Crystal Palace delivered a defensive masterclass and clinical finishing display to stun Manchester United at Old Trafford, securing a well-earned 2-0 victory. The Eagles were patient in their approach, striking at key moments, while United struggled to break them down despite dominating possession.

Key Stats Breakdown

Crystal Palace xG: 2.77 | Manchester United xG: 0.91

Total Shots: Palace (11) | United (11)

Shots on Target: Palace (3) | United (2)

Possession: United (66%) | Palace (34%)

Touches in Opponent’s Box: United (42) | Palace (19)

United controlled the ball but lacked the cutting edge, registering an xG of just 0.91 with only two shots on target. Meanwhile, Palace made the most of their moments, scoring twice from just three on-target efforts—a true example of efficiency.

Momentum Swings and Match Flow

Manchester United started on the front foot, but as the match wore on, Palace’s counter-attacking threat grew stronger. The expected goals (xG) chart shows that Palace steadily increased their xG, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring in the 64th minute (xG 0.86) before sealing the deal in the 89th minute (xG 0.36).

United huffed and puffed, racking up 66% possession and 104 total possessions, but they never found a clear route through Palace’s defensive wall.

Shot Maps: United Toothless, Palace Precise

United’s shot map reveals a frustrating evening—plenty of speculative efforts, but zero goals. Their best chance (xG 0.21) was still a low-percentage effort.

Palace, on the other hand, were ruthless. Their two goals came from high-value central positions, underlining their intelligent movement and superior finishing.

Possession and Passing Tactics

United’s pass map tells the story of plenty of buildup but no final punch. Bruno Fernandes was heavily involved, but the side-to-side play lacked penetration.

Palace, meanwhile, played smart. Their pass map highlights a compact defensive setup with vertical counters. Marc Guéhi anchored the defense, while Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr stretched United’s backline with direct runs.

This was a tactical triumph for Crystal Palace. They absorbed pressure, attacked decisively, and turned Old Trafford into their playground. United, on the other hand, were uninspired, lacking ideas in the final third, and unable to turn possession into genuine goal threats.

Palace climb the table, while United are left searching for answers.