CHELSEA v Crystal Palace: Preview

Date: Sunday seventeenth
August 2025

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Kick-off: 14:00 BST

It doesn’t actually really feel as if the gamers
have had a lot of a break nevertheless it’s again to it right this moment and we kick off the 2025/26
season with a London derby, at dwelling, in opposition to Crystal Palace.

After ending off final season with
success within the Convention League, we added one other trophy to our assortment over
the summer season with a FIFA Membership World Cup win over PSG. Crystal Palace, in the meantime,
spent the summer season sprucing the FA Cup they gained in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, in
preparation for the Neighborhood Protect they get to shine up after their latest
win in opposition to Liverpool.

Chelsea are unbeaten within the final 15
Premier League conferences in opposition to Palace and we have now a good file on the
opening day, nonetheless, they held us to a draw final season and Henderson doesn’t
appear like he’ll be letting lots previous him if the Neighborhood Protect is his
yardstick.

Regardless of our spectacular attacking shows
in pre-season, we have now some defensive woes once more and Maresca’s capacity to
handle shall be examined right this moment in opposition to a counter-attacking Palace aspect little question
buoyed from their latest successes.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into
right this moment’s recreation, Enzo Maresca says, “I stated once we began final season we had been
very removed from those competing. Now we’re nearer, and the following step is to be
even nearer and attempt to compete with them, however for certain we’re higher than final
season. I’m very excited for this new season. Will probably be a really lengthy season
once more, completely different competitions, Premier League, Champions League, the home
cups, however will probably be thrilling.”

Crystal
Palace supervisor, Oliver Glasner, says “We face the Membership World Cup
champion. They performed a unbelievable match, particularly the ultimate. I watched
it dwell. It actually was a unbelievable efficiency. They added a number of gamers. They
had been a fantastic staff. They’re a fantastic staff. They’ve a unbelievable supervisor with
Enzo Maresca. A transparent type of taking part in.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL) shall be
out long-term and Tosin Adarabioyo misses out right this moment, so the pack will get an
early shuffle to cowl. Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Omari Kellyman are
all injured, and Nicolas Jackson is suspended.

For Crystal Palace, Eberechi Eze is a doubt amid curiosity
from Sp*rs, Marc Guehi likewise however with Liverpool eyeing him up. I very a lot
doubt Glasner would chew his nostril off to spite his face although. Daichi Kamada,
Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad and Mattheus Franca are all
unavailable.

TEAMS

Chelsea (doable line-up): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Achenamong, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro

CRYSTAL PALACE (Doable line-up): Henderson;
Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze

LAST SEASON

Chelsea 1-1 Crystal
Palace (1st September 2024)

CURRENT FORM

N/A

OTHER STUFF

This shall be simply the second time Chelsea
and Crystal Palace have confronted one another on the primary day of a league seasonThis is the fifth time Chelsea have begun
a Premier League marketing campaign with a London derby, successful every of the earlier
fourChelsea
are unbeaten of their final 15 Premier League video games in opposition to Crystal Palace (W13
D2)Crystal Palace’s final win at Stamford
Bridge within the Premier League got here in April 2017Crystal
Palace have didn’t win on any of their final eight journeys within the league,
dropping seven of these video games

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace