Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are set to meet in a grudge match dubbed ‘El Casico,’ following a controversial off-field battle that saw their European qualifications reversed. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Crystal Palace, despite qualifying for the Europa League, would be relegated to the Conference League due to administrative failings. Consequently, Nottingham Forest, who had earned a Conference League spot, were promoted to take Palace’s place in the Europa League.
Ahead of the fixture, Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo addressed speculation about his future, dismissing rumors that he was trying to engineer a move away from the club as “nonsense.” He affirmed his commitment, stating he “of course” wants to continue as manager and confirmed that talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis and head of football Edu are planned to “approach the final days of the market.”
Acknowledging the tense atmosphere surrounding the game, Nuno commented on the challenge at Selhurst Park. “It is going to be intense and we have to be ready,” he said, adding, “I always insist on the same narrative that it’s not us to blame… but we don’t have any way to avoid it.”
For the match, Crystal Palace made two changes from the side that started their Conference League qualifier, bringing in Tyrick Mitchell and Chris Richards for Borna Sosa and Jefferson Lerma. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, named an unchanged team from their opening-day 3-1 victory over Brentford.
Team Lineups:
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Sarr, Mateta, Devenny.
Substitutes: Matthews, Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Rodney, Cardines.
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Substitutes: Gunn, Morato, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Boly.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
