---
title: "How Pierre Sage must use a crucial winter pause to salvage Crystal Palace’s season"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2026/11/04/crystal-palace-november-preview-pierre-sage-future-fixtures/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Naz Yusuf"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2026-11-04T20:11:16Z"
modified: "2026-11-04T20:11:16Z"
---

# How Pierre Sage must use a crucial winter pause to salvage Crystal Palace’s season

October delivered a brutal reality check for everyone at Selhurst Park. After starting the month with a vibrant 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace hit a wall, winning just one of their next six matches across all competitions.

Four defeats in that six-game stretch alongside a solitary Europa League draw have left Palace languishing in 18th place. While they sit inside the bottom three, the Premier League table remains congested enough that a couple of positive results can propel them back into upper-midtable security.

With five massive fixtures on the horizon, November offers Pierre Sage a chance to reset, regroup, and save his managerial tenure.

| **Date** | **Opponent** | **Venue** | **Competition** | **Kickoff / Focus** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Nov 5** | Hoffenheim | Home (Selhurst Park) | Europa League | Bounce-back opportunity vs German side |
| **Nov 8** | Liverpool | Home (Selhurst Park) | Premier League | Final league test before international break |
| **Nov 21** | Coventry City | Away (CBS Arena) | Premier League | Crucial fixture against promoted opposition |
| **Nov 26** | Real Sociedad | Home (Selhurst Park) | Europa League | Major European test against La Liga outfit |
| **Nov 29** | Hull City | Home (Selhurst Park) | Premier League | Non-negotiable home fixture vs struggling Tigers |

### Home Comforts and European Ambitions

The month opens on Thursday evening as Palace host German outfit **Hoffenheim** in the Europa League. Hoffenheim have endured a mixed domestic campaign in the Bundesliga, but their 3-0 victory over Lyon highlights their attacking threat.Sage desperately needs three points at Selhurst Park to stay on track for direct qualification and avoid a dangerous two-legged play-off tie in early 2027.

Three days later, **Liverpool** arrive in South London for a blockbuster Sunday afternoon clash. Palace hold a surprisingly strong recent record against the Reds, winning four of the last ten meetings across all competitions. Securing a positive result before the season pauses for the final international window of the year would grant Sage vital breathing room.

### The Mid-Month Pause and Must-Win League Fixtures

The two-week international break between November 9 and November 20 gives Sage uninterrupted time on the training pitch—a luxury he has lacked during autumn’s relentless fixture schedule.

When domestic action resumes on November 21, Palace travel to face **Coventry City** at the Building Society Arena.Coventry boast strong home form, but Palace must take points off fellow bottom-half rivals to kickstart their climb up the table.

European football returns five days later as **Real Sociedad** visit Selhurst Park. Sitting fifth in La Liga and holding 14th place in the Europa League standings, the Spanish side present one of Palace’s toughest technical tests of the group phase.

Palace round off the month on November 29 against **Hull City**. The Tigers started the campaign brightly but have drifted into an eight-game winless run ahead of their trip to Arsenal. Facing a stubborn opponent at home, Palace fans will view three points as an absolute baseline requirement.

### A Month That Defines the Campaign

For the Selhurst Park faithful, November brings a relief in overall match volume compared to October’s chaos, but the stakes could not be higher. Sage faces a defining four-week block.

If Palace utilise the mid-month break to fix defensive vulnerabilities and convert home momentum against Hoffenheim and Hull, they will transform their season. Fail to capitalise on these fixtures, and the pressure on the board to make a managerial change will become overwhelming.