Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Rodney, Cardines.
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Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Boly.
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Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
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Welcome to our coverage of a grudge match between the team that qualified for the Europa League but has for administrative failings been cashiered into the Conference League, against the team that qualified for the Conference League but has taken the Europa League place of the team that qualified for the Europa League but has for administrative failings been cashiered into the Conference League. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has a lot to answer for, one way or another. The game some have dubbed El Casico† – there’s rarely opportunity to say this these days, but thank you, the internet – kicks off at 2pm UK time. It’s on!
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† El Casico, though! That’s right up there with Yesterday and Ulysses for things I wish I’d written.
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Key events
As for the background noise regarding all matters CAS, Nuno says: “It is always very hard at Selhurst Park … today more, because there’s a lot of things going on … I always insist on the same narrative that it’s not us to blame … but we don’t have any way to avoid it … it is going to be intense and we have to be ready.”
Nuno Espírito Santo talks to Sky Sports, and is asked if he’s trying to “engineer a way out of Nottingham Forest”. “That’s nonsense, it doesn’t make any kind of sense … we are focused on the game … making sure the players are ready to play this game … it will be very tough.”
Does he want to continue in his role as Forest boss? “Of course. Of course.”
Is there a need for talks between himself, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, and head of football Edu? “Yes, that’s what we need to do, and we’re gonna do it … today for sure not, because of the match, but soon, of course … there is no speculation around anything … we have to communicate and approach the final days of the market … prepare our boys.”
Noises Off dept. Ed Aarons gauges opinions of the events that have led us to El Casico. Unsurprisingly, not too many meet in the middle.
Crystal Palace make two changes to the side that started the Conference League qualifier against Fredrikstad. Tyrick Mitchell and Chris Richards come in for Borna Sosa and Jefferson Lerma.
Nottingham Forest select exactly the same 11 players that started the opening-day 3-1 win over Brentford. They’ve still got the same manager as well. For now.
The teams
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Sarr, Mateta, Devenny.
Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Rodney, Cardines.
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, Igor Jesus, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Boly.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Preamble
Welcome to our coverage of a grudge match between the team that qualified for the Europa League but has for administrative failings been cashiered into the Conference League, against the team that qualified for the Conference League but has taken the Europa League place of the team that qualified for the Europa League but has for administrative failings been cashiered into the Conference League. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has a lot to answer for, one way or another. The game some have dubbed El Casico† – there’s rarely opportunity to say this these days, but thank you, the internet – kicks off at 2pm UK time. It’s on!
† El Casico, though! That’s right up there with Yesterday and Ulysses for things I wish I’d written.