Fulham vs Crystal Palace prediction: expert analysis, possible lineups, October 28, 2026
On October 28, 2026, the EFL Cup Round of 16 will feature a clash between Fulham and Crystal Palace. Both sides will be determined to win this derby encounter.
Fulham - Crystal Palace team news and expert analysis
The Craven Cottage club challenged for European football but fell just one point short, eventually finishing 11th. In the summer, Arboleda replaced Marco Silva in the dugout, but the campaign began unconvincingly, with a couple of draws alongside a string of defeats. In their most recent league outings against newcomers Hull and Coventry, they finally picked up victories.
Their neighbours have recently won the first major trophies in the club’s history: the FA Cup initially, followed by the UEFA Super Cup and the Conference League in 2025/2026. Now, under Pierre Sage, the English side are competing in the more prestigious Europa League, where they began with a resounding 4-0 win over Lech, before losing to Lyon and settling for a draw with Besiktas. Their Premier League form, however, has been modest, with half of their matches ending in defeat. At the weekend, they lost 0-2 to Newcastle.
The hosts have already overcome two opponents in this competition. At the end of the summer, they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Wimbledon. The tie against another neighbour, West Ham, was more difficult. Nevertheless, they won 3-2 away from home. Their current opponents thrashed Middlesbrough 3-0 in September.
Previous matches: Fulham - Crystal Palace
The visitors have won four of the last five head-to-head meetings, with one draw.
It is quite understandable that the hosts are currently considered the favourites. However, neither club has been particularly impressive, so the better option is to back "under 3.0 goals" (odds – 1.76).
Fulham - Crystal Palace: key statistics and trends
- Fulham have won twice in the cup
- Fulham score an average of 1 goal and concede 1.25 goals per match
- Both teams have scored in 50% of Fulham’s matches, while the average total goals per game is 2.25
- Crystal Palace have lost four of their last six matches
- Crystal Palace score an average of 1.13 goals and concede 2.38 goals per match
- Both teams have scored in 50% of Crystal Palace’s matches, while the average total goals per game is 3.5
Fulham - Crystal Palace: possible starting line-ups
Fulham play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible line-up): Lecomte — Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson — Reed, Larsson — Kevin Macedo, Smith Rowe, Palacios — Rodrigo Muniz Carvalho
Crystal Palace play in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation (possible line-up): Benitez — Tomiyasu, Disasi, Akanor, Chilwell — Hughes, Mingueza — Osorio, Timber, Pino — Strand Larsen
Place your bets on the upcoming match and keep track of your team’s position in the EFL Cup standings
