Premier League is back this weekend and among the brightest of the matches we get one between Chelsea versus Crystal Palace at the Stamford Bridge. The two London-based clubs enter into the new season following the good pre-season but with completely different demands. Chelsea under Enzo Maresca are eyeing to add onto their fourth-place finish and FIFA Club World Cup win whilst Palace under Oliver Glasner are aiming to enter into the top half following a trophy last season.
Match Preview
The blistering start identified in the summer continued in the pre-season, after mastering PSG 3-0 in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea won both pre-season games against Bayer Leverkusen (2-0) and AC Milan (4-1). Cole Palmer has been simply sensational and has also found a good connection with new signing Joao Pedro, and fans are hopeful of bright start to the 2025/26 season.
Crystal Palace are fresh, too, following their thrilling Community Shield 2-2, 3-2 penalties, victory over Liverpool and a respectable 3-1 result against Augsburg. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze are their most important sources of attack yet doubts surround their defensive resilience which is something thatwill be exploited by Chelsea.
Form Guide
Chelsea (Last 3 Competitive Matches):
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Win: 3-0 vs PSG (FIFA Club World Cup Final)
Win: 2-0 vs Bayer Leverkusen (Pre-season)
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Win: 4-1 vs AC Milan (Pre-season)
Crystal Palace (Last 3 Competitive Matches):
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Win: 3-1 vs Augsburg (Pre-season)
Draw: 2-2 vs Liverpool (Community Shield, won on pens)
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Win: 2-0 vs Tottenham (Premier League 2024/25
Head-to-Head Record
Where in the past, Chelsea have triumphed in 35 of the 63 matches. Chelsea have won three of their recent five encounters with the Premier League and the last two were played to a draw with Palace unable to get a win.
- Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea – Jan 2025
Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace – Sep 2024
Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea – Feb 2024
Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace – Dec 2023
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace – Jan 2023
Team News
Chelsea
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Out/Suspended: Nicolas Jackson (Suspended), Mykhailo Mudryk (Suspended)
Doubtful: Benoît Badiashile (Knock), Romeo Lavia (Muscle)
Crystal Palace
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Out: Chadi Riad (Knee), Caleb Kporha (Back), Cheick Doucouré (Knee), Eddie Nketiah (Hamstring)
Doubtful: Matheus Franca (Muscle)
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; João Pedro
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1):
Henderson; Guéhi, Lacroix, Richards; Muñoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze, Kamada; Mateta
Big Battles to Track
Cole Palmer vs Eberechi Eze: Two of the most creative players in the Premier League swaps will clash as these two could change the match easily.
Enzo Fernandez v Jefferson Lerma: A subtlety v streetfight refinement shootout in the midfield. Key to opening up the Palace defence will be the passing of Fernandez.
Joao Pedro vs Marc Guèhi: One of the highly dependable defenders in the league, Marc Guèhi, will be up against a summer recruit of Chelsea, Joao Pedro, as this pairing of two can plot out the scoreline.
Betting tips
Full-Time Pick: Chelsea to win (Odds: ~1.61) The home-field and better current form makes Chelsea the favourites.
Correct Score: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace - Hosts have won their last four home league games keeping clean sheets in three of those games.
Anytime Goalscorer: Cole Palmer -In fine pre-season shape and a proven goal scorer in big games.
Under 3.5 Goals: The past seven matches at Stamford Bridge have produced under 3.5 goals each.
Prediction
The fluidity of the attacks and superiority at home when it comes to Palace should provide Chelsea with three points in the first round. Palace have tricky front men in Eze and Mateta but their holes in defence could be punished during the period of high possession and quick transitions of Maresca.
Final Score Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
