Our prediction for this Premier League match:
Saturday’s football game at Selhurst Park pits together Crystal Palace and Southampton, the two teams who are almost level on points in the Premier League standings. The Eagles suffered a heavy 3-0 loss at Everton at the weekend, with the team dropping to 13th place in the standings, but it is well known that they produce much better showings at home than on the travels.
Forward Jean-Philippe Mateta is pushing for a start, while midfielder James McArthur remains in the recovery room alongside Nathan Ferguson. Both Nathaniel Clyne and Chris Richards are major doubts. The Saints, on the other hand, are undefeated in the previous three league fixtures, and they are surely capable of holding Palace to a draw in London. Both Bella-Kotchap and Livramento are injured for the away team, while Lavia faces race against clock to be fit for the match.
Highlighted Player (Jean-Philippe Mateta):
A talented French youngster Jean-Philippe Mateta worked his way up through football’s less glamorous landscapes plying his trade at local amateur sides and third-tier outfits before Ligue 1 giants Lyon took notice of his 11 goals in 22 matches and brought him to the big league.
Having failed to make it into the first team in a debut season with Les Gones, Mateta was shipped out to Le Havre, leading the club to promotion play-offs. Bundesliga side Mainz took notice of his ability and came calling in the summer of 2018 after he bagged 17 goals in 35 league matches. An imposing physical presence at his 192cm, Mateta is a mobile forward and a decent dribbler who can finish with both of his feet.
Having worked his way up from the very bottom, Jean-Philippe Mateta is a committed individual determined to make a name for himself. His impressive goalscoring record got rewarded in the form of France U19 call-up in 2017.
Highlighted Team (Southampton):
Southampton are an English football club that have been playing their home games at St Mary's Stadium since 2001. The Saints were based at The Dell in the past and the capacity of Southampton’s new stadium is 32,505. Southampton wear red and white striped shirts and the colour of the team’s away kit is navy and green.
The Saints have yet to win the Premier League trophy, but they did well to clinch the FA Cup title back in 1976, while participating in the final of the prestigious competition in 1900, 1902 and 2003. Southampton outplayed Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final and that is probably the club’s greatest victory ever.
The club are well known for their football academy and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale is one of the players who began their football carrier at the St. Mary’s Stadium outfit. Southampton’s fiercest rivals are Portsmouth and the two teams square off against each other in the South Coast Derby.