Chelsea will host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the opening round of the 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday, August 17, at 4:00 PM EAT. The London derby will set the tone for both sides as they aim to kickstart their campaigns on a positive note.
Preview
The clash represents the first competitive fixture of the new season, with both teams starting on a clean slate. Chelsea are looking to improve on last season’s mixed performances and push toward European qualification under new manager Enzo Maresca. Palace, guided by Oliver Glasner, aim for mid-table stability with ambitions of breaking into the top half.
Chelsea enter the match in strong form, winning all five of their recent fixtures, including notable victories in the FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, Fluminense, and Palmeiras, as well as impressive pre-season wins over AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen. Palace, on the other hand, have had a mixed pre-season, including a Community Shield draw with Liverpool, a split series against Augsburg, and uneven results against Mainz.
The recent head-to-head record between the two clubs has been evenly contested. Their last five Premier League meetings produced two Chelsea wins, two draws, and one Palace victory. Both encounters last season ended 1-1, highlighting how closely matched the sides have been.
Team News
Chelsea face early setbacks with several absentees. Levi Colwill is sidelined long-term with an ACL injury, while Romeo Lavia and Benoît Badiashile are still recovering. Nicolas Jackson is suspended, and Mykhailo Mudryk remains banned following a failed drug test. However, Trevoh Chalobah is fit again, Wesley Fofana could return from a lengthy layoff, and new signing Estevão may make his Premier League debut.
Palace also face challenges, with key players unavailable. Daichi Kamada is out after picking up an injury in the Community Shield, while Eddie Nketiah, Chadi Riad, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Doucouré, and Matheus França are ruled out. On the positive side, Borna Sosa and Walter Benítez are available for their debuts.
Probable Lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Estevão, Palmer, Neto; João Pedro.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Muñoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Esse; Mateta.
Chelsea’s strong pre-season form gives them the edge, but Palace’s resilience in recent meetings suggests this could be another tightly contested London derby.
Tags: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Premier League 2025/26, Stamford Bridge, London Derby, Match Preview, Team News
