Date: Sunday 17th
August 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 14:00 BST
It doesn’t really feel as if the players
have had much of a break but it’s back to it today and we kick off the 2025/26
season with a London derby, at home, against Crystal Palace.
After finishing off last season with
success in the Conference League, we added another trophy to our collection over
the summer with a FIFA Club World Cup win over PSG. Crystal Palace, meanwhile,
spent the summer polishing the FA Cup they won against Manchester City, in
preparation for the Community Shield they get to shine up after their recent
win against Liverpool.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 15
Premier League meetings against Palace and we have a decent record on the
opening day, however, they held us to a draw last season and Henderson doesn’t
look like he’ll be letting a lot past him if the Community Shield is his
yardstick.
Despite our impressive attacking displays
in pre-season, we have some defensive woes again and Maresca’s ability to
manage will be tested today against a counter-attacking Palace side no doubt
buoyed from their recent successes.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca says, “I said when we started last season we were
very far from the ones competing. Now we are closer, and the next step is to be
even closer and try to compete with them, but for sure we are better than last
season. I’m very excited for this new season. It will be a very long season
again, different competitions, Premier League, Champions League, the domestic
cups, but it will be exciting.”
Crystal
Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, says “We are facing the Club World Cup
champion. They played a fantastic tournament, especially the final. I watched
it live. It really was a fantastic performance. They added a few players. They
were a great team. They are a great team. They have a fantastic manager with
Enzo Maresca. A clear style of playing.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL) will be
out long-term and Tosin Adarabioyo misses out today, so the pack will get an
early shuffle to cover. Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Omari Kellyman are
all injured, and Nicolas Jackson is suspended.
For Crystal Palace, Eberechi Eze is a doubt amid interest
from Sp*rs, Marc Guehi likewise but with Liverpool eyeing him up. I very much
doubt Glasner would bite his nose off to spite his face though. Daichi Kamada,
Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad and Mattheus Franca are all
unavailable.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella; Enzo,
Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
CRYSTAL PALACE (Possible 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 will be just the second time Chelsea
and Crystal Palace have faced each other on the first day of a league season
- This is the fifth time Chelsea have begun
a Premier League campaign with a London derby, winning each of the previous
four
- Chelsea
are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Crystal Palace (W13
D2)
- Crystal Palace’s last win at Stamford
Bridge in the Premier League came in April 2017
- Crystal
Palace have failed to win on any of their last eight trips in the league,
losing seven of those games
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
