As things currently stand, Manchester City and Crystal Palace do not have a fixture scheduled for Gameweek 31 — and that’s exactly how it appears on the Fantasy Premier League platform.
But is there still a path for the game to be reinstated in GW31?
Short answer: Yes, it’s possible.
Their originally scheduled clash at the Etihad on Saturday, 21 March cannot go ahead because City are involved in the EFL Cup Final at Wembley the following day. An international break follows immediately after, ruling out that weekend entirely.
However, there’s an unusually long three-week gap between Gameweeks 31 and 32 — and that opens the door for a possible rearrangement.
How Could It Happen?
There are two realistic scenarios:
1️⃣ Weekend of April 4
If City are eliminated in the FA Cup fifth round by Newcastle United F.C. (Palace are already out), that weekend could become available for the fixture.
2️⃣ Midweek of April 7/8
If both City and Palace are knocked out of their respective European competitions before the quarter-final stage (Champions League / Europa League / Conference League), that midweek slot could open up.
If either of those scenarios plays out, the fixture would almost certainly stay within Gameweek 31 for FPL purposes. It’s considered unlikely that the Gameweek 32 deadline would be brought forward.
Key Dates to Watch
- FA Cup fifth round – City travel to Newcastle on Saturday, 7 March (right after Gameweek 29).
- European competitions – City’s continental fate will be decided in the midweek before Gameweek 31.
Until those outcomes are confirmed, the Gameweek 31 blank remains — but it’s not locked in just yet.
For FPL managers, that means it’s wise to monitor cup results before committing fully to Free Hit or heavy transfers.
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