Crystal Palace have built a reputation as serial giant‑killers, pulling off shocks against some of the biggest clubs in England, and, most recently, on the grandest stage of all. These upsets span from Third Division cup runs in the 1970s to stunning modern-day wins over title-chasing Manchester City.
Third Division Eagles Stun Chelsea and Leeds (1976)
Under Malcolm Allison, Third Division Palace produced one of the great FA Cup runs in 1975–76, eliminating two elite sides in quick succession. They first beat Don Revie’s old club Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road, then followed it up with a famous 3-2 victory away at Chelsea in the fifth round, with winger Peter Taylor starring in a shock that reverberated across English football. That giant‑killing sequence cemented Palace’s reputation as a lower‑league side capable of taking down top-flight aristocrats.
4-0 vs Chelsea: Early FA Cup Statement (1975)
A year earlier, in 1975, Palace announced themselves as serious cup spoilers by hammering top-flight Chelsea 4-0, an early, emphatic example of the Eagles dismantling a far richer London rival. Contemporary retrospectives still list this as one of the most lopsided FA Cup shocks of the era, with the margin of victory turning a simple upset into a statement win.
Beating the Champions – Palace vs the Title Holders
In the Premier League era, Palace have repeatedly upset reigning champions. Club records show that the Eagles have beaten the defending English champions in four of the last five seasons, including high-profile league wins over Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea despite often starting as heavy underdogs. This run has led analysts to dub Palace a “bogey team” for title contenders, especially away from Selhurst Park.
FA Cup Final Shock: 1-0 vs Manchester City (2025)
Arguably the biggest upset in Crystal Palace history came on 17 May 2025, when Oliver Glasner’s side stunned overwhelming favourites Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Eberechi Eze swept home a Daniel Muñoz cross in the 16th minute and Palace then held off sustained pressure to secure their first ever major trophy, in what many outlets labelled one of the greatest FA Cup final shocks of the modern era. It was only the second time in over a decade that City had lost a domestic cup final, underlining the true scale of the achievement.
Greatest Crystal Palace Upsets Table
| Match / Season | Competition | Opponent & Division | Result | Why It Was an Upset | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 FA Cup run | FA Cup | Leeds United & Chelsea (both top-flight) | 1-0 vs Leeds, 3-2 vs Chelsea | Third Division Palace knock out two elite First Division giants away from home | FA Cup run |
| 1975 Chelsea 0-4 Palace | FA Cup | Chelsea (First Division) | 4-0 Palace | Heavy win over top-flight Chelsea that announced Palace as serious giant‑killers | FA Cup history |
| Various, 2010s–2020s | Premier League | Reigning champions (e.g. Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea) | Multiple wins | Palace have beaten the champions in four of the last five seasons | Record vs champions |
| 2024–25 FA Cup final | FA Cup | Manchester City (treble-chasing superclub) | 1-0 Palace | First major trophy; widely described as one of the biggest FA Cup final upsets | Final upset report |
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