After experiencing opposite fates in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest face off at Selhurst Park in the Monday night match of Premier League Gameweek 35. The Eagles, currently 12th in the league and far from European spots, still have a chance to qualify directly for the next UEFA Europa League by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup Final on May 17. Since Oliver Glasner’s men realized a top-seven finish would be a tough ask, they’ve shifted focus entirely to the FA Cup, as reflected by a poor league record in April: one win, two draws, and two losses. With two weeks still to go before their crucial showdown against the Citizens, the Austrian coach must keep his players focused and in peak physical condition. On the other side, Nottingham Forest saw their FA Cup dream end last weekend, but they remain in contention for Champions League qualification, with the race for 5th place still wide open. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side recently dropped out of the top five after a loss to Brentford but remain just a few points behind the fourth and fifth spots. That’s why the Tricky Trees head to London on Monday, May 5 with one clear objective: to win.

Crystal Palace Recent Form and Key Stats

Last weekend, Crystal Palace secured their place in the FA Cup Final by defeating Aston Villa 2-0 at the iconic Wembley Stadium. In their last 5 matches, the Eagles have registered 1 win, 2 draws (against Arsenal and Bournemouth), and 2 losses (against Manchester City and Newcastle), averaging 1.4 goals scored and 2.4 conceded per match.

At Selhurst Park, Glasner’s men have earned 21 of their 45 total points from 5 wins, 6 draws, and 6 defeats. They are currently unbeaten in their last five home games, with 4 wins and 1 draw—the most recent being a 0-0 against Bournemouth on April 19. Their last home loss dates back to February 15, when they fell 1-2 to Everton.

Nottingham Forest Recent Form and Key Stats

Nottingham Forest are going through a difficult spell, coming off two consecutive 2-0 defeats, first against Brentford in the Premier League and then against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. Overall, they've won just 1 of their last 5 matches (4 losses), averaging 0.6 goals scored and 1.6 conceded.

Away from home, however, Forest have shown signs of life with 2 wins in their last 3 away matches in the Premier League: a 4-2 win at Ipswich and a 2-1 win at Tottenham, with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa in between. Their full away record stands at 9 wins, 2 draws, and 6 losses, with 29 goals scored and 28 conceded in 17 away games.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Prediction and Tactical Overview

Matches between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have historically been close affairs. The last five meetings produced three draws and one win apiece. The reverse fixture at the City Ground on October 21 ended 1-0 in favor of Nottingham Forest thanks to a goal from Chris Wood.

With Champions League hopes on the line, Nottingham Forest must get a result and can’t afford to lose further ground. Expect Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to adopt an aggressive, attacking approach to capitalize on the speed of their wingers Elanga and Hudson-Odoi (who remains doubtful).

By pushing forward, Crystal Palace will have opportunities to exploit Glasner’s vertical attacking style, with Mateta (14 league goals) as their most dangerous finisher. Given that Forest have conceded in each of their last five matches, it's reasonable to expect at least one goal from Palace.

Not surprisingly, the BetMines algorithm prediction for Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest forecasts a game with goals on both sides.

• The BetMines Algorithm prediction for Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest predicts that both teams will score at least one goal at 55%
• The BetMines Algorithm prediction for Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest predicts that at least one of the two teams will not score any goals at 45%.

Predicted Lineups Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest

CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Eze, Sarr; Mateta. Manager: Oliver Glasner

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Toffolo; Sangare, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Wood. Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo