MANCHESTER, England (Interstat) — Manchester United opened its Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday, overcoming an early deficit and a resilient performance from the visitors.

The match, played under gray skies in Greater Manchester, began in shocking fashion for the home supporters. Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix stunned Old Trafford with a goal in just the fourth minute, capitalizing on an early set-piece opportunity to give the Eagles a dream start.

United, heavily favored with a 79.10 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to break down a compact Palace defense for much of the first half. The physical tone of the match was set early, with Palace substitute Daichi Kamada receiving a yellow card in the sixth minute. United defender Diogo Dalot was also booked in the 36th minute.

The game’s major turning point arrived in the 56th minute. Lacroix, the early goalscorer, was shown a straight red card, forcing Palace to play the final 34 minutes with 10 men. The dismissal shifted momentum firmly in United’s favor.

The numerical advantage told just nine minutes later. In the 65th minute, United finally found the equalizer. Defender Diogo Dalot, pushing forward, provided the assist for forward Benjamin Šeško, who leveled the score with a well-taken finish.

Pressing for a winner, United completed the comeback in the 83rd minute. Ayden Heaven, another defender contributing in attack, delivered the assist for midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who netted the decisive goal to send Old Trafford into celebration. Heaven would later receive a yellow card in the 89th minute as United managed the game’s closing stages.

Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson was booked in the 49th minute against his former club, part of a disciplined but ultimately unsuccessful defensive effort from the visitors. Palace substitute Daichi Kamada, who was booked early, registered an assist on Lacroix’s opening goal.

The final score of 2-1 defied the pre-match projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had predicted a 1-1 draw. The result gives Manchester United manager a winning start to the 2025-26 Premier League season, with the club’s record across all competitions now at one win and no losses.

For Crystal Palace, the narrow defeat at one of the league’s most difficult venues offers some positive signs despite the result. The team’s record in the Premier League and across all competitions stands at no wins and one loss.

The match showcased United’s ability to grind out a result, relying on key contributions from its attacking midfielder in Fernandes and its forward in Šeško, while also benefiting from offensive support from its full-backs. Palace’s organized defense and early goal ensured the contest was in doubt until the final whistle, but the red card proved an insurmountable obstacle.