Lucas Digne has called for calm as Aston Villa prepares for their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, following a slow start to the season. Despite being the only team yet to score in the top flight, Digne is confident in the team’s process and future performances. Crystal Palace, with Oliver Glasner at the helm, comes into the match with a strong record against Villa. The article also highlights key players to watch, including Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa and Jean Philippe-Mateta for Crystal Palace, and provides a match prediction favoring Aston Villa based on their strong home record.
Lucas Digne has issued a call for composure as Aston Villa prepares to face Crystal Palace in their upcoming Premier League match. After a sluggish start to the season, which saw them draw goalless against Newcastle United and suffer a 1-0 defeat to Brentford, Unai Emery's squad is under pressure to deliver.
Notably, Villa is the only team in the top flight yet to score as they head into Sunday's match against Palace. Despite the early-season struggles, Digne, who recently signed a new contract, insists there's no reason to panic. He expressed confidence that "the performances will come."
"It’s just the beginning of the season, and we have to stay calm and positive," Digne stated on the club’s website. "We have to work hard because the work always pays off, and I’m sure we have the team. The performances will come, and I’m not worried about that. At home, we know how we can play and how we can be strong. We have to show that. We have to stay calm and trust in our process and in our work because we are working really hard here. We have a really good team and it’s just a question of time."
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 28, 2025
Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, has navigated a tumultuous start to their campaign. From managing transfer speculations surrounding key players like Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi, to the high of winning the Community Shield, and ultimately securing a spot in the Conference League after missing out on Europa League qualification, the Eagles have faced a barrage of challenges.
Historically, Palace has dominated their recent encounters with Villa, winning four of their last five matches across all competitions, including a decisive 3-0 victory in the FA Cup semi-final. Glasner believes their past success could provide a psychological edge. "We did very well [last season] and this gives us confidence," said Glasner. "If you have this proven a few times, and also at Villa Park, and not just at home – so there it was a 2-2 and a 2-1 last year – it shows, in every single game against them we scored goals. And this gives us confidence that we are able to do it."
Glasner added, "If you had lost five games and never scored a goal, and all of a sudden then you ask, ‘if we do the same, why should we score two or three this time?’ But if you always have scored at least two, this gives you confidence – but that doesn’t mean that this happens again. But preparation for me won’t be that difficult because Unai will play his style and he’s doing so well there, and I have a really big admiration of how he’s playing with his teams."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins remains Aston Villa's primary attacking threat, having scored 16 league goals last season. However, he has faced challenges in recent matches. The 29-year-old is currently on a four-game Premier League scoreless streak. Although, he has a goal against Palace in August 2022.
Crystal Palace – Jean Philippe-Mateta
While Jean Philippe-Mateta is still seeking his first league goal this season, he has found the net in both the Community Shield against Liverpool and the Conference League against Fredrikstad. He also boasts an impressive record against Villa, with five league goals in seven appearances. Only Wilfried Zaha has scored more times for Palace in the Premier League against one opponent.
MATCH PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA WIN
Aston Villa holds an unbeaten record in their last eight Premier League home games against Palace, with five wins and three draws, since a 1-0 loss on Boxing Day in 2013. Emery’s side is also enjoying a 19 home Premier League matches unbeaten streak, which is the longest current run on home soil of any side. However, Villa has now gone three consecutive Premier League matches without a goal for the first time since July 2020, last going four in a row in March/April 2016.
Alongside Mateta, Villa will also need to be wary of Ismaila Sarr. The winger has been involved in a goal in all six of his starts against Villa in all competitions, scoring seven goals and assisting three. Palace won 4-1 in their previous league meeting with Villa in February, though they last won consecutive league games against them in the 2013-14 campaign.
The Eagles have drawn their first two Premier League games this season but have only drawn each of their opening three games of a league campaign twice before, doing so in the top-flight in both 1979-80 and 1992-93.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Aston Villa – 51.0%
Draw – 24.6%
Crystal Palace – 24.4%