Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Crystal Palace5 - 0Aston Villa

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 May 2024, 16:57
Crystal Palace eased to a 5-0 victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, securing their place in the top half of the table in the process as Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion fell to defeats.

The top 10 finish for the Eagles sees them record their highest finish in the English top flight since placing 10th in the 2014-15 season.

While Villa had little to play for with fourth already secured they were Palace's equal throughout the first half, enjoying almost fair shares of the ball and each having plenty of shots, but the second half was completely controlled by the hosts as they ran out 5-0 winners.

A phenomenal hattrick from Jean-Philippe Mateta and two brilliant strikes from Ebere Eze saw Palace run rampant, ending the season on a seven-game unbeaten streak with six wins in that time.

Palace got off to the perfect start in their attempted push for a top-half finish as Mateta was played through by Michael Olise, with the striker smashing past the onrushing goalkeeper and making it 1-0 to the Eagles.

A brief stoppage took place for a VAR check on a potential offside, but just minutes later and the game was underway with the goal confirmed.

Moussa Diaby almost equalised in the 16th minute for the visitors as he raced towards goal but his eventual shot was palmed away by Dean Henderson, with the eventual follow-up shot from Ollie Watkins being deflected out for a corner.

From the corner, Aston Villa worked the ball to Diaby at the back post but Henderson was once again equal to the shot, with nothing coming from the subsequent corner.

A brief dull spell followed in the following 20 minutes until Mateta once again struck for the Eagles. Olise found Daniel Munoz down the right-hand side and squared the ball to the striker, who powerfully finished from close range to double the lead.

Olise almost added a third on the stroke of halftime, bearing down on goal but his shot was superbly saved by Robin Olsen to keep it at 2-0 after the first 45.

It would not stay that way for long though as just 10 minutes after the restart and Eze joined the action, a loose ball fell in the midfielder's path as he drove forward and blasted his shot past Olsen.

Palace should have made it four on the hour mark after a great piece of work from Nathaniel Clyne with his cross making it's way to Munoz, who pushed the ball further into the box and to Olise, but the Frenchman could only send his shot wide of the target.

Three minutes later and the fourth did come, this time from Palace's talisman once again. Henderson threw the ball long and into Eze's path, breezing past Diego Carlos and slotting the ball through to Mateta, who took the ball into space before placing it into the net.

The Frenchman added his fourth and Palace's fifth in the 66th minute with yet another slotted finish, but another VAR check this time did deny Mateta and kept the score at 4-0.

Palace wasted no time in making sure they had their fifth though, scoring his second goal in the 70th minute as Aston Villa seemingly crumbled. Joachim Andersen won the ball in defence and played through to Eze, running into space and playing a neat one-two with his striker before firing low and into the goal.

Mateta was rightfully given a hero's reception as he was taken off with 15 minutes to go with the striker having scored 13 in his last 13 since Oliver Glasner took over the side.

Eze came agonisingly close to scoring the second hattrick of the day in the 82nd minute but his shot bounced just inches wide, denying him his chance as he exited the pitch moments later.

The final result secured Palace their 10th-place finish with 49 points after rivals Brighton lost 2-0 to Manchester United and Bournemouth fell to a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Glasner can now look to build on his side with the upcoming transfer window with an aim of pushing higher up the table next season, something his men could certainly achieve if they continue their form since his arrival in February.

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to travel to Tynecastle Park to face relegation-threatened Hearts on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon