Crystal Palace will continue their preparations for the start of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a pre-season clash against League One side Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
The Eagles have beaten Walsall and Ipswich Town in their two friendlies this summer, while Charlton have won two, drawn one and lost one of their four pre-season fixtures in July.
Match preview
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Palace have made an encouraging start to their pre-season, recording back-to-back 1-0 wins over Walsall and Ipswich in Patrick Vieira's first two matches in charge of the Eagles.
A Wilfried Zaha penalty was the difference between the two sides against Ipswich on Saturday, and Vieira will now be looking for another encouraging performance and result against Charlton on July 27.
Palace will end the month with a fixture against Reading before taking on fellow Premier League side Watford in their final pre-season fixture of the summer on August 7.
The London club will then begin their 2021-22 Premier League season away to Chelsea on August 14, and it will be fascinating to see how the Eagles perform next term as they enter a new era.
Marc Guehi and Michael Olise have both arrived at Selhurst Park this summer, while it is believed that Palace are closing in on a deal for Lyon's Joachim Andersen; Zaha also looks set to stay at the club, and Vieira will be hoping to get the best out of the team's star player next term.
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Charlton, meanwhile, have played four times this month, starting their preparations for the new season with a 2-1 defeat to Scottish giants Celtic on July 10.
The Addicks then recorded back-to-back victories over Welling United and Dartford before drawing 1-1 with Championship side Reading on Saturday, with Hady Ghandour on the scoresheet late on.
Nigel Adkins's side have been relatively busy this summer in terms of incomings, with Craig MacGillivray, George Dobson, Akin Famewo, Jayden Stockley and Sean Clare all arriving at the club.
Charlton have two more confirmed friendlies in the diary against Palace and Fulham before opening their League One campaign at home to Sheffield Wednesday on August 7.
The Addicks finished just outside the playoff spots in League One last term, ultimately missing out on goal difference, and they will be looking to push high up the division once again in 2021-22.
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Team News
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Palace boss Vieira is expected to make changes to the side that started against Ipswich last time out, with new arrival Guehi potentially coming into the side in the middle of the defence.
Zaha is again expected to line up in the final third of the field, with Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jean-Philippe Mateta also likely to retain their spots in the attacking areas.
Jairo Riedewald and James McArthur could line up as the two central midfielders, while Joel Ward could take the place of Nathaniel Clyne for the first whistle against the League One outfit.
As for Charlton, Ryan Inniss played his first minutes of pre-season against Reading in Berkshire, while there was also a debut for new signing Clare.
The bulk of the squad that featured against the Royals should be available for this match, but there will be changes, as Addicks looks to ensure that all of his players get minutes in their legs.
Charlton are unlikely to be able to call upon Ben Purrington, though, as the 25-year-old had to be replaced in the seventh minute of the clash with the Royals, with Jacob Roddy now potentially in line for a start.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Butland; Ward, Kouyate, Guehi, Mitchell; Riedewald, McArthur; Schlupp, Zaha, Mateta; Ayew
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Matthews, Inniss, Pearce, Roddy; Clare, Dobson, Morgan; Clayden, Powell, Washington
We say: Crystal Palace 2-1 Charlton Athletic
Charlton have played a lot of football this month and should therefore provide difficult opponents for Palace on Tuesday evening; we are expecting a tight match at Selhurst Park but believe that the Premier League club's extra quality will ultimately shine through to secure the win.
Matt Law
