Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, 30 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Crystal Palace took the lead in the 36th minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a penalty to make it 1-0, giving the home side a deserved advantage after a competitive first half. Manchester United struggled to create clear chances before the break, with Palace looking solid defensively. The game remained tight until the interval, with no further goals.

Manchester United turned things around in the second half, equalising in the 54th minute through Joshua Zirkzee, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, to level at 1-1. They then took the lead in the 63rd minute with Mason Mount’s goal, again assisted by Fernandes, putting them 2-1 ahead. Palace pushed for an equaliser late on but couldn’t find a way back, as United held firm to secure the win.

Manchester United dominated possession with 57% compared to Crystal Palace’s 43%, which allowed them to control the tempo and create more attacking opportunities, reflected in their 38 successful dribbles against Palace’s 20. Both sides had four corners each, but United made better use of their chances, recording two assists while Palace had none, contributing to their comeback victory. Palace took one penalty, which they scored, but used all five substitutions—E. Nketiah replaced I. Sarr at 38’, W. Hughes came on for A. Wharton and C. Uche for Y. Pino both at 78’, and J. Lerma for D. Kamada plus J. Devenny for T. Mitchell at 85’—in an attempt to shift momentum, while United used four: N. Mazraoui replaced L. Yoro at 54’, L. Martinez for L. Shaw at 82’, and P. Dorgu for A. Diallo plus K. Mainoo for B. Mbeumo at 90+1’.

Crystal Palace picked up three yellow cards and Manchester United two, suggesting a disciplined but intense encounter where bookings didn’t drastically alter the flow.

The decisive moments came in the second half for Manchester United, starting with Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser in the 54th minute, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, which shifted momentum after Palace’s first-half lead via Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 36th-minute penalty. Mason Mount then put United ahead in the 63rd minute, again with Fernandes providing the assist, proving a quick turnaround that Palace couldn’t recover from. Key substitutions included United bringing on N. Mazraoui for L. Yoro at 54’, coinciding with their equaliser, while Palace’s late changes—like W. Hughes replacing A. Wharton and C. Uche for Y. Pino at 78’—failed to spark a comeback, and yellow cards, such as E. Nketiah’s for Palace at 53’ and L. Shaw’s for United at 72’, added tension without leading to dismissals.

Crystal Palace lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with a solid back three anchored by Marc Guehi, allowing wing-backs to push forward and support the attacking duo behind Jean-Philippe Mateta up top. Standout partnerships included the midfield engine room, where players like Jefferson Lerma provided bite before his late introduction, helping to maintain defensive shape against United’s possession.

Manchester United deployed a 3-4-2-1 setup, featuring a flexible backline that transitioned well into attack, with Bruno Fernandes pulling strings in the advanced midfield role alongside Mason Mount. Key partnerships shone in the creative hub, where Fernandes’ vision linked effectively with forwards like Joshua Zirkzee, enabling their second-half dominance.

Bruno Fernandes earned Man of the Match honours for his pivotal role in Manchester United’s comeback, providing assists for both Joshua Zirkzee’s 54th-minute equaliser and Mason Mount’s 63rd-minute winner, dictating play with composure and vision throughout.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Manchester United (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Brentford (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Arsenal (A)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Crystal Palace (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Everton (H)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Tottenham Hotspur (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Nottingham Forest (A)
• Win: 4-2 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (H)

Crystal Palace will be disappointed with the defeat despite a strong first half, as it leaves them searching for consistency in the league; their next fixture offers a chance to bounce back and build on Mateta’s goalscoring form.

Manchester United can take confidence from this away win, showcasing resilience in overturning a deficit; their next match provides an opportunity to maintain momentum and climb the table with key players like Fernandes in form.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.