Crystal Palace rally to beat Fulham 2-1 in pre-season friendly at Motspur Park

With the English Premier League 2026/27 season just weeks away, Fulham lost 1-2 to Crystal Palace in a pre-season friendly at Motspur Park in London. Antonee Robinson opened the scoring in the third minute before Ismaila Sarr and Matheus Franca completed a comeback for the visitors.

Robinson's early strike gave Alvaro Arbeloa's side the perfect start and Fulham controlled the opening stages. Crystal Palace grew into the match after the half-hour mark, with Sarr levelling in the 33rd minute to make it 1-1 at the interval. Palace carried that momentum into the second half and the contest remained open until the decisive moments after the break.

In the 47th minute Oscar Mingueza's pass found Matheus Franca, who beat Benjamin Lecomte to put Crystal Palace ahead; that goal proved to be the match-winner. Despite sustained late pressure from the Cottagers, Palace held on for the 2-1 final score at Motspur Park.

Both sides had fielded their first-choice defenders, yet the forwards enjoyed freedom high up the pitch, leaving both managers slightly worried about defensive frailties. Arbeloa and Pierre Sage are new appointments at their clubs and are in the process of shaping their teams' styles of play.

Fulham made use of their home advantage and created several openings, but apart from Robinson's early goal their attackers had little joy; new signings Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios were reportedly starved of supply in the final third. Arbeloa appears intent on building an attacking side, while Sage's selection suggested he may persist with the 3-4-3 setup previously used by Oliver Glasner.

There had been rumours that Real Madrid were preparing a big offer for Ismaila Sarr, and the match emphasised Palace's reliance on the Senegalese winger: Sarr was their best player in the first half and played a central role in the equaliser. For Sage, the half-time changes made an immediate impact when Mingueza's ball found Franca to secure the lead.

It is never wise to read too much into a training-ground friendly, but the result leaves both new managers with matters to address before the Premier League 2026/27 campaign begins in weeks.