Brentford and Crystal Palace meet at the Gtech Community on Sunday afternoon (15:00 BST). The Bees are charging toward an unlikely Champions League finish, while Palace's focus is fixed firmly on a looming European final.
Bees buzzing toward Europe
Back in August, many pundits had Brentford tipped for relegation.
They'd lost their transformative head coach Thomas Frank to Spurs and key figures like captain Christian Norgaard and Bryan Mbeumo to Arsenal and Manchester United respectively.
Yet here they are, chasing European football. Talk about defying expectations.
That resilience has defined their season.
Brentford haven't always been slick, but they've been stubborn.
At home, especially, they've rediscovered their gritty edge — just two defeats in their last 14 league matches at the Gtech.
Keith Edwards' side have also kept Palace quiet here for decades, unbeaten in their last six home league meetings.
This isn't a team that overwhelms opponents with chances.
But when they do fall, Igor Thiago has been ruthless — only Erling Haaland has scored more than two goals in more league games this season than his six.
[BBC]
Are the Eagles already looking to Leipzig?
Crystal Palace's season looked like it might unravel when Oliver Glasner announced in January he would leave at the end of the campaign.
But the turbulence has eased, the squad has steadied, and Palace now stand on the brink of something far more historic— the chance to lift a European trophy just three days after the Premier League season concludes.
In any other year, sitting 15th would cause concern.
But the Eagles are safe, well clear of relegation — and with European final in Leipzig calling, their priorities have shifted.
Their flat performance in a 3–0 defeat at the Etihad was another sign of a side saving its energy for something far bigger.
Palace still carry threat though, and the numbers prove it.
They've won six of their last nine Premier League London derbies away from home (D2 L1).
After victories at Fulham and Spurs, they're chasing a third straight away win in the capital in a top flight season — something they've never achieved.
Jean Philippe Mateta has driven that charge, scoring 11 goals in London derbies.
[BBC]
