Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Full Match EFL 2024-25

One of five all-Premier League EFL Cup last-16 ties taking place on Wednesday evening, Aston Villa take on Crystal Palace with a place in the quarter-final draw up for grabs. The Lions edged out Wycombe Wanderers to make it this far in the tournament, while Oliver Glasner’s men have already eliminated Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers from this year’s edition. A master of the knockout arts, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has proved as such throughout the early stages of the 2024-25 season – just one look at the 36-team Champions League table that the Lions sit at the summit of is evidence of that.

A trip to Wycombe was never expected to pose any serious threat to Aston Villa’s hopes of EFL Cup glory, although they made harder work of booking their spot in the fourth round than they needed to, as Emi Buendia and Jhon Duran struck before a late Chairboys consolation from Richard Kone.

As gut-wrenching as that 1-1 stalemate was, Aston Villa could at least take the small victory of extending their unbeaten run in all tournaments to 11 matches, but not since losing in the final of the 2019-20 edition have they gone further than the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

However, the ninth time proved to be the charm for Crystal Palace, as after failing to win any of their first eight top-flight games of the season, Crystal Palace deservedly triumphed 1-0 over a timid Tottenham Hotspur side thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half finish, aided by an outrageous Eberechi Eze assist.

A first last-16 appearance since the 2018-19 campaign now awaits a Crystal Palace side still searching for their maiden major trophy, but not since the 2011-12 season – when they lost to Cardiff City in the semi-finals – have they been past this point of the EFL Cup.

Crystal Palace have also gone winless in their last seven trips to Villa Park in the Premier League – losing four of their last five – but more recent memories of facing Emery’s team are much fonder; Glasner’s men memorably embarrassed the Champions League leaders 5-0 at Selhurst Park the end of the 2023-24 season.