Crystal Palace’s Academy faces an important double-header this weekend, beginning with the Under-18s’ decisive U18 Premier League Cup meeting with Aston Villa on Saturday at 12:00 GMT. Darren Powell’s Under-21s then host Everton at the same time on Sunday, with both fixtures available to watch live on Palace TV+.
Javier Alonso’s U18 side has built an unbeaten run of five matches since the September-October international break. Palace revived their cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over Leeds United, followed by a 6-2 win at Ipswich Town inspired by Donte Martin’s hat-trick. Martin scored another treble against Reading the following week, while Makai Bernard-Ferguson and Jacob Fasida also found the net in a 5-2 victory. A 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion, secured by Ajean-Ray Greaves after Remi Shittu’s early dismissal, was the latest result.
Saturday’s contest is effectively a knockout match for the Young Eagles. Villa top Group C with four points, while Palace have three and sit ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference. Leeds are bottom with one point. Palace must win to reach six points and keep their hopes of defending last season’s trophy alive; if Forest also win, Palace’s current goal-difference advantage means Forest would need a substantially larger victory to overtake them.
The visitors arrive after beating Ipswich 3-1 and have also collected four points in the cup, drawing with Leeds before defeating Nottingham Forest 6-0. Daniel Adediran scored a hat-trick in that victory and has already featured for Villa’s Under-21s and in the UEFA Youth League. Palace will draw confidence from last season’s run to the final, where they overcame Manchester United on penalties at Selhurst Park to lift the trophy for the first time in club history.
Powell’s Under-21s will enter Sunday’s meeting with Everton after a landmark 2-1 win at Newport County in the EFL Trophy. Jasper Judd opened the scoring, David Angibeaud supplied the late winner and goalkeeper Harry Lee made several important saves as Palace secured their first-ever place in the competition’s knockout stages. Their Premier League 2 campaign has been less consistent, with a 4-1 win over Leeds following draws against Arsenal and a victory at Aston Villa, before a 5-2 defeat by Southampton left them 17th in the 31-team division on seven points.
Everton have won two of their first five PL2 fixtures and most recently came from behind to beat Middlesbrough 2-1, with Braiden Graham scoring the winner. Palace supporters can follow both matches through Palace TV+, while live updates and commentary will also be provided via the club’s Academy X account. Match reports, reaction, highlights and extended coverage will follow through the club’s digital channels.
