s heavy attacking pressure and still find a way to score themselves. Crystal Palace are likely to defend deeply. Pafos defended very well against Chelsea throughout the match, but if Chelsea plays more openly and attack-minded football, Muñoz could become a strong asset for Glasner.
If Crystal Palace once again adopt Pafos’ tactical approach and focuses solely on defending, it will be challenging to avoid defeat. Muñoz has not played football for a long time, and this entire setup looks like Glasner’s attempt to stop their city rivals in a very difficult match.
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