Palace vs. Forest: Can Forest Upset the Odds in Selhurst Park?

The Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest is generating buzz, and not just for the football. Some are even calling it 'El CASico' due to recent off-field events. But can Forest capitalize on Palace's potential vulnerabilities?

Palace's Eze Factor

Crystal Palace's form takes a noticeable dip without Eberechi Eze, who is rumoured to be heading to Arsenal. Statistics show a significant drop in their win percentage (from 40% to 19%) and points per game (from 1.5 to 1.0) when he's absent. Oliver Glasner faces a challenge in maintaining squad morale after losing such a key player.

Forest's Strengths

Nottingham Forest are known for their solid performance in both boxes. Their defensive pairing of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo is considered one of the best in Europe, providing a strong foundation. This reliability makes them a potentially tricky opponent for a Palace side adjusting to life without Eze.

Controversy and Narrative

Adding spice to the encounter is the recent controversy surrounding Crystal Palace's demotion from the Europa League due to breaching multi-club ownership rules. Forest took their place, creating a sense of rivalry where little existed before. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the match.

Prediction

Given Palace's struggles without Eze and Forest's defensive strength, an away win for Forest at 21/10 with Sky Bet seems appealing. A tight 0-1 victory for Nottingham Forest is a plausible outcome.

Other Premier League Matches

The Premier League weekend also features other exciting matches, including Arsenal vs Leeds, Everton vs Brighton, Fulham vs Man Utd and Newcastle vs Liverpool. Keep an eye on those games for more Premier League action!