Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 20 May 2025 - bettingexpert
It’s the penultimate round of the Premier League season, and Selhurst Park will host the clash between mid-table Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers. While not a title decider, this match is crucial for both teams looking to finish the season on a high.
Crystal Palace, buoyed by their historic FA Cup victory over Manchester City, come into this match in good form, sitting 12th in the league with 49 points. Coach Oliver Glasner will hope his side can maintain their momentum, especially after their cup triumph.
Wolverhampton, currently 14th with 41 points, will look to recover from recent losses and secure a stable end to their season. Vitor Pereira’s side has shown resilience despite injuries but will need to tighten their defenses against a confident Palace side.
A draw seems likely given both teams’ form and defensive vulnerabilities. With referee David Webb officiating, expect a tightly contested game with few surprises. Bookmakers slightly favour the home side, but don’t be shocked if Wolverhampton springs a surprise or two.
Recommended bet: A draw.
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Prediction & Betting Tip
Given the recent form of both teams and their respective statistics, a draw seems to be the most likely outcome for this encounter.
| Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Prediction | |
|---|---|
| Betting tip | Odds |
| Draw | 3.28 |
- Crystal Palace has been inconsistent but gets a home advantage at Selhurst Park.
- Wolverhampton might surprise by exploiting counterattacks against Crystal Palace.
- Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities, leading to cautious play from both sides.
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Odds
| Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Betting Odds | |
|---|---|
| Bet | Odds |
| Crystal Palace | 2.54 |
| Draw | 3.28 |
| Wolverhampton | 2.80 |
The bookmakers have Crystal Palace as the slight favourites in this clash with odds of 2.54 for a home win. A draw is priced at 3.28, while Wolverhampton to win stands at 2.80.
Recent form and home advantage tilt slightly in favour of Crystal Palace, but Wolverhampton could exploit counterattacks, making the match an intriguing and evenly contested affair.
Crystal Palace Team Analysis
Crystal Palace Recent Performance
Crystal Palace have had a compelling run in their last five matches:
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | Manchester City | 2025-05-17 | FA Cup | 1-0 (Win) |
| Tottenham | Crystal Palace | 2025-05-11 | Premier League | 0-2 (Win) |
| Crystal Palace | Nottingham Forest | 2025-05-05 | Premier League | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Crystal Palace | Aston Villa | 2025-04-26 | FA Cup | 3-0 (Win) |
| Arsenal | Crystal Palace | 2025-04-23 | Premier League | 2-2 (Draw) |
Recent Form: WWDWD
Crystal Palace have shown resilience and a knack for clutch performances, notably winning their first-ever FA Cup with a stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester City. With 3 clean sheets in their last 5 games and scoring an average of 1.80 goals, the team has been rock-solid at the back while effective in attack. Expect Oliver Glasner’s side to bring this momentum into their clash against Wolverhampton.
Crystal Palace Key Players
Crystal Palace’s key players have been making headlines lately, especially Eberechi Eze, who scored the winning goal in their historic FA Cup victory. Eze, with 13 goals and 11 assists this season, will be crucial. Another standout is goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who was pivotal in the FA Cup final with several critical saves.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, the team’s top scorer with 14 goals, will lead the attack, aiming to trouble Wolverhampton’s defense. Expect central defensive stalwart Marc Guehi, who has piqued the interest of top European clubs, to play a vital role in keeping Wolverhampton’s forwards at bay.
Expected lineup for Crystal Palace:
- Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
- Defenders: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi
- Midfielders: Daniel Muñoz, Will Hughes, Daichi Kamada, Ben Chilwell
- Attackers: Eberechi Eze, Justin Devenny, Edward Nketiah
Crystal Palace Suspensions & Injuries
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Chadi Riad | Knee injury | Early January 2026 |
| Cheick Doucouré | Knee injury | Early August 2025 |
| Adam Wharton | Ankle injury | Doubtful |
Crystal Palace will be missing key players due to injuries. Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucouré are out with knee injuries and are expected to return in early 2026 and August 2025, respectively. Additionally, Adam Wharton is doubtful due to an ankle injury.
These absences might impact Crystal Palace’s midfield depth, especially with Wharton doubtful, and they will need to rely on their remaining squad depth to compete effectively against Wolverhampton.
Crystal Palace Tactics and Formation
Crystal Palace Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 3-4-2-1
- Key Forward: Jean-Philippe Mateta
- Midfield Duo: Daichi Kamada, Will Hughes
- Wing-backs: Daniel Muñoz and Ben Chilwell providing width
- Defensive Trio: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace’s recent success, including winning their first-ever FA Cup, has been built on solid defensive performances and quick counterattacks. They often rely on:
- Utilizing the wing-backs to push forward and create crossing opportunities.
- Dependence on Eberechi Eze for creativity in the attacking third.
