Last updated on August 17, 2025
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For both teams, the first game sets the tone. It’s not about deciding the season, but it’s about showing what kind of season they want to have.
Image credit: Maurice Vincent
The new Premier League season starts at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea know it’s about more than just three points.
After lifting the Club World Cup, the team needs to show they can turn big moments into a full season of strong performances.
Crystal Palace arrive full of confidence too.
They didn’t just win the FA Cup — they also beat Liverpool to claim the Community Shield.
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Both teams come in with something to prove: Chelsea want to show they’re ready for a title fight, and Palace want to show their recent trophies are part of a new winning habit.
Why This Match Matters
For Chelsea, this is a chance to start the season with purpose.
Last year, they had spells of great football but struggled to keep it going week after week.
A strong performance here would send a message that they’ve learned from those ups and downs.
For Crystal Palace, it’s an opportunity to prove they can compete with the league’s top sides on a regular basis.
Winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield has lifted expectations, and a good result at Stamford Bridge would show they’re ready to push on, not just enjoy past successes.
For both teams, the first game sets the tone. It’s not about deciding the season, but it’s about showing what kind of season they want to have.
What Changed Since May
Chelsea: Chelsea ended last season on a high, winning the Europa Conference League in May with a 4–1 victory over Real Betis — a result that made them the first club to win all four major European trophies.
They followed that up in July by lifting the Club World Cup, adding more belief to the squad.
The big setback is in defence: Levi Colwill has suffered an ACL injury in pre-season and will be out for most of the campaign, forcing Maresca to rethink his back-line plans.
Crystal Palace: Palace come into the new season riding the high of winning the FA Cup and then beating Liverpool to claim the Community Shield.
Those wins have boosted confidence and raised expectations.
There’s been some background noise over a UEFA appeal about their European place, but on the pitch, the focus is on turning cup success into consistent league form.
Chelsea – building from the back and pressing high
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea like to start their attacks by spreading the defence and using the goalkeeper as part of the build-up.
Often, one full-back moves into midfield while a centre-back shifts wide, creating extra passing options.
The last time #Chelsea faced crystal palace on opening day pic.twitter.com/7An1qyZH9y
— Chuks! (@chuksdoyo) August 7, 2025
When they push forward, they shape up with three at the back, two holding midfielders, and five players in attack.
Without the ball, Chelsea try to win it back quickly.
They often press in a 4-4-2 shape, with players like Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo leading the charge to force mistakes high up the pitch.
Crystal Palace – quick breaks and clever positioning
Oliver Glasner’s Palace set up to move the ball forward fast when they win it back.
Eberechi Eze is key here, finding space between the opposition’s lines, while the wide players break quickly to stretch the game.
They can switch between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-2 shape when defending against counters, keeping their structure solid.
However, Eze has not confirmed to play in the opener as he has reportedly told Palace he wants to leave.
Head to Head
For years, Chelsea have had the upper hand against Crystal Palace.
In about 30 meetings since the late 1990s, Chelsea have won 24 times, Palace only 4, with just 2 draws in that span.
It’s been a one-sided rivalry for most of the Premier League era.
That’s why last season’s results stood out.
In September 2024, Palace held Chelsea to a 1–1 draw at Stamford Bridge — ending an incredible run of 27 straight wins for Chelsea in this fixture.
Then in January 2025 at Selhurst Park, they did it again with another 1–1 draw, thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s late equaliser.
History still leans heavily in Chelsea’s favour, but those back-to-back draws show Palace have found a way to make life uncomfortable for them.
This time, the question is whether they can take the next step and turn a good performance into a rare win.
Team News
Chelsea
- Out / Unavailable:
- Mykhaylo Mudryk (injury)
- Levi Colwill (ACL – season out)
- Wesley Fofana (long-term injury)
- Fitness Check:
- Trevoh Chalobah – fit after pre-season heat issue.
- New Signings Who Could Feature:
- João Pedro (Brighton) – striker/wing option.
- Liam Delap (Ipswich) – in form, scored in pre-season.
- Jamie Gittens (Dortmund) – dynamic winger.
- Estevão Willian (Palmeiras) – Brazilian wonderkid.
- Dário Essugo (Sporting CP) – defensive midfield option.
- Jorrel Hato & Mamadou Sarr – central defense reinforcements.
Crystal Palace
- Out / Unavailable:
- Adam Wharton (groin)
- Matheus Franca (ribs)
- Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucouré, Rob Holding, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (injuries)
- Boosts:
- Marc Guéhi returns from suspension.
- Key Men:
- Ismaïla Sarr – standout performer in Community Shield & FA Cup.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta – goal threat up front.
- Eberechi Eze – creative outlet (fitness to be confirmed).
Predicted Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1 – Enzo Maresca)
GK: Sánchez
RB: Gusto
CB: Hato
CB: Mamadou Sarr (or Chalobah)
LB: Cucurella
DM: Caicedo
DM: Dário Essugo
RW: Estevão Willian
AM: Cole Palmer
LW: Jamie Gittens
ST: João Pedro (or Liam Delap)
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1 – Oliver Glasner)
GK: Henderson
CB: Maxence Lacroix
CB: Marc Guéhi
CB: Maxence Lacroix
RWB: Daniel Muñoz
CM: Will Hughes
CM: Jefferson Lerma
LWB: Tyrick Mitchell
AM: Ismaïla Sarr
AM: Eberechi Eze
ST: Jean-Philippe Mateta
Match Narrative
Chelsea: Likely to control possession with Maresca’s short-passing, high-press approach.
Palace: Expect a compact defensive block, using the pace of Sarr and creativity of Eze to hit on the break.
