Crystal Palace Under-21s are set to clash with Leicester City in the round of 16 of the Premier League Cup on Friday, March 1st, at 19:00 GMT. This marks the first time the team has reached this stage of the tournament. Here’s an overview of their journey and what to expect:
PALACE’S PATH TO THE ROUND OF 16:
Palace Under-21s emerged as Group H winners, surpassing Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town, and Birmingham City.
Their journey began with a strong 6-2 victory against Middlesbrough but stumbled with a 4-2 loss to Ipswich in the second group match.
A solid 4-1 win over Birmingham away from home reignited their campaign, but they faced a setback with a 4-0 defeat to Boro at Sutton.
In a crucial penultimate group match, Palace secured a double over Birmingham, setting up a thrilling finale where all four teams had a chance to progress.
Requiring just a point to secure qualification, Palace secured all three with a narrow 1-0 win over Ipswich, topping the group.
This marks Palace’s debut in the knockout stage of the tournament, following a close miss last season. They will host familiar opponents Leicester City at the VBS Community Stadium on March 1st. Tickets for the match start from just £2.
Leicester City finished second in their group, ahead of Brentford and Burnley but below Fulham. The two teams recently played out a 1-1 draw in Seagrave.
ABOUT THE PREMIER LEAGUE CUP:
The Premier League Cup is an Under-21 cup competition modeled after the UEFA Champions League, adding extra competitiveness to the Games Programme.
32 clubs are divided into eight groups of four teams each. Teams from Premier League 2 and the Professional Development League compete home and away, with the top two advancing to the knockout stages.
Birmingham City and Ipswich Town, both Category 2 sides in the Professional Development League, competed against Palace and Middlesbrough, who are in a tier above.
Leicester City, Palace’s round of 16 opponents, are also a Category 1 side and pose a tough challenge. In case of a draw after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties may be used to determine a winner.