Man City vs Crystal Palace Prediction 13 May 2026
🔊 On May 13, the Etihad Stadium hosts a fixture Manchester City would have preferred to avoid at this stage of the season. The title race hangs by a thread, with the FA Cup final against Chelsea looming just days later. This rescheduled Premier League Matchweek 31 clash with Crystal Palace has become absolutely pivotal. Any slip-up here could cost City their shot at the championship.
Head-to-Head
📊 The head-to-head record leaves little doubt: the Citizens have avoided defeat against the Eagles in 16 of their last 18 home meetings. Still, Oliver Glasner’s side have made life difficult for City on their last two trips to the Etihad. In December 2023, the Eagles snatched a 2-2 draw, and in April 2025, despite falling 5-2, they rattled the favourites by taking a 2-0 lead. The most memorable clash between these clubs came in last season’s FA Cup final, when Crystal Palace lifted the trophy at Wembley thanks to an Eberechi Eze winner (1-0).
Head-to-head statistics Man City - Crystal Palace
Manchester City Team Overview
Nothing has changed in the standings. The Citizens remain second with 74 points to their name. The title race has turned into a true test of nerves for Guardiola’s side. Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday stretched the gap to five points, meaning City must win all their remaining fixtures to keep their championship hopes alive.
On Saturday, the Sky Blues cruised past Brentford 3-0 after a goalless first half. Jeremy Doku broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, Erling Haaland doubled the lead shortly after, and Omar Marmoush sealed the victory. Guardiola’s men were utterly dominant against a side chasing European football: they outshot Brentford 25-4 and led 3.3 to 0.36 in expected goals. This marks City’s seventh win in their last eight games across all competitions. The only slip-up was a 3-3 draw with Everton a week earlier-a result that could ultimately cost the Citizens both the title and a domestic treble.
Match Results: Manchester City
Crystal Palace Team Overview
The Eagles are currently in 14th place with 44 points. It's safe to say that the remaining Premier League fixtures for Oliver Glasner's squad are nothing more than a formality. Their focus has clearly shifted to their European campaign. Reaching the final of the Conference League after a comprehensive aggregate victory over Shakhtar (5-2) marks a historic achievement for the club.
Meanwhile, Palace are struggling at the end of the Premier League season, failing to secure a win in their last four matches. However, the team doesn't lack character. On Sunday, the Glaziers drew with Everton (2-2), coming from behind twice during the match. The goals came from their recognized leaders, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr. The main issue for the visitors is consistency: they are capable of a heroic comeback in one match but can also suffer a lackluster defeat in another, as evidenced by their 3-0 loss to Bournemouth two rounds ago.
Match Results: Crystal Palace
Latest news
Manchester City
❌ The hosts are managing their squad issues well. Joško Gvardiol is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a broken leg in January, but he is aiming to be fit in time for the World Cup.
❓ Rodri missed another match due to discomfort, and his availability for Wednesday remains uncertain. Abdukodir Khusanov is also a doubt after picking up an injury against Everton and missing the previous round. However, with Rúben Dias back in action, the absence of the Uzbekistan international is unlikely to be a major setback.
Crystal Palace
❌ Borna Sosa and Evann Guessand have been sidelined for some time and are not part of the starting lineup.
🚫 Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucouré have been out even longer. While these absences aren’t critical for the Eagles, they do limit their rotation options.
🟨 Yellow Card Prediction
Stuart Attwell has been appointed as the referee for this fixture. The Englishman has shown 108 yellow cards in 23 Premier League matches this season-an average of 4.7 per game-cementing his reputation as the league’s strictest official. While his numbers have dipped slightly in his last five outings, he still hands out an average of 4.8 bookings per match. Crystal Palace average 2.29 cautions on the road, while Manchester City surprisingly pick up 1.65 yellows per home fixture-a reflection of Rodri’s absence in midfield. With the title race on the line, a bet on over 3.5 yellow cards at odds of 1.90* looks well-founded; Attwell has hit this mark in 9 of his last 10 appearances across all competitions.
⚽ Goals Prediction
Manchester City find the net at the Etihad no matter the opposition: Pep Guardiola’s side have scored in 18 consecutive home matches since their August defeat to Tottenham (0-2). However, they’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last four outings. Palace, buoyed by their run to a European final, will fancy their chances of exploiting City’s defensive lapses. Both teams to score (yes) at 2.06* stands out as a logical pick.
🚩 Corner Prediction
City average 6.88 corners per game at home, while Crystal Palace win 4 per away match. There’s little doubt that City will dominate possession and territory, leaving Palace with only sporadic opportunities. In this scenario, under 2.5 Crystal Palace corners at an attractive 1.92* is worth considering-Palace have managed no more than two corners in 13 of their last 15 head-to-head meetings with City.
🚀 Player Stat Bet
Jeremy Doku is currently the Premier League’s most dangerous winger: five goals and two assists in his last six matches. A brace against Everton and a stunning winner versus Brentford have been crucial in City’s title push. Pep Guardiola has transformed the Belgian into a true game-changer-Doku can now burst past defenders or curl one into the top corner with either foot. Given his remarkable progress, back Jeremy Doku to score or assist at 1.61*.
😱 High-Risk Bet
Crystal Palace come into this clash with nothing to lose after securing a spot in the Conference League final. With no Premier League pressure, Oliver Glasner’s side become a dangerous proposition. Palace have scored twice in four of their last five meetings with City, and they’ve hit that mark in four straight visits to the Etihad-a stunning trend. The odds on Crystal Palace over 1.5 team goals are a massive 5.95*!
🎯 Safe Bet
Second-half statistics between these sides are striking: Manchester City have scored after the break in all seven of their most recent Premier League encounters with Crystal Palace-a habit that holds regardless of the scoreline or standings. Palace only add to this trend, conceding after halftime in their last five away matches across all competitions. This makes Manchester City to score in the second half the safest play at odds of 1.24*.
👀 If the Game Doesn’t Go to Script
City could strike early and then control possession, suffocating Palace’s attack and grinding out a professional 2-0 win. Guardiola has been involved in too many shootouts with Palace in recent years-and paid dearly for it during the recent goal-fest at Hill Dickinson. That experience could prompt the Spaniard to take a more pragmatic approach this time around. In such a scenario, under 2.5 total goals is a strong possibility; pre-match odds are sky-high at 2.9*.
*Odds are approximate and may vary across bookmakers.
Editor’s Prediction
The gulf in quality and the home advantage make City overwhelming favourites here. Still, the intense pressure could play against the hosts. Crystal Palace haven’t been setting the Premier League alight recently, but they remain a tricky opponent for Guardiola’s side-Oliver Glasner knows how to set up against Pep. Notably, the Eagles have scored in six of their last seven visits to the Etihad, often more than once, so we’re expecting an open, high-scoring contest with City on top. The main pick: over 3 goals, a bet that has landed in 10 of the last 11 head-to-heads at City’s ground. Our well-founded prediction: a 3-1 home win.
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Betting Tips: Manchester City - Crystal Palace
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