Crystal Palace vs Sunderland Prediction & Betting Tips (13 September)

Selhurst Park braces for a compelling Premier League clash as Crystal Palace host newly promoted Sunderland on September 13. Both sides have made promising starts to the 2025–26 campaign on September 13. Both sides have made promising starts to the 2025–26 campaign, with Palace sitting, with Palace sitting 8th and Sunderland 8th and Sunderland 6th after three 6th after three matches. The Eagles matches. The Eagles come off a commanding come off a commanding 3-0 win over Aston 3-0 win over Aston Villa, showcasing Villa, showcasing their defensive their defensive resilience and counter resilience and counter-attacking precision-attacking precision. Sunderland, meanwhile. Sunderland, meanwhile, have impressed, have impressed with victories over with victories over Brentford and Burn Brentford and Burnley, proving theyley, proving they’re not just here’re not just here to survive but to to survive but to compete. With both compete. With both teams eyeing a top teams eyeing a top-half finish, this-half finish, this fixture could be fixture could be a defining early a defining early-season litmus test-season litmus test.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glas manager Oliver Glasner continues toner continues to earn plaudits for earn plaudits for his tactical clarity his tactical clarity and squad management and squad management. Despite losing. Despite losing Eberechi Eze to Eberechi Eze to Arsenal and facing Arsenal and facing midfield injuries midfield injuries—Adam Wharton is—Adam Wharton is sidelined with an sidelined with an adductor issue—the adductor issue—the Eagles have remained Eagles have remained cohesive. Daichi cohesive. Daichi Kamada has stepped Kamada has stepped up as a creative up as a creative force, while Marc force, while Marc Guéhi anchors a Guéhi anchors a backline that’s backline that’s conceded just once conceded just once in three games. in three games. Glasner’s future Glasner’s future at the club looks at the club looks secure, with Palace secure, with Palace reportedly preparing reportedly preparing a contract extension a contract extension amid interest from amid interest from rival teams. The rival teams. The Austrian’s ability Austrian’s ability to adapt under pressure to adapt under pressure, especially with, especially with European fixtures European fixtures looming, has solid looming, has solidified his reputationified his reputation as a transformative as a transformative figure.

Sunderland’s return to the’s return to the top flight has been top flight has been anything but tentative anything but tentative. Régis Le Bris has. Régis Le Bris has instilled a dynamic instilled a dynamic, possession-based, possession-based style, averaging style, averaging nearly 50% ball nearly 50% ball control and 1.7 control and 1.7 goals per game. goals per game. Granit Xhaka’s arrival Granit Xhaka’s arrival from Bayer Leverk from Bayer Leverkusen has added steelusen has added steel to midfield, while to midfield, while Chemsdine Talbi Chemsdine Talbi and Eliezer May and Eliezer Mayenda offer pace andenda offer pace and unpredictability unpredictability up front. However up front. However, defensive injuries, defensive injuries remain a concern remain a concern—Daniel Ballard is—Daniel Ballard is out with a groin out with a groin issue, and Nord issue, and Nordi Mukiele is expectedi Mukiele is expected to deputize. The to deputize. The Black Cats’ ability Black Cats’ ability to maintain their to maintain their attacking rhythm attacking rhythm while plugging gaps while plugging gaps at the back will at the back will be crucial against be crucial against Palace’s swift transitions Palace’s swift transitions.

Expect a tightly contested affair contested affair, with Crystal Palace, with Crystal Palace’s home advantage’s home advantage and Sunderland’s and Sunderland’s attacking verve attacking verve setting the stage setting the stage for a high-intensity for a high-intensity battle. The Eagles battle. The Eagles’ compact shape and’ compact shape and clinical counters clinical counters could exploit Sunderland could exploit Sunderland’s defensive fra’s defensive frailties, especiallyilties, especially in Ballard’s absence in Ballard’s absence. Conversely, Sunderland. Conversely, Sunderland’s midfield trio’s midfield trio—Xhaka, Diarra, and—Xhaka, Diarra, and Sadiki—may dominate Sadiki—may dominate possession but struggle possession but struggle to break down Palace to break down Palace’s disciplined block’s disciplined block. With both teams. With both teams capable of scoring capable of scoring and defending in and defending in bursts, a 2-1 win bursts, a 2-1 win for Crystal Palace for Crystal Palace feels like the most feels like the most plausible outcome plausible outcome: a narrow margin: a narrow margin, but one that reflects, but one that reflects their growing maturity their growing maturity and tactical edge and tactical edge..