Brighton
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace won 1–0 away at Brighton on 8 February 2026 (Premier League 2025-2026, Round 25). Goals – Crystal Palace: Ismaila Sarr 61'. Highest-rated player: Maxence Lacroix (7.8). In 18 Premier League meetings since 2000-01, Brighton have won 4, Crystal Palace 6 and 8 matches have been drawn.
Brighton’s control of the ball counted for little as Crystal Palace left the Amex with a hard-edged 0-1 win on 8 February 2026. The Brighton vs Crystal Palace Score was settled just after the hour when Ismaila Sarr burst into the box and bent a ruthless finish inside the left post, a moment of clarity in a game defined by discipline, defensive timing and goalkeepers doing their jobs. For all Brighton’s 64% possession, Palace carried the sharper threat and protected their lead with the kind of collective grit that turns tight days into statement nights. This Brighton vs Crystal Palace Result will sting for Fabian Hürzeler’s side; for Palace, it felt like a derby win built on patience and punch.
Brighton began with purpose, pushing men into the box early and asking questions from set plays. Pascal Groß’s deliveries immediately found Lewis Dunk in space, and the captain should have made more of a free header that drifted over—an early warning that Brighton might not get many clean looks. The hosts moved the ball crisply in midfield, probing for Kaoru Mitoma and trying to pull Palace’s back line out of shape, but the visitors’ structure held and Dean Henderson’s reading of danger snuffed out several promising angles before they became shots.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, were happy to weather the early rhythm and then bite back in flashes. Will Hughes’ corners and wide deliveries gave them territory, and Ismaila Sarr’s movement repeatedly tested Brighton’s line—occasionally too eagerly, with offsides breaking up transitions. The clearest Palace opening arrived when Sarr met a cross and found room to shoot, only to drag his effort wide. Brighton had the ball, Palace had the bite, and the first half ended goalless with the sense that the next clean chance might decide everything.
Brighton came out with the same intent—possession, patience, and the hope that one precise pass would open the door. Groß and Kadioglu looked to release runners, while Mitoma drew attention whenever he received to feet. But Palace’s defensive spacing stayed tight, and when Brighton did manage to slip into the box, Henderson was quick off his line to smother the danger.
The decisive moment arrived on 61 minutes and it was brutally efficient. Substitute Evann Guessand, freshly introduced, slid a perfectly weighted ball through the inside channel and Ismaila Sarr did the rest—accelerating into the area and drilling a composed finish inside the left post for 0-1. Suddenly, the derby had a new temperature: Brighton chasing, Palace protecting.
Hürzeler responded with changes, throwing on pace and presence, including Danny Welbeck and Yankuba Minteh, and Brighton’s pressure increased without quite turning into clear-cut opportunities. Charalampos Kostoulas forced a sharp save with a low effort towards the right post, but Palace’s back line continued to meet crosses and second balls with headers, blocks and clearances. The visitors still carried a threat on the break, and deep into stoppage time Bart Verbruggen produced the save of the match—diving superbly to deny Jørgen Strand Larsen’s header that was arrowing towards the bottom corner. It ensured Brighton remained one goal away, but they never found the equaliser.
The Brighton vs Crystal Palace Stats told a story of control versus incision. Brighton dominated possession (64% to 36%) and matched Palace for total shots (7-7), yet the quality of chances leaned away from the hosts. Crystal Palace won the xG battle 1.16 to 0.74 and also led for shots on target (4 to 2), reflecting how often they reached dangerous zones with clearer sight of goal.
In an xG analysis lens, Palace’s advantage was reinforced by xG on target (0.87 to 0.24), while Brighton struggled to turn territory into high-value finishes. Palace also registered far more touches in the opposition box (25 to 13), a crucial indicator of who actually threatened the penalty area. Brighton’s build-up was neat, but Palace’s interceptions (10 to 3) and sheer volume of clearances (33) underlined how well Oliver Glasner’s side anticipated the final ball and survived the late siege. This Brighton vs Crystal Palace Analysis also has to credit both keepers: Henderson’s command reduced Brighton’s best moments, and Verbruggen kept the margin respectable with a brilliant late stop.
In terms of discipline, Palace collected three yellows to Brighton’s one, including a late caution for Daniel Muñoz for delaying a restart—an example of game management that frustrated the home crowd but helped see out the lead. Ultimately, the Brighton vs Crystal Palace Goals column contained only one entry, and it belonged to the visitors at the exact moment they needed it.
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace). The match winner delivered the defining moment with a striker’s run and a finisher’s calm, and his off-ball movement kept Brighton wary even when Palace were without the ball. In a tight Brighton vs Crystal Palace Match Report, the decisive contribution matters most—and Sarr provided it.
For Brighton match today, this was the frustrating kind of defeat that can linger: dominance of possession, plenty of promising positions, but not enough punch in the box. The challenge now is turning control into cutting edge, especially in games where opponents are comfortable defending deep and countering with speed.
For Crystal Palace match today, the win is a confidence surge—an away derby victory built on organisation, timely substitutions and clinical execution. The Brighton vs Crystal Palace Highlights will focus on Sarr’s goal and Verbruggen’s late heroics, but Palace will be just as pleased with the maturity they showed to manage the final minutes. The full-time analysis is simple: Palace created the better chances, took one, and defended the rest.
Report written automatically from the match data and commentary. xG figures are the data provider's.
BrightonCrystal PalacexG and xGOT are the data provider's figures.
Igor, James Milner, Jason Steele, Joel Veltman
Walter Benitez, Jaydee Canvot, Nathaniel Clyne, Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa, Christantus Uche
18 meetings · goals Brighton 21–21 Crystal Palace
Previous meetings
0–0FT · 14:00Brighton 2–1FT · 15:00Brighton 1–3FT · 14:00Crystal Palace 4–1FT · 15:00Crystal Palace 1–1FT · 20:00Brighton Last five Premier League matches, oldest to newest.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 |
Brighton
|
38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | +6 | 53 |
| 15 |
Crystal Palace
|
38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | −10 | 45 |
Brighton
Crystal Palace
Brighton vs Crystal Palace Match Commentary