Crystal Palace delivered a breathtaking masterclass in away performance, ruthlessly dismantling a lacklustre Aston Villa with a commanding 3-0 victory at a stunned Villa Park on Saturday.
The Eagles soared from the outset, with defender Marc Guehi writing himself into the headlines on a significant personal milestone. The England international powerfully headed home from a Michael Olise corner in the 39th minute, marking his 100th appearance for the club in the most memorable fashion.
Palace's dominance was not a one-off moment. The South Londoners doubled their advantage just seven minutes later, as the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta continued his rich vein of form. The French striker was perfectly positioned to tap in a simple finish after another piece of magic from Olise, effectively putting the game to bed before the half-time whistle.
Any hopes of a Villa fightback were extinguished early in the second half. Full-back Tyrick Mitchell put the result beyond any conceivable doubt, arriving at the back post to smash home a third goal and cap off a sensational, fluid team move that sliced through the Villa defence.
The result sends a resounding message to the Premier League, showcasing Crystal Palace's potent threat under Oliver Glasner. For Unai Emery's Aston Villa, it was a day to forget, as they were comprehensively outplayed in front of their home supporters.
