Crystal Palace head to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night with one clear mission: spoil Manchester City’s Premier League title dreams. Already mathematically safe from relegation, the Eagles can now focus on finishing the season with a flourish before their historic Conference League final later this month.

But don’t expect Oliver Glasner’s side to simply go through the motions. The Palace boss has made it clear his team is coming to compete, not just to make up the numbers. After a spirited 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park, where they twice came from behind, the Eagles are brimming with confidence. Ismaila Sarr continues to shine, notching 20 goals across all competitions this season and looking sharp at exactly the right time.

Still, the challenge ahead is immense. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 16 league matches at home and remain locked in a fierce title race with Arsenal. Pep Guardiola’s men are building momentum after a 3-0 victory over the weekend, with Jeremy Doku electrifying on the wing and Erling Haaland—who has eight goals in just five Premier League appearances against Palace—leading the line.

Glasner knows his team can’t afford to leave gaps in transition. "Their attacking players are almost impossible to stop in open situations," he admitted, stressing the need for compactness and defensive discipline. Palace have shown they can score on the road, netting twice in each of their last four Premier League away trips to City. They also boast seven away wins this season—only Arsenal and City have more.

But history isn’t entirely on their side. Palace have lost six of their last nine away league matches, while City are unbeaten in eight straight Premier League meetings with the Eagles. The Citizens have scored at least twice in 14 of their last 16 home league games and have opened the scoring in every home league match since August.

For the Eagles, the formula is simple: stay tight, stay disciplined, and hope Sarr can produce another moment of magic. If they can frustrate City and snatch a result, they’ll not only boost their own confidence but also throw a major wrench into the title race.