In-form Crystal Palace threaten City’s Champions League ambitions at the Etihad | OneFootball

Manchester City were recently handed a boost in their pursuit of Champions League football, but the job is far from done.

With UEFA’s new format confirming that fifth place in the Premier League will be enough to qualify, City now have another route into Europe’s elite competition.

However, sitting sixth in the table and still trailing Chelsea and Newcastle United by a point – with Newcastle holding a game in hand – City cannot afford to take anything for granted.

Pep Guardiola’s side failed to build on the recent win over Leicester City as they played out a drab goalless draw against Manchester United last weekend.

That result not only denied them consecutive victories for the first time since January but also underlined how erratic their form has been during a crucial stretch of the campaign.

The next challenge is a Crystal Palace side who arrive at the Etihad Stadium in exceptional form.

Oliver Glasner’s men have suffered just two defeats in their last 18 matches in all competitions, with an eight-game unbeaten run including a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the M23 derby last time out.

Palace have collected 22 points from their last 10 league games – a tally only bettered by Liverpool – and are now five points behind eighth-placed Fulham with a game in hand.

Guardiola is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead. He confirmed that Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake remain sidelined through injury, leaving City stretched at the back.

“It has happened all season – we adapt,” he said during his press conference. “You can see it as a problem or a challenge or a disaster – it could be worse.”

City’s recent home record against Palace adds another layer of concern. They have only won two of their last six league matches against the Eagles at the Etihad and were held to a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park earlier in the season.

Palace are unbeaten in 10 Premier League away matches, winning six of those, including four consecutive 2-0 victories before drawing at Southampton.

The expanded qualification spots offer City an opportunity, but only if they can find consistency and overcome in-form opponents – something they have struggled to achieve in recent weeks.