Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Prediction and Betting Tips: Jean-Philippe Mateta tipped to fire

It’s the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League season on Sunday which sees Crystal Palace play Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Sunday 19th May, kicking off at 4pm.

Aston Villa’s place in next season’s Champions League was confirmed on Wednesday when their nearest rivals for fourth spot in the Premier League, Tottenham, lost 2-0 to Manchester City.

It confirms a job well done by Unai Emery and his side, who needed two late goals to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Liverpool the previous evening, and the celebrations look to have already begun.

However, they face a difficult game at Crystal Palace, who have been in red-hot form under new manager Oliver Glasner, building on their impressive 4-0 home win over Manchester United with a 3-1 victory at Wolves which has taken them to 12th in the table.

Palace took time to find their feet under Oliver Glasner after the Austrian arrived in the middle of February, but they are finishing the season like a train.

The availability of star players Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze has undoubtedly helped, but the Eagles probably don’t want the campaign to end having dropped just two points in their last six matches.

The catalyst for their change of fortunes was a 1-0 win at Liverpool and they have been particularly strong at Selhurst Park, where they have scored at least twice in seven of their last nine matches, including a 5-2 win against West Ham and a 4-0 success over Manchester United.

Opponents Villa have accomplished their mission to gain a Champions League spot for next season but they have not won in their last five games, which included two defeats to Olympiakos in the Europa Conference League semi-finals, so Palace can end the season on a high in an entertaining encounter.

One of the stars of the Palace turnaround has been French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and he can extend his rich vein of form into the final game.

He had difficulty establishing himself in the first team before Christmas, but he has relished his opportunity under the new boss, scoring 10 goals since Glasner’s arrival.

Mateta has proved a handful for any Premier League defence, as he demonstrated with a pivotal role in their key victory at Anfield, and he has been inspired particularly in front of the Selhurst Park fans.
He has found the net in each of his last six matches on his own patch and that run included a brace in the thumping victory over West Ham and both goals in the impressive 2-0 success over Newcastle.

So he is not just scoring goals against Premier League strugglers and there looks to be a strong chance that he can continue his impressive run and set the Eagles on their way with the opening goal on Sunday.