**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](Preview: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole): Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace