Hello and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE text commentary of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Both sides are out of form and have little left to play for but pride, and that make for an interesting spectacle. Stay with us for all the build-up and drama as kick-off is now just an hour away!
Premier League / Matchday 36
Selhurst Park / 16.05.2021
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- C. Benteke(32')
- W. Zaha(75')
- T. Mitchell(84')
- J. McGinn(17')
- A. El Ghazi(34')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 16/05/2021 at 12:54 GMT
32'
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Aston Villa (Christian Benteke): Benteke scores against his former club! It's the third game in a row in which he's scored now, as he climbs highest to head down Mitchell's beautifully floated cross and the ball nestles in the corner.
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Goal
C. Benteke
Crystal Palace
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Goals1
On target1
Fouls1
Wide1
29'
Villa have been sloppy since taking the lead. It's been all Palace since, with Hodgson's side dominating possession and looking much more likely to score the next goal.
27'
A lovely move from Palace, with Eze, Zaha and Benteke involved. Benteke holds it up and backheels it into the path of Zaha who has just the goalkeeper to beat... but he scoops it over the bar. It wouldn't have counted in any case as the referee spotted something in the build-up and brings play back.
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24'
Save! More Palace pressure as Eze wins a free-kick 25 yards out. Townsend wins the argument to take it and forces Martinez into a straight forward save.
21'
Shot! It has taken Villa to score to spark Palace into life, and here they come once more. A free-kick delivery falls kindly to Cahill at the back post but he can't keep his shot down as he volleys over the bar.
19'
Better from Palace, who finally force Martinez into a save. Schlupp forces his way into the penalty area before releasing a shot from the angle but the Villa keeper isn't really troubled as he makes the save.
17'
GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Aston Villa (John McGinn): It has been coming - no one can say Villa don't deserve their lead. They push Palace back and Cahill fails to clear his lines from a cross. It falls to McGinn, who places a lovely shot into the far corner.
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Goal
J. McGinn
Aston Villa
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Goals1
On target1
Fouls against1
16'
Close! Again it's Hause who meets the corner delivery and yet again he fails to hit the target with his header!
15'
Save! Another Villa chance comes and goes. Schlupp makes a mess of his clearance as he passes straight to Watkins. His angled shot has plenty of power but it's straight at Butland who tips it over the bar.
13'
Watkins' cross is deflected behind for yet another Villa corner. The visitors are well on top here.
10'
So close! Hause is left unmarked at the back post to meet El Ghazi's corner delivery and his header is just wide of Butland's goal.
9'
There's a debate as to whether Villa should have a corner or not but the decision goes the visitors' way.
7'
A first sight of goal from Palace as Townsend races forward on the counter, picking out Benteke with an accurate cross. The Belgian has Elmohamody to compete with and although Benteke wins the header, the Villa defender does just enough to put him off as his effort sails wide of the target.
5'
Schlupp and McGinn clash heads but thankfully both players are fine, as Villa win a free-kick on the right channel. They pass up the opportunity to deliver it into the box, instead working it short but make a bit of a mess of it.
3'
Villa have started the brightest and win a free-kick on the left flank. Targett swings it in towards the far post where Kouyate rises highest to head clear.
2'
Chance for Villa! The visitors carve open the Palace defence all too easily, with Watkins running onto a ball over the top. He looks up and rolls it across to Ramsey, he has to hit the target but slices it wide. Ramsey's wait for a first goal for Villa continues.
1'
Kick-off! We are underway at Selhurst Park.
11:55
FIVE minutes until kick-off! It's Crystal Palace versus Aston Villa in the Premier League, it's LIVE and it's NEXT!
11:50
Will we see Grealish today? He'll likely play the last half hour. With the Euros now just weeks away, he'll have his eyes set on playing the last 180 minutes of the Premier League season.
11:45
All smiles before kick-off...