Date & Kick-off:

Sunday, 24 August 2025

13:00 UTC (14:00 WAT)

Venue: Selhurst Park — Premier League, Round 2

1. Setting the Scene

Crystal Palace return to Selhurst Park for their first home fixture of the Premier League season, looking to build on their pre-season momentum. Opposing them is Nottingham Forest, who themselves come into this clash seeking to make a statement on the road.

2. Head-to-Head & Recent Form

H2H record favors Nottingham Forest historically: 6 wins and 6 draws to Forest’s 1 in their meetings. Palace will be keen to overturn that narrative.

Crystal Palace form

Wins over Augsburg in pre-season (3–1 at home, 1–0 away)

A 2–2 draw with Liverpool and a goalless draw with Chelsea

Nottingham Forest form

A solid 3–1 pre-season win over Brentford

A couple of 0–0 draws against Fiorentina and Al Qadasiya

Slightly disrupted by a loss to Birmingham City, followed by a draw with Estoril

3. Key Tactical Insights & Players

Crystal Palace:

Have netted 6 goals in their last 5 matches.

Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the team in shots on target per game (2.0), while Adam Wharton has created the most big chances (1.0)

Nottingham Forest

Have scored 3 goals in their last 5 fixtures.

Notably, they remain unbeaten against Palace in their last 10 matchups (4 wins, 6 draws).

Chris Wood is currently the competition’s top scorer (2 goals).

4. Talking Points & What’s at Stake

Palace’s aim: To harness their pre-season scoring rhythm into a strong performance at home and shift the dynamic in the rivalry.

Forest’s edge: Their rich history over Palace and unbeaten spell gives confidence, but can they handle Palace’s attacking flair and home support?

Star performers to watch: Mateta and Wharton for Palace; Chris Wood for Forest—expect a battle to control the attacking tempo.

5. Expected Lineups & Atmosphere

While actual lineups are still pending (likely confirmed about an hour before kick-off), both teams will likely field strong sides, eager to bounce off pre-season displays and set the early tone for their Premier League campaign. Expect an electric atmosphere at Selhurst Park, with home fans pushing Palace forward.

6. Prediction Snapshot

With their scoring form and home advantage, Crystal Palace appear to have the edge heading into this matchup. However, if Nottingham Forest can harness their unbeaten record and d

eploy their clinical striker effectively, this clash could still swing either way.

Final Word

This clash promises to be a competitive and compelling start to the campaign. Will Palace convert their pre-season promise into Premier League points, or will Forest’s historical dominance and solid form steal the show? Either way, it's shaping up to be a thriller at Selhurst.