Ismaila Sarr and Callum Hudson-Odoi traded second-half goals as Crystal Palace drew Nottingham Forest 1-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday in a match-up of two of the Premier League’s nine European sides.
WATCH — Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest full match replay
The draw gives Palace two points following a Week 1 draw at Chelsea, while Forest move to four points amidst questions of their manager’s future.
Nuno Espirito Santo tried to pour cold water on exit rumors during his prematch conference, and celebrated the club’s goal on Sunday. He says he’ll meet with club owner Evangelos Marinakis and technical director Edu this week.
Two high-floor sides, but what are the ceilings for Forest, Palace?
There’s unease at both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest as managers Oliver Glasner and Nuno Espirito Santo wonder about their futures. For Glasner, those concerns regard whether the Eagles will have enough quality players and depth to negotiate the Premier League slate while making an expected deep run in the Conference League. Espirito Santo’s worries are more about his future after he raised concerns about his relationship with club hierarchy last week. It’s clear that both teams are well above relegation threat, but both can return to Europe via the Premier League table if things go well and Palace have a terrific opportunity to win the Conference League to stay on the continent. Sunday’s game showed steady defense, solid midfields, and good spirit. That’ll get your near mid-table, but will either have the juice to find comfort in the top half of the table?
Nuno Espirito Santo reaction — Forest boss emotional after win
Here’s what Espirito Santo said about the ongoing drama at Forest, via the BBC.
He sounded a bit wistful and reflective, perhaps knowing his outburst last week had threatened his time.
“The bond that was created with the team and the fans is there to stay,” he said. “It is unbreakable due to the fantastic moments we had last season. It was a beautiful journey – it will stick in our memories forever. No matter what happens, we will have this respect and mutual love.”
On Edu watching on and Forest needing to find unity: “I believe that that is the only way to operate in a football club, if everybody is on the same page. It is helping in the same direction so hopefully we can do it this week and move forward – and take these nonsense questions and narrative away from our daily [lives].”
The nonsense questions would not be coming were it not for Espirito Santo’s press conference late last week. He has to know that he’s dug a hole.
What’s next?
Palace go to Norway for a Conference League playoff round second leg against Fredrikstad on Thursday, holding a 1-0 lead. The Eagles will then visit Aston Villa at 2pm ET Sunday.
Nottingham Forest get the full week to prepare for a 9am Sunday visit from West Ham United in the Premier League.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9 am ET, Sunday
Venue: Selhurst Park — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest live updates — by Nick Mendola
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest final score: 1-1
Ismaila Sarr 37', Callum Hudson-Odoi 58'
Callum Hudson-Odoi goal — Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Dan Ndoye sends a long, low pinpoint pass that finds Callum Hudson-Odoi behind Tyrick Mitchell.
There’s still work to do and Hudson-Odoi does it despite the best efforts of Dean Henderson’s left leg.
Halftime — Crystal Palace 1-0 Nottingham Forest
A relatively even game, but Palace’s advantage feels fair.
Ismaila Sarr goal — Crystal Palace 1-0 Nottingham Forest
A Morgan Gibbs-White giveaway sees the ball worked up top to Adam Wharton.
The midfielder spots Daniel Munoz inside the right edge, and a quick cross is snapped home by Ismaila Sarr.
Sels denies Mateta
Palace with a terrific chance before the half-hour mark, as Jean-Philippe Mateta steps into a shot.
Matz Sels does well to parry the attempt away from goal.
Still scoreless now in the 30th minute.
Chances!
Ola Aina misjudges a long ball and Justin Devenny’s half-chance from a tough angle is denied by Murillo.
To the other end, and Chris Wood nearly turns a right-sided cross on goal from the near post.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Sarr, Devenny, Mateta
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest preview — by Andy Edwards
Crystal Palace qualified for Europe by winning the FA Cup in May, the first major trophy in club history, sending them into the Europa League this season — or, so they thought. Ultimately, the Eagles were dropped down to the Europa Conference League after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body ruled that Palace were too closely linked to Lyon due to John Textor having a controlling interest in the Ligue 1 club, who will be in the Europa League this season, as well as a 43.9 percent share in Crystal Palace — the latter of which he sold in July. Palace fans believe that Nottingham Forest pushed for the demotion, because they stood to be promoted as a result. There is also the not-so-small matter of star playmaker Eberechi Eze leaving the club to join Arsenal for $80 million. Not the best summer of all time for Palace.
And still, Europa League football feels like such a small consolation prize after Forest spent the majority of last season in the top-four and -five of the Premier League, until Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sputtered down the stretch and wound up 7th. That still would have been good enough to get into the Europa League on their own merit, until Palace won the FA Cup. Fast-forward to the start of the new season, now Espirito Santo is reportedly under threat to be replaced after a summer of discontent between himself and owner Evangelos Marinakis. The footballing world spins quickly.
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee), Matheus Franca (adductor), Eddie Nketiah (thigh), Caleb Kporha (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Daichi Kamada (knee)
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
OUT: Nicolas Dominguez (knee)
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction
Forest’s attack gave Brentford a world of problems last weekend, and they have only gotten stronger with the additions of James McAtee from Manchester City ($41 million) and Arnaud Kalimuendo from Rennes ($35 million). Simply too much firepower. Crystal Palace 1-3 Nottingham Forest.
