As the Premier League season barrels toward its dramatic conclusion, all eyes are on a potential twist that could decide the title race—and Pep Guardiola is already bracing for it.

Manchester City's manager expects Crystal Palace to approach their final-day clash against Arsenal with full professionalism, even as the Eagles have one eye on a historic European final just days later. With City trailing Arsenal by five points but holding a game in hand—oddly enough, against Palace themselves on Wednesday—the math is simple: Guardiola's side needs Arsenal to slip up against the London club on May 24.

But here's where it gets complicated. That match at Selhurst Park falls just three days before Palace faces Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final—arguably the biggest game in the club's 121-year history. The temptation for Palace manager Oliver Glasner to rest key players is obvious, and Guardiola knows it.

"They are so professional, the teams," Guardiola said Tuesday when asked if he feared a weakened Palace lineup. "Crystal Palace will play top against us. We saw Leeds yesterday against Spurs—even being out of the relegation battle and staying in the Premier League again, how they competed. We have played here against Aston Villa in the past, or West Ham—nothing to play and we saw how difficult it was. So I'm pretty sure they will do their best."

Glasner, however, has already made his stance clear. After guiding Palace to the Conference League final with a win over Shakhtar Donetsk, he dismissed any notion that he should prioritize Arsenal or City's title ambitions over his own club's historic opportunity.

"I'm not responsible for Arsenal, I'm not responsible for Manchester City, I'm responsible for Crystal Palace," Glasner said. "I get paid for doing the best things for Crystal Palace and not for City and not for Arsenal. Maybe we'll be playing with the same lineup that we'll play against Vallecano... maybe it feels like the league title is decided."

For context, West Ham's controversial loss to Arsenal last weekend ensured Palace's Premier League safety, meaning the Eagles have little left to play for domestically beyond pride. Meanwhile, Arsenal are heavy favorites to win their other remaining game—a home fixture against already-relegated Burnley on Monday—meaning City's title hopes likely hinge on Palace pulling off a result.

With the stakes sky-high and tensions simmering, this final-day showdown promises to be anything but predictable. Whether Palace fields its stars or its second string, one thing is certain: the Premier League title race will go down to the wire.