Beaucoup de buts: What is Palace's record like against French teams?
When Crystal Palace play host to Ligue 1 opposition FC Nantes on Sunday afternoon (15:00 BST), the occasion will be something of a rarity.
When Crystal Palace play host to Ligue 1 opposition FC Nantes on Sunday afternoon (15:00 BST), the occasion will be something of a rarity.
According to records, the club have faced French opposition a surprisingly modest 13 times since post-war football began.
Yet Palace boast an impressive record in such fixtures, winning 10 of those matches (drawing once, losing twice).
What’s more, the Eagles have tended to hit the goal trail, bagging ‘beaucoup de buts’ – 39 goals, in fact, while conceding only 18 at the other end.
FC Nantes – known as La Maison Jaune – finished 14th in Ligue 1 last season and are one of France’s most successful clubs, having won eight league titles and produced some of the finest players in the nation’s history, including Claude Makélélé, Marcel Desailly and current national team manager Didier Deschamps.
An entertaining affair should therefore be expected for Sunday's game, with tickets available for this match through the Crystal Palace ticketing website. The game can also be watched on Palace TV+.
Let’s take a look back on how Palace have fared against French opposition in years gone by…
5th August 2023
The Eagles produced a performance of impressive control to defeat Lyon 2-0 at Selhurst Park last year, on a day when new signing Matheus França was memorably unveiled to the Selhurst Park faithful.
Once again for Palace in pre-season, an Ebere Eze set-piece was the source, the No. 10 swinging a free-kick in from deep – but Jeffrey Schlupp, timing his leap to perfection, did superbly to get in front of his man and arc a header into the top corner beyond Anthony Lopes.
While the visitors did have their moments, Palace – facing their second high-ranking European opponent in the space of a week after drawing 1-1 with Europa League winners Sevilla – could once again be proud of their first-half display.
At the other end, Ebere Eze was continuing to prove a handful for the Lyon defenders, the No.10’s brilliant dribbling leading to another corner kick – and another Palace goal.
This time, it was Joachim Andersen who got onto the end of the playmaker’s delivery, heading powerfully down – too powerfully for Lopes to handle. The ball rebounded off the ‘keeper and Odsonne Edouard, showing sharp reactions, dove in to prod home his third goal in his last four pre-season matches.
Fantastique.
30th July 2022
A quiet start to this match at Selhurst Park last summer paved the way for a goal-fest in SE25, as Palace boosted spirits heading into the new season with goals from Wilfried Zaha, Edouard (two) and Marc Guéhi.
The Eagles were three to the good by half-time and, while Montpellier would net twice in the second period to reduce the deficit, with Zaha netting from range, Edouard scoring two poachers’ goals and Guéhi heading in Eze’s corner to entertain the crowds.
4 August 2018
Another pre-season rounded off against French opposition at a sun-soaked Selhurst Park – and another four goals for the Eagles, in what was Roy Hodgson’s first pre-season in charge.
It was the visitors, however, who struck early on through Aaron Iseka’s close-range finish after 10 minutes, only for Palace to strike three times in 11 minutes before the break – a Christian Benteke header, a Schlupp turn-and-finish and a Luka Milivojevic penalty – added to late on by Zaha again.
29 July 2017
The last away game Palace played in France was in the summer of 2017, when the Eagles extraordinarily hit the woodwork three times in a first half they dominated at Metz’s Stade Saint-Symphorien.
The deadlock was finally broken by Palace when Zaha volleyed home at the back post on 56 minutes, but they were pegged back thanks to a fantastic strike into the top corner by Ibrahima Niane 12 minutes from time.
