Brentford vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Palace have lost nine of 13 trips to sides above them in the table
• Brentford have scored three or more in seven of their eight home wins, with six coming by two clear goals
• The Eagles have shipped three goals in each of their last three away trips
• Thiago has scored 13 goals in 18 home league games this term

Europe is within reach for Brentford

By the time Brentford kick off on Sunday, their path to Europe will be much clearer. Manchester City winning the FA Cup would guarantee European football for the top eight, potentially stretching to nine depending on how Aston Villa’s season pans out.

The Bees head into the weekend in eighth, and they can strengthen their chances of European football with a victory over Crystal Palace. The Eagles could potentially become the 10th Premier League team to claim a European place next season if they win the Conference League, and that final looks to be distracting them in the Premier League run-in.

Palace have lost three of their last four Premier League games, including back-to-back limp 3-0 defeats away from home.

Palace to struggle on the road again

Palace head to Brentford after losing three straight league trips, and their away record overall is a concern ahead of their final game on the road. The Eagles have won at each of the bottom four, but outside of that, they’ve lost nine of 13 matches at sides above them.

They have two games to get through before the Conference League final, and it’s hard to see their players overexerting themselves in the run-in. Palace can’t realistically fall lower than 16th, and they can only really move up two spots at most.

While there’s a financial bonus for the Eagles for every spot they climb, the Conference League final is a much bigger event for the club.

Bees can claim comfortable win

Brentford have lost only three home games this season, and their eight home wins have been largely comfortable. Outside of their 1-0 win over Villa in August and a 3-2 victory against Liverpool, Brentford’s home wins have come by a two-goal margin or greater.

Palace have shipped nine goals and scored only one in return across their last three league trips, so Brentford can add another comfortable victory on Sunday. They’ve scored three times in 10 of their 14 league wins this term, so back them to clear a -1 handicap against the Bees.

Igor Thiago can play a part in a high-scoring home win, having netted 13 goals in 18 home league games for the Bees. He’s scored four times across their last four home matches, and he’s good value to expose this Palace defence.