Crystal Palace: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Crystal Palace could line up for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemou. Crystal Palace has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Zimbabwe.

Key facts

• Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Crystal Palace could line up for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemou.
• The Cherries host Crystal Palace on Sunday aiming to continue their unbeaten run and cement their spot in the race for Europe.
• AFC Bournemouth host Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 3, kick off at 2pm.
• Crystal Palace will be without three players for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
• By Oliver Thomas | 01 May 2026 00:05, Last updated: 01 May 2026 00:41.

What we know

Going deeper, the Cherries host Crystal Palace on Sunday aiming to continue their unbeaten run and cement their spot in the race for Europe.

On the substance, AFC Bournemouth host Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 3, kick off at 2pm.

Beyond the headlines, Crystal Palace will be without three players for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

More precisely, By Oliver Thomas | 01 May 2026 00:05, Last updated: 01 May 2026 00:41.

It is worth noting that Jefferson Lerma, who made 184 appearances for Bournemouth before joining Palace in 2023, and Will Hughes will be hoping to force their way into the first XI ahead of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada in centre-midfield.

By the numbers

At this stage, Junior Kroupi netted a first half brace to give Bournemouth a two-goal lead at halftime, before Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice in five minutes to draw Palace back level before the 70th minute.

On a related note, Palace sit 13th in the league, six points behind the Cherries, after their mini run of four games unbeaten including two wins was ended away at Liverpool last weekend.

Going deeper, their semifinal began with the away leg against Shakhtar Donetsk last night, with Palace prevailing 3-1, before next Thursday’s leg at Selhurst Park.

On the substance, Oliver Glasner oversaw a 3-1 first-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League semi-finals on Thursday and with the Eagles so close to securing their place in a major European final, the Austrian may consider resting some of his key players on the South Coast.

The wider context

On a related note, Top scorer Ismaila Sarr netted his 18th goal of the season in all competitions against Shakhtar – the fastest goal in Conference League history – and he may take a seat on the substitutes’ bench this weekend along with Jean-Philippe Mateta, with one eye on next week’s European second leg.

Going deeper, the Cherries are unbeaten in the past five games against Palace, but the past three meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw.

On the substance, Last season, there was not a single goal scored across 180 minutes of football, but the game earlier this term was hugely dramatic at Selhurst Park.

Beyond the headlines, while the draw to Leeds last time out was perhaps disappointing, particularly in the manner in which it happened, it extended the club’s run to 14 games unbeaten.

More precisely, Cheick Doucoure (muscle), Eddie Nketiah (thigh) and Evann Guessand (knee) all remain sidelined with injuries, though the latter is “progressing” and could return before the end of the season.

The bottom line

• The Cherries host Crystal Palace on Sunday aiming to continue their unbeaten run and cement their spot in the race for Europe.
• Their semifinal began with the away leg against Shakhtar Donetsk last night, with Palace prevailing 3-1, before next Thursday’s leg at Selhurst Park.
• The Cherries are unbeaten in the past five games against Palace, but the past three meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw.
• Searches spiking right now: Shakhtar Donetsk vs Crystal Palace LIVE: UEFA Conference League latest score, commentary, stats & updates, Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner's side take commanding lead in Europa Conference League semi-final, Crystal Palace in driving seat after Kamada punishes Shakhtar Donetsk, 'If Kane scored that we'd be saying wow' - Strand Larsen shows Palace worth.