Chelsea will welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 17 August 2025, kicking off what promises to be a riveting early-season Premier League contest.
The Blues, riding the momentum from a triumphant summer that included both the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup, have reimagined their squad through a wave of high-profile transfers.
Meanwhile, Palace—fresh off their first-ever FA Cup victory and a dramatic Community Shield win over Liverpool—enter the season with belief, albeit amid speculation over key players like Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi.
The stakes are high as both teams seek to define their season’s trajectory in this London derby.
Prediction
This match pits Chelsea’s renewed ambition and attacking firepower against Crystal Palace’s rising confidence and cohesion. Statistical models and betting markets lean toward a narrow Chelsea victory, with their home advantage and depth tipped as decisive.
Nevertheless, Palace’s recent success and momentum suggest a potential for a scrappy draw or surprise result. A 2–1 win for Chelsea seems a plausible forecast, balancing their offensive upgrades with Palace’s resilience and momentum.
Head-to-head
Historically, Chelsea have dominated encounters with Palace, but that narrative has shifted recently. Last season, both meetings ended in 1–1 draws, signaling that the gap may be closing.
Although Chelsea still hold the upper hand in head-to-head records overall, Crystal Palace have matured tactically under Oliver Glasner, and their confidence is buoyed by cup triumph and sustained form.
The recent parity between the clubs adds an extra edge of intrigue to this fixture.
Possible lineups
Chelsea’s summer overhaul has brought in a fresh wave of young talent. In goal, Robert Sánchez is expected to start. In defence, Jorrel Hato could feature on the left, with Mamadou Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah, and another fit defender filling the remaining roles.
Levi Colwill is out for the season with an ACL injury, and Wesley Fofana is also unavailable, so Chalobah’s return to fitness is a boost for Enzo Maresca’s side. In the midfield pivot, Dário Essugo is likely to be paired with Moisés Caicedo, provided he remains at the club, or another central midfielder.
The attacking trio could feature Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on one flank, João Pedro in a central creative role, and Estêvão Willian on the other wing. Leading the line is Liam Delap, who impressed in pre-season, including a standout performance in the Club World Cup final where Chelsea beat Milan 4–1.
Crystal Palace, under Oliver Glasner, will likely stick with their successful three-at-the-back system. Dean Henderson is expected to start in goal after his heroics in the Community Shield shootout.
In defence, Marc Guehi should line up alongside Chris Richards and Borna Sosa, although Guehi’s future remains the subject of transfer speculation. The wing-back positions will probably be filled by Daniel Muñoz and Tyrick Mitchell.
In midfield, Will Hughes and Adam Wharton, fitness permitting, are likely to control the central areas, with Matheus França and Daichi Kamada offering alternative options.
Further forward, Eberechi Eze, still the subject of interest from Arsenal, and Ismaila Sarr are expected to support the lone striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who remains a focal point for Palace’s attack.
Betting tips
Given the dynamics of this clash, Chelsea to win appears a strong option, whether taken outright or as part of a double chance bet, with their home advantage and squad depth favouring them.
Both teams to score is another appealing market, considering Chelsea’s improved attacking options and Palace’s current momentum.
Over 2.5 goals is plausible given the attacking setups, though the under 2.5 market might also hold value for more cautious bettors depending on odds.
A correct score prediction of 2–1 to Chelsea fits the narrative of a competitive match where the home side edges ahead, but Palace still finds the net.
A first-half result of Chelsea or draw (1X) is a conservative yet solid approach, reflecting Chelsea’s strong record in opening halves when playing as favourites.