The 2025-2026 Premier League season begins with a London derby as Chelsea hosts FA Cup and Community Shield holders Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Both teams will be looking to start their campaigns on a positive note in this opening-weekend fixture.
Match Details:
CompetitionDateKick-off (ET)VenuePremier LeagueAugust 17, 20259:00 AMStamford Bridge, London, England
Team Form and Analysis:
Chelsea enters the new Premier League season with high confidence after an impressive pre-season and a Club World Cup victory. Under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca, who is in his second season at the club, they have developed a formidable attacking style of play.
They are coming off a strong pre-season with victories over AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen. Despite some key defensive injuries, they are expected to dominate possession and secure a comfortable victory to start their league campaign.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, is coming off a highly successful end to their last season, having won the FA Cup and the Community Shield. They have had a mixed pre-season, with one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five matches. Despite losing some key players, they have shown resilience and will be hoping to capitalize on any mistakes by Chelsea.
Head-to-Head:
The head-to-head record between these two clubs heavily favors Chelsea. In their 67 historical meetings, Chelsea has won 38 times, with Crystal Palace winning 12, and 17 draws. Chelsea is unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League matches against Crystal Palace (13 wins, two draws).
However, last season Crystal Palace avoided defeat against Chelsea both home and away in a single league campaign for the first time since 1991-92.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Head-to-Head Stats (Last 5 Premier League matches)
ChelseaCrystal PalaceWins20Draws22Goals Scored84
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Player to Watch:
Chelsea: João Pedro has enjoyed a superb start to his Chelsea career in the pre-season and will lead the line for the Blues.
Crystal Palace: The focus for Crystal Palace will be on their key attacking players to create chances and find the back of the net against a tough Chelsea defense.
Prediction:
Chelsea is the clear favorite to win this match. Their superior squad quality, recent form, and dominant head-to-head record against Crystal Palace give them a significant advantage. While Crystal Palace will be motivated to perform, it is expected that Chelsea will control the game and secure a victory.
Live Stream and TV Broadcast:
You can watch the Chelsea vs Crystal Palace match live on the following platforms, subject to availability in your region:
Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
Sky Go (UK)
USA Network (USA)
Fubo (USA)
Sling Blue (USA)
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality
Mobile & PC | Auto Quality