- Tight defensive formation aimed at minimizing opposition chances, evidenced by three clean sheets in their last five games.
- Goalkeeper Dean Henderson as a pivotal figure, ensuring resilience at the back.
Expect Palace to keep things tight at the back while looking to capitalize on quick transitions.
Wolverhampton Team Analysis
Wolverhampton Recent Performance
Wolverhampton has had a mixed bag of results in the past five matches, with three wins and two losses. They are currently positioned 14th in the Premier League table with 41 points. In their recent games:
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | Brighton | 2025-05-10 | Premier League | 0-2 (Loss) |
| Manchester City | Wolverhampton | 2025-05-02 | Premier League | 1-0 (Loss) |
| Wolverhampton | Leicester | 2025-04-26 | Premier League | 3-0 (Win) |
| Manchester United | Wolverhampton | 2025-04-20 | Premier League | 0-1 (Win) |
| Wolverhampton | Tottenham | 2025-04-13 | Premier League | 4-2 (Win) |
Wolves have shown their capability to pull off strong performances, especially noted in their victory against Leicester and Tottenham. However, their defense appears to be leaky at times, conceding 1.7 goals on average across the season. They have managed to secure two clean sheets in their last five games, with an average of 1.6 goals scored per match. The attacking prowess of Matheus Cunha, their top scorer with 15 goals, remains a critical asset for exploiting counterattack opportunities.
Wolverhampton Key Players
Wolves will be relying heavily on their talisman, Matheus Cunha, who has netted 15 goals this season, making him their top scorer. Another key player is Marshall Munetsi, who adds stability and creativity in the midfield. Interesting individual battles to watch include their goalkeeper Jose Sa against Crystal Palace’s attackers like Jean-Philippe Mateta. The midfield clash between Joao Gomes and Daichi Kamada will also be crucial in determining the game’s flow.
Expected lineup for Wolverhampton:
- Goalkeeper: Jose Sa
- Defenders: Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou, Toti Gomes
- Midfielders: Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes, Andre Trindade, Rayan Ait Nouri, Marshall Munetsi, Matheus Cunha
- Forward: Jorgen Strand Larsen
These key players will need to be at their best to secure a result at Selhurst Park.
Wolverhampton Suspensions & Injuries
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Sasa Kalajdzic | Cruciate ligament injury | Late May 2025 |
| Enso González | Cruciate ligament injury | Late May 2025 |
| Yerson Mosquera | Knee injury | Mid August 2025 |
| Leon Chiwome | Cruciate ligament injury | Late September 2025 |
| Sam Johnstone | Physical discomfort | Late May 2025 |
| Hee-Chan Hwang | Knock injury | Late May 2025 |
Wolverhampton has a significant injury list, which could impact their performance. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso González, and Sam Johnstone are all expected to return in late May, but they’re still likely to miss this crucial clash against Crystal Palace.
Yerson Mosquera and Leon Chiwome’s long-term absences reduce defensive depth, meaning players like Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes need to step up. Additionally, Hee-Chan Hwang’s knock could leave Vitor Pereira’s side dependent on Matheus Cunha and Jørgen Strand Larsen to lead the attack.
Wolverhampton Tactics and Formation
Wolverhampton Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 3-4-2-1
- Key Forward: Jørgen Strand Larsen
- Midfield Duo: Joao Gomes, André Trindade
- Defensive Setup: Three centre-backs – Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou, Toti Gomes
- Notable Strategy: Focus on quick counterattacks
Wolverhampton are likely to stick with their 3-4-2-1 formation, which has proven effective in the latter part of the season. The back three, led by Matt Doherty, will focus on maintaining a solid defensive line.
In midfield, Joao Gomes and André Trindade will orchestrate play, while wingbacks Nélson Semedo and Rayan Ait Nouri provide width and support both in defense and attack.
With Jørgen Strand Larsen up front, supported by Marshall Munetsi and Matheus Cunha, expect quick transitions and counterattacks to exploit Crystal Palace’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Head-to-Head Statistics
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | Crystal Palace | 2024-11-02 | Premier League | 2-2 (Draw) |
| Crystal Palace | Wolverhampton | 2024-08-01 | Club Friendlies | 3-1 (Win) |
| Wolverhampton | Crystal Palace | 2024-05-11 | Premier League | 1-3 (Loss) |
| Crystal Palace | Wolverhampton | 2023-09-03 | Premier League | 3-2 (Win) |
| Wolverhampton | Crystal Palace | 2023-04-25 | Premier League | 2-0 (Win) |
These recent encounters show a competitive edge, with Crystal Palace often getting the upper hand. Their last meeting ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw, showcasing that both teams can be evenly matched. Expect a hard-fought battle as Crystal Palace aim to maintain their superior head-to-head form at Selhurst Park.
Odds accurate as of 18.05.2025 20:01, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.
