Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, 31 August 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Crystal Palace delivered a commanding performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park. The result was somewhat surprising given Villa's recent form, which included a loss and a draw, but Palace capitalised on their opportunities with goals from Marc Guehi and Ismaïla Sarr. The game's turning point came early when Jean-Philippe Mateta scored from the penalty spot, setting the tone for Palace's dominance. This win marks a significant moment for Palace, breaking their streak of draws and showcasing their potential to challenge higher-ranked teams.

Aston Villa struggled to find their rhythm throughout the match, with their recent form of a loss and a draw perhaps affecting their confidence. Despite having more possession, Villa failed to convert their chances into goals, highlighting a need for sharper finishing. The team's inability to respond after conceding early put them on the back foot, and they couldn't recover. This defeat extends Villa's poor run of results, leaving them with much to ponder as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.

The statistics from the match reveal a stark contrast between possession and effectiveness. Aston Villa dominated possession with 58% compared to Crystal Palace's 42%, yet it was Palace who made the most of their opportunities, scoring three goals to Villa's none. The significant difference in successful dribbles, with Palace at 75% and Villa at 47%, suggests Palace were more clinical in their approach. Despite Villa's ten corners to Palace's one, they couldn't capitalise, underscoring their struggle to convert possession into goals.

The game's pivotal moment came early when Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a penalty in the 21st minute, giving Crystal Palace the lead and setting the tone for the match. This was followed by a yellow card for Mateta, but Palace maintained their composure. The second half saw Palace extend their lead with a goal from Marc Guehi in the 68th minute, a well-taken effort that further demoralised Villa. The final nail in the coffin came from Ismaïla Sarr in the 78th minute, sealing a comprehensive victory for Palace.

Aston Villa's response to falling behind was marked by a series of substitutions, with Emiliano Buendía coming on at halftime and Bradley Burrows and Pau Francisco Torres entering in the 74th minute. Despite these changes, Villa couldn't find a way back into the game. The yellow cards for Matty Cash and Marco Bizot in the first half added to Villa's frustrations, and their inability to score despite having more possession was a telling factor in their defeat.

Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Marco Bizot in goal and a backline of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, and Ian Maatsen. The midfield was anchored by John McGinn and Youri Tielemans, with Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, and Evann Guessand supporting striker Ollie Watkins. The lineup was fairly standard, but the impact of substitutions like Emiliano Buendía and Bradley Burrows was minimal. Despite having more possession, Villa's inability to convert chances into goals was a significant factor in their defeat.

Crystal Palace opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Dean Henderson between the posts and a back three of Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi. The midfield was controlled by Daniel Muñoz, Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, and Tyrick Mitchell, with Ismaïla Sarr and Daichi Kamada supporting striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The lineup proved effective, with Guehi and Sarr scoring crucial goals. The substitutions made by Palace, including Jefferson Andrés Lerma Solís and Yeremi Jesús Pino Santos, helped maintain their momentum and secure the victory.

Ismaïla Sarr is Coral’s Man of the Match, and his performance was pivotal in Crystal Palace's victory. Sarr scored a crucial goal in the 78th minute, helping to seal the win and demonstrating his ability to make a significant impact when it mattered most. Despite not recording any assists or key passes, his goal was a testament to his clinical finishing and composure under pressure.

Recent Premier League Matches:

• Loss: 0-3 vs Crystal Palace (H)

• Loss: 0-1 vs Brentford (A)

• Draw: 0-0 vs Newcastle United (H)

Recent Premier League Matches:

• Win: 3-0 vs Aston Villa (A)

• Draw: 1-1 vs Nottingham Forest (H)

• Draw: 0-0 vs Chelsea (A)

Sitting in 19th place with just 1 point, Aston Villa face a challenging match against Everton, who are in 6th place with 6 points, on September 13, 2025 at 14:00. This result will likely prompt Villa to reassess their strategy and focus on improving their finishing to climb out of the relegation zone.

With their recent win, Crystal Palace have moved up to 8th place with 5 points. They will face Sunderland, who are in 5th place with 6.0 points, on September 13, 2025 at 14:00. This victory will boost Palace's confidence as they look to continue their upward trajectory in the league.

Game Week 4

• Arsenal V Nottingham Forest

• Bournemouth V Brighton

• Newcastle V Wolves

• Everton V Aston Villa

• Crystal Palace V Sunderland

• Fulham V Leeds United

• West Ham V Tottenham

• Brentford V Chelsea

• Burnley V Liverpool

• Man City V Man United

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