Ismaila Sarr scored twice as Crystal Palace secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at Selhurst Park, continuing their impressive resurgence under manager Oliver Glasner. The win moves Palace to 12th in the Premier League, maintaining their momentum towards a potential top-half finish.
The match began eventfully, with Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey having an early goal disallowed for offside. Palace took the lead in the 29th minute when Sarr reacted quickest to tap in after Emi Martinez parried a Chris Richards header.
Villa improved after conceding and thought they had equalized when Morgan Rogers scored after a one-two with Ollie Watkins, but the goal was ruled out by VAR. Rogers did eventually level the score early in the second half, again linking up with Watkins, but Jean-Philippe Mateta restored Palace’s lead with a superb curling finish past substitute goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Martinez was withdrawn during half time.
Sarr then secured his brace, steering home a low cross from Daniel Munoz. Substitute Eddie Nketiah added a fourth late on to complete a comprehensive victory for the home side.
Glasner’s Impact and Palace’s Resurgence
The result extends Palace’s strong run of form, with only three defeats in their last 15 league games. Their improvement is a stark contrast to their early-season struggles, when they won just one of their opening 10 matches. The team is now in contention for a top-half finish and has an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to if they can defeat Millwall on Saturday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s transformation under Glasner has been particularly noteworthy. After scoring only 11 goals in his first 81 games for Palace, Mateta has now scored 25 in 40 appearances since the Austrian’s appointment. He scored 16 Premier League goals last season and is on course to surpass that total this term, having already scored 12. Sarr, celebrating his 27th birthday, also played a crucial role, while Adam Wharton made his first Premier League start since October.
Villa’s System Change Backfires
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery opted for a tactical shift, employing a 3-4-3 formation to match Palace. However, the change proved ineffective, and Emery reverted to a back four at halftime. While the adjustment initially led to Rogers’ equalizer, Villa ultimately struggled to contain Palace’s attacking threat.
The defeat extends Villa’s recent run of poor form, with only one win in their last six Premier League matches. The loss of goalkeeper Emi Martinez to injury at halftime added to their concerns. While Villa remain in contention for Champions League qualification and are still involved in both the Champions League and FA Cup, their recent performances raise questions about their ability to maintain their challenge on multiple fronts.
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