It has been quite a week since the opening game of the season at Stamford Bridge, with the Eagles making a successful European debut and Ebere Eze leaving the club for Arsenal.
There are mixed emotions heading into the weekend after a very stubborn Fredrikstad took advantage of the hosts first game without their talisman in the line up.
It was a worry that we clearly missed that creative spark but there were enough chances created to have won the game comfortably, with plenty more work is to be done next week in the second leg in Norway. First things first, the visit of Nottingham Forest.
You could not line up the fixture lists any better from some eyes; Palace host Forest who were at the centre of the European squabbles across the summer, while elsewhere Newcastle face Liverpool who have been battling over Alexander Isak.
The visit of Forest comes right smack in between the two Conference League play off ties that they should in fact be playing. But that is not the case, so we move on, or do we?
Selhurst Park will be expecting a white hot atmosphere after everything that has gone on which will make things very interesting indeed.
Of course, it is early in the season to really take too much from these first few games, but there will be a hint of jealousy towards the visitors who have been very active in the transfer market this summer, while the hosts have been left kicking their heels.
It is clear that there is some unrest around South London with the lack of activity, and losing Eze to Arsenal just adds to that frustration. This is a big season for Palace after the success of last campaign, and Oliver Glasner needs additions to the squad. It was expected that two or even three were needed before losing Eze, but with the potential to lose Marc Guehi before the window, it could well be four new recruits expected.
Regardless, there will not be any additions ahead of kick off on Sunday, so Glasner will need to consider the impact of losing a creative player and whether Justin Devenny starts in that role or whether it is an opportunity to bring in Jesurun Rak-Sakyi or Romain Esse.
With Forest parading new additions this week who will likely feature in the game this weekend, but all does not seem well at the City Ground all of a sudden if their managers comments are anything to go by.
Palace have started the season well, having won two games and drawn one (including the Community Shield) but with one on qualifying for the league stage of the Europa Conference League, Glasner will be keen to continue the good run of form for as long as possible.
Match Essentials
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Fixture: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest
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Date & Time: Sunday, 24 August 2025 — 2pm
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Venue: Selhurst Park
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Broadcast (UK): Sky Sports; streaming via Sky Go
Team News & Storylines
Crystal Palace
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Eberechi Eze is set to complete his high-profile move to Arsenal and has been withdrawn from recent squads, including the Conference League qualifier, due to illness.
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Injuries: Cheick Doucouré, Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada, and Eddie Nketiah are unavailable, while Matheus França remains a doubt.
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Despite the absences, the team showed resilience with a goalless draw at Chelsea in their opener.
Nottingham Forest
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Only Nicolás Domínguez is sidelined with a knee issue; the rest of the squad is available.
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They boast good form, having beaten Brentford 3–1 in the opening match, with Chris Wood scoring twice and Dan Ndoye bagging a goal.
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Manager Nuno Espírito Santo remains at the helm, continuing to guide a confident and compact Forest side.
Form & Head-to-Head
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Recent fixtures between the two have been tight: Palace and Forest have often drawn, including a 1–1 in May 2025 and 0–0 in October 2023.
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Crystal Palace: Strong defence shown at Stamford Bridge.
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Forest: Started with an emphatic home win; their balanced build-up and counter-attack are significant threats.
Tactics & Players to Watch
| Key Keys | Details |
|---|---|
| Palace Strategy | Likely to lean on defensive organization and wing-play. Mateta and Sarr could be key in transition play. |
| Forest Approach | Expect fast transitions and set-piece threats via Gibbs-White and Wood. |
| Key Duels | Mateta vs Wood (pace vs physicality), Sarr’s runs against Forest’s backline. |
Predictions & Betting Angles
Expert Picks
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Ladbrokes and Coral lean toward a 2–1 Palace win at home, seeing their experience and possession edge as decisive.
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The Stats Zone favors Nottingham Forest under current form and squad dynamics.
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NerdyTips projects a Forest win, with key bets being Under 3.5 goals, Both Teams to Score, and a 1–2 Forest victory as a bold correct-score pick.
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Transfer-site highlights value in Forest covering a –1 Asian Handicap, reflecting confidence in an outright away win.
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Flashscore suggests Both Teams to Score (4/5), Wood to Score Anytime (9/4), and a Draw (23/10) as smart wagers.
Summary Table
| Source | Prediction / Tip |
|---|---|
| Ladbrokes/Coral | 2–1 Palace win |
| The Stats Zone | Forest to win |
| NerdyTips | Under 3.5 goals; Forest to win; 1–2 Forest |
| Flashscore | Both Teams to Score; Wood to Score; Draw |
| Transfer-site | Forest to cover −1 AH (Asian Handicap) |
Final Thoughts
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Palace: Facing a reshaped squad amid transfer distractions and injuries; strengths lie in their defensive organization.
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Forest: Confident and healthy, with a streamlined system under Nuno and momentum from a strong start.
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Outcome: A tight, tactical game likely with scoring from both sides. Value swings toward Forest, but Palace’s fan base and home support could be a levelling factor.
