Crystal Palace have been handed a good opportunity, at least on paper, to get their form back on track, when they get a visit from Middlesbrough in the weekend when Premier League action resumes. Palace have been atrocious this season. In their last 18 matches, they have won twice and drawn twice, losing 14 times.
On the other hand, Middlesbrough are currently in the 16th spot and have gone the last 8 games without a win and such a poor run of form might prove to be their undoing and can be costly. Karanka needs to get his tactics right and the players have to respond and implement them properly in order to end the drought. They have strengthened their attack recently and will back the new players to gel with the existing crop and become more of an attacking threat.
Let us take a look at 3 key battles which will have a bearing on the game.
ALVARO NEGREDO VS MAMADOU SAKHO
Alvaro Negredo has been Boro’s most potent attacking threat and understandably so. He has been inconsistent at times and is yet to fully justify his reputation but on his day can score against and dominate the best of teams. Karanka will look towards his star man to deliver the goods but this time he is likely to be up against a player of equal calibre in defence- Mamadou Sakho. The former Liverpool man is likely to make an appearance and will be raring to get onto the pitch. He has been through a torrid time and will look to prove his critics wrong. The physical battle between the two will be fascinating to watch.
ADAMA TRAORE VS PATRICK VAN AANHOLT
Traore has shown glimpses of some serious quality and characteristics this season but like many promising youngsters who fail to make it, he has shown a knack of making the wrong decisions or no decisions at all at times. He still has a long way to go but for him to realise his potential he needs to make massive alterations to his game.
His pace and strength have been difficult to contain and that job is likely to fall to Van Aanholt. The left-back is attack-minded but might need to curb his natural instincts to an extent to contain the Barcelona product.
BENTEKE VS GIBSON
The Belgian hasn’t delivered recently and that has been a major reason for their blunt attacking output. He needs to buck up big time and start to repay the faith Palace showed in him when they decided to spend around £30m on him. Like Negredo, he is also comfortable in the air and also makes some surprise movements which catches the defence unawares. Gibson has to get stuck and look to dominate the big Belgian to keep him quiet again.
