Preview: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace – Premier League Title Defence
Chelsea begin their Premier League title defence with a London derby at Stamford Bridge against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Match Preview
The Blues return to domestic action riding the momentum of major success in the summer, having secured the FIFA Club World Cup this year. Despite their triumphs on the international stage, Chelsea faces questions about their squad depth and defensive stability due to injuries and absences heading into the new campaign.
For Crystal Palace, victory in the Community Shield last weekend over league champions Liverpool has delivered a timely boost ahead of what promises to be a demanding season. Their squad remains largely intact, but uncertainty surrounds the futures of key players Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi, who have attracted interest from Premier League rivals.
Chelsea’s pre-season was brief due to their Club World Cup commitments but productive, marked by impressive home wins against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan. Manager Enzo Maresca will be eager for a strong start as Chelsea embark on a tough run, facing four London clubs in their first four matches.
Team News
However, there are setbacks for the hosts. Defensive mainstays Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile are sidelined with injuries, while Nicolas Jackson is suspended following a red card received late last season. This means Joao Pedro is expected to lead the line, with other new signings such as Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens likely to be given starts.
Crystal Palace will be without the injured Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah, Matheus França, Cheick Doucouré, and Chadi Riad. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Eze and Guehi’s futures, both are expected to start unless there are last-minute changes. Adam Wharton has returned from injury and could be influential in midfield.
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1):
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
Head-to-Head Record
Chelsea have a dominant record over Palace in recent Premier League meetings, remaining unbeaten in their last 15 encounters (13 wins, 2 draws), including eight at Stamford Bridge. Palace’s last league triumph at the Bridge dates back to 2017, making this a daunting challenge for the visitors.
However, Palace showed their mettle by securing the Community Shield against a top Liverpool side, and they will look to carry that form into this match. Maresca’s Blues will need to be at their best to break down a Palace side that has been tactically well-drilled under Oliver Glasner.
Prediction
A closely fought contest is expected, with both sides possessing the quality to find the net, but the visitors unlikely to concede easily on the road.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
This fixture promises to be competitive, as Chelsea aims to continue their unbeaten streak against Palace, while the visitors seek to extend their strong run to ten matches without defeat across all competitions.
