Captain fantastic: Guéhi’s curler lights up Palace’s statement 3-0 at Villa Park

Crystal Palace delivered a commanding away win to collect their first Premier League victory of the season, beating Aston Villa 3-0 with a performance that blended discipline and incision. Jean‑Philippe Mateta’s early penalty rewarded a smart counter, Marc Guéhi’s captain’s strike into the top corner settled nerves amid Villa pressure, and Ismaïla Sarr’s late header iced a complete night’s work.

It capped a perfect week for Oliver Glasner’s side, who had secured their UEFA Conference League league‑phase berth in midweek. The only dampener was a groin injury that forced Adam Wharton off early in the second half, but otherwise this was a display of collective clarity—backed by Dean Henderson’s safe hands and a travelling support in full voice.

Blueprint executed: soak, spring, strike

Palace’s plan was precise. Sit compact, shield the centre, and launch quickly through Daniel Muñoz, Sarr and Mateta. On their first real surge, Daichi Kamada was tripped by Marco Bizot and Mateta did the rest from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 on 21 minutes.

There might have been a second before the break when Sarr attacked a Muñoz cross but could not keep his header down. At the other end, Henderson’s sharp save from Ollie Watkins preserved the lead, a preview of the authority he would show after half‑time against Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers—and with a brave block that clattered him in the face from Watkins.

Guéhi’s moment and the chorus behind him

Amid a swirl of transfer talk and a Liverpool bid, Guéhi stayed ice‑cool. When a loose ball broke to him on the edge of the area, he shaped his body and curled a glorious shot into the far top corner. The away end erupted, serenading their captain with “Marc Guéhi, I wanna know how you scored that goal.”

The finish arrived at the perfect time. Villa had raised their tempo after the interval—especially once Emi Buendía came on—but Palace’s captain provided the intervention that deflated the hosts and underlined the visitors’ poise. It was a strike worthy of a leader who has fronted a remarkable period for the club.

Sarr’s seal, a streak extended

The clincher was pure set‑piece craft: Jefferson Lerma’s long throw arced into the area, Maxence Lacroix flicked it on, and Sarr attacked the back post to nod in on 78 minutes. Palace saw out the final stages with minimal fuss, their structure intact and their counter still a threat.

This was the latest chapter in a dominant recent head‑to‑head—five wins and a draw across the last six meetings—and part of a club‑record 14‑match unbeaten run in all competitions. It echoed May’s Wembley triumph over Villa on the road to FA Cup glory and showcased the depth of contributors: Mateta ruthless, Henderson unflappable, Yeremy Pino bright off the bench.

Momentum into the break

Palace’s ability to manage moments—soaking pressure, relying on Henderson when required, then striking with clinical quality—offered a template for the weeks ahead. Even with Wharton’s injury to assess, the collective is humming, the balance right, and the belief obvious.

Glasner’s side return home to meet Sunderland after the international break with momentum and clarity. With the captain’s performance a reminder of Palace’s standards, the Eagles fly into September unbeaten in the league and buoyed by a statement away win.