At a Glance
- Crystal Palace and Leeds meet at Selhurst Park
- The Peacocks thrashed the Eagles in the reverse fixture
- Glasner has given an update on Munoz
Crystal Palace host Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday (March 15th) and will be eager for revenge. The reverse fixture saw the Peacocks thrash the Eagles 4-1 at Elland Road in December.
That came amid a nightmare period for Oliver Glasner, whose side went nine games without a win. They turned a corner in the new year and seem all but certain to remain in the top-flight next season.
Leeds’ safety isn’t as certain as they sit just three points above the drop zone. Daniel Farke’s troops will see Sunday’s game as a must-win to help them in their bid to stay in the division.
There are nine games remaining, and Palace find themselves 13th in the table, 10 points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United. That gap should give Glasner the opportunity to tinker with his side ahead of a crucial game next Thursday.
The Eagles were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park against Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca last night in the first leg of their Europa Conference League Round of 16 tie. It means it’s all to play for heading into the second leg at AEK Arena on March 19th.
That also means Glasner could rotate and give Jean-Philippe Mateta his first start since January. The French striker came off the bench in the draw to Larnaca and made his first appearance since a move to AC Milan collapsed.
Team News
The main question ahead of the game is whether Daniel Munoz will be available. The Colombian wing-back sat out the Larnaca match due to a shoulder injury sustained in a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last Friday.
Glasner gave an update on him during his pre-match press conference (via the club’s website):
“It’s more likely [he plays] than yesterday! It’s still a question mark. Sometimes it seems that Dani doesn’t feel pain where everybody else is feeling pain, so I’m quite hopeful. Let’s see if he can train with us tomorrow. Of course, we have to be a little bit aware of his shoulder, but if he can train fully with us on Saturday, then he will be in the squad here.”
Glasner won’t be able to call upon Cheick Doucoure who is sidelined with a knee injury and has been the entire season. A thigh issue continues to keep Eddie Nketiah out of action and he won’t return for the Leeds game.
Expected XI
Glasner has decisions to make over the team that takes on Leeds and whether or not he decides to rest key players. He could start Mateta against the Peacocks but it’s more likely he’ll continue with Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Brennan Johnson started at right wing-back against Larnaca and will probably continue in the role. He said he “enjoyed” it despite the dissapointing draw and next Thursday’s game must be the priority for Munoz.
Daichi Kamada could do with a rest and that hands a start to Will Hughes. No drastic changes but enough to indicate all eyes are on the AEK Arena trip.
Expected XI: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Riad; Johnson, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Strand Larsen
Prediction
The stakes are high for Leeds this weekend because defeat could drag them right into the relegation scrap. Farke’s men have gone without a league win in their last four outings but held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw.
Glasner won’t want to take his Eagles to Cyprus off the back of a defeat at home. That’s why a draw seems most likely with Mateta potentially bagging a goal that gets him back onside with fans.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 2-2 Leeds United
