Three Premier League matches take place on Sunday, with the first of those being Bournemouth against Crystal Palace on the south coast. The Cherries have their sights set on qualifying for Europe next season, while Palace have had European distractions of their own after being on Conference League action on Thursday. Find our best bets and match preview below.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why I’m Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth to Win | 8/11 @ Bet365 (57.9%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Bournemouth are now a remarkable 14 games unbeaten in the Premier League (W6 D8), and they still can secure a European spot for next season. With Crystal Palace playing away in Poland in the Conference League on Thursday evening, they have had significantly less time to prepare for this game, and despite the short price, Bournemouth can come out on top here after a sensational season under Iraola. |
| Alex Scott to be Carded | 11/4 @ Bet365 (36.4%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Bournemouth average 2.41 cards per game, Scott is their main ball-winner. Palace draw 11.1 fouls per match, so the midfield is busy. 11/4 is a fair price for a likely starter in the thick of it. |
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Odds correct at the time of writing.
How both teams go into Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Bournemouth love a draw this season. 16 in 34 games, more than anyone else in the league. Latest was a 2-2 with Leeds where they threw away two leads. Still, they are hard to beat right now, unbeaten in 14 league matches and sitting seventh, just one point off sixth.
History says that kind of run usually means a top-six finish, but the job is not done. Four big games to come and no room to switch off. Europe is in sight and it could be key to keeping their best players. At home, they have been solid too, losing just twice all season, and they are unbeaten in five against Palace.
Crystal Palace have one foot in a European final. Oliver Glasner has his side dreaming again after a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final first leg. Ismaila Sarr struck after just 21 seconds, the fastest goal in the competition’s history, before Daichi Kamada and Jorgen Strand Larsen sealed it despite Palace seeing only 31% of the ball.
Europe is the clear focus, but there is still work to do in the league. Palace are 13th and only six points off seventh-placed Bournemouth. They lost 3-1 to Liverpool last time out and their away form has dipped, with seven defeats in their last 13 on the road. Still, they have a strong record at Bournemouth, with five clean sheets in their last eight visits and just one goal conceded across their last four trips.
Bournemouth team news
Bournemouth could welcome back Justin Kluivert after injury, with Lewis Cook and Julio Soler also close to returning, while Andoni Iraola may stick or twist with his XI as Rayan Cherki pushes to start after scoring last time out; Eli Junior Kroupi is the main threat with 11 goals this season, expected to support Evanilson again.
Crystal Palace team news
Crystal Palace still have injuries to deal with as Evann Guessand, Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure remain out, though Guessand is edging closer to a return. Oliver Glasner could rotate with Europe in mind and potentially rest Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, giving Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen a chance, while Tyrick Mitchell may have his minutes managed and Borna Sosa, Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma are all pushing to start.
Season Form & Standings
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Bournemouth | 7th | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 49 |
| Crystal Palace | 13th | 33 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 39 | -3 | 43 |
Head-to-Head
Recent Meetings
The last three meetings have all been draws or tight affairs. Most recently, it was a 3-3 thriller at Selhurst Park in October, but before that, two goalless draws and a 1-0 Bournemouth win. Goals have been scarce in this fixture, with three of the last four under 2.5.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 18/10/25 | Crystal Palace 3-3 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 19/04/25 | Crystal Palace 0-0 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 26/12/24 | AFC Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 02/04/24 | AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 06/12/23 | Crystal Palace 0-2 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
| 13/05/23 | Crystal Palace 2-0 AFC Bournemouth | Premier League |
Can Bournemouth’s Attack Crack Palace’s Defence? Final Thoughts
Crystal Palace’s trip to Poland to take on Shakhtar on Thursday evening gives Bournemouth a real edge here and they are worth backing at 8/11 for the win. For those looking for something bigger, take the 11/4 for Alex Scott to be carded.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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