Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Preview

The highly anticipated match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace is set to kick off the Premier League season on August 17, 2025, at Stamford Bridge. Here’s a rundown of the key details:

Team News

Chelsea:

– Out/Suspended: Nicolas Jackson (suspended), Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended), Levi Colwill (ACL injury)
– Doubtful: Benoît Badiashile (knock), Romeo Lavia (muscle issue)

Crystal Palace:

– Out: Chadi Riad (knee injury), Caleb Kporha (back injury), Cheick Doucouré (knee injury), Eddie Nketiah (hamstring injury)
– Doubtful: Matheus Franca (muscle issue)

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1):

– Robert Sánchez
– Reece James
– Tosin Adarabioyo
– Trevoh Chalobah
– Marc Cucurella
– Enzo Fernández
– Moisés Caicedo
– Pedro Neto
– Cole Palmer
– Jamie Gittens
– João Pedro

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1):

– Dean Henderson
– Chris Richards
– Maxence Lacroix
– Marc Guéhi
– Daniel Muñoz
– Adam Wharton
– Will Hughes
– Tyrick Mitchell
– Ismaïla Sarr
– Eberechi Eze
– Jean-Philippe Mateta

Prediction and Betting Tips

– Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace. Chelsea’s superior form and home advantage make them the likely winners.
– Betting Tips:
– Chelsea to win: Odds of ~1.61
– Cole Palmer to score anytime: A good option considering his impressive pre-season form
– Under 3.5 goals: The past seven matches at Stamford Bridge have produced under 3.5 goals each

Head-to-Head Record

Chelsea have a strong record against Crystal Palace, winning 35 of their 63 meetings. In their last five encounters, Chelsea have won three, and two matches ended in draws.

Big Battles to Track

– Cole Palmer vs Eberechi Eze: Two creative players who can change the game’s course with their exceptional skills.
– Enzo Fernandez vs Jefferson Lerma: A midfield battle that could dictate the game’s tempo and outcome.
– João Pedro vs Marc Guéhi: A key matchup that could influence the scoreline, with João Pedro looking to capitalize on Guéhi’s defensive responsibilities ¹.