Crystal Palace earned their first three points of the Premier League 2025/26 season with a stunning 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, ending the hosts’ hopes of maintaining a winning run at home. Oliver Glasner’s men, who had registered two consecutive draws in the opening weeks, finally found their breakthrough performance, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa sunk deeper into crisis.
Shockingly, Villa remain the only Premier League side yet to score a single goal this campaign. To make matters worse, the Midlands club find themselves 19th in the table for the first time under Emery, following three consecutive seasons of European qualification.
Transfer Turmoil Adds to Villa’s Woes
The defeat comes amid significant uncertainty in the transfer market. With deadline day looming, speculation continues over Marc Guehi’s future at Selhurst Park — raising the question of whether this was his final game in a Crystal Palace shirt.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have endured a disastrous summer window. Key players have departed, with Jacob Ramsey joining Newcastle United, Leon Bailey moving to AS Roma, and Emiliano Martínez pushing for a transfer to Manchester United. With no marquee signings to strengthen the squad, Emery faces growing pressure as his side struggles to find rhythm, form, and goals.
Mateta Breaks the Deadlock
The game’s turning point came in the 21st minute when Villa’s new signing, Marco Bizot, clumsily brought down Daichi Kamada inside the box. Referee pointed to the spot, and Jean-Philippe Mateta confidently converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Palace a deserved 1-0 lead before half-time.
Guehi’s Wonder Strike
Palace, who enjoyed superior possession and sharper attacking play, doubled their advantage in the second half. England defender Marc Guehi, possibly in his final appearance for the Eagles, unleashed a spectacular right-footed strike from outside the box. His curling effort sailed into the top-right corner, leaving Villa Park stunned.
Ismaïla Sarr Seals the Win
Ten minutes later, Ismaïla Sarr put the game beyond doubt. The Senegal international latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted past Bizot to make it 3-0, capping off a dominant display by Glasner’s side.
What’s Next?
For Crystal Palace, this result could be a turning point as they look to climb the Premier League table and build momentum under Oliver Glasner. For Aston Villa, however, serious questions remain. With no goals scored, three straight defeats, and key departures weakening the squad, Emery must find solutions quickly to avoid a relegation battle — a shocking prospect after three years of European football.