Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Match Preview

Chelsea begin their 2025/26 Premier League campaign at Stamford Bridge with a mouth-watering clash against Crystal Palace.

Enzo Maresca’s men head into the season brimming with confidence after a sharp, if slightly condensed, pre-season schedule that saw them brush aside Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.

The Blues have been quick in possession, aggressive in pressing, and already look to have a clear identity, but the real test starts now.

Palace, meanwhile, arrive in west London with silverware already in the bag. Last weekend, they stunned Liverpool in the Community Shield, winning on penalties after an organised and disciplined display.

That result, combined with last season’s FA Cup triumph, has only strengthened the belief in Oliver Glasner’s squad.

They will not be intimidated by the Bridge and will see this as the perfect opportunity to upset one of the league’s most talked-about sides.

The Bridge will be electric, with fans eager to see how Chelsea’s new system holds up against a well-drilled opponent.

A win here would not only start the campaign on the right note but also send a message to the rest of the league that Maresca’s Chelsea are ready to mix it with the very best this season.

This is your Chelsea vs Crystal Palace preview.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Details

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for 1:00 pm (BST), with the Bridge expected to be at full voice for the season curtain-raiser.

The match will be officiated by Darren England, who takes charge in the middle. He will be assisted on the touchlines by Ian Hussin and Akil Howson, with Michael Salisbury acting as the fourth official.

In the VAR room, James Bell will oversee proceedings, supported by Adam Nunn as the Assistant VAR.

Match Details:

Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Kick-off time: 1:00 pm (BST)
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Darren England
Assistant referees: Ian Hussin, Akil Howson
Fourth official: Michael Salisbury
VAR: James Bell
Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Head-to-Head

Chelsea head into this fixture with a remarkable recent record against Crystal Palace, remaining unbeaten in their last 16 meetings across all competitions.

The Blues have made this London rivalry one-sided in recent years, consistently finding a way to get the better of the Eagles regardless of venue.

The last time Palace tasted victory over Chelsea dates back to October 14, 2017, when Wilfried Zaha scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park, a result that shocked the reigning champions and gave Palace their first Premier League victory of that season.

Even before that, Palace had stunned Chelsea in the previous campaign with another 2-1 triumph, offering a rare bright spark in their fight for survival.

Since then, Chelsea have dominated the fixture, winning the majority of encounters while occasionally being held to a draw.

The most recent meeting came on January 4, 2025, ending 1-1 at Selhurst Park, which followed another 1-1 stalemate at Stamford Bridge in September 2024.

However, the Blues had enjoyed a run of wins before that, including a convincing 3-1 away victory in February 2024 and a hard-fought 2-1 home win in December 2023.

Recent results:

04/01/25: Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea
01/09/24: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
12/02/24: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea
27/12/23: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
15/01/23: Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
01/10/22: Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea

The overall pattern shows Chelsea’s consistency and Palace’s inability to break through in recent years, but history has shown that when the Eagles do win, they tend to do so in memorable and dramatic fashion.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Form Guide

Chelsea
The Blues come into this fixture in scintillating form, riding the momentum of an impressive preseason and a successful summer on the global stage.

Their final warm-up match saw them dismantle AC Milan 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on 10 August 2025, just two days after a composed 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Earlier in the summer, Chelsea showcased their dominance by sweeping aside PSG 3-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup Final on 13 July, having defeated Fluminense 2-0 in the semi-finals and Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

The journey began with a statement 4-1 victory over Benfica in the Round of 16 on 28 June. Maresca’s men have looked sharp, clinical, and well-drilled, with goals flowing freely across all competitions.

4-1 vs AC Milan (H) – 10 Aug 2025 – Friendly Match
2-0 vs Bayer Leverkusen (H) – 8 Aug 2025 – Friendly Match
3-0 vs PSG (H) – 13 Jul 2025 – FIFA Club World Cup Final
2-0 vs Fluminense (A) – 8 Jul 2025 – FIFA Club World Cup Semi-finals
2-1 vs Palmeiras (A) – 5 Jul 2025 – FIFA Club World Cup Quarter-finals
4-1 vs Benfica (A) – 28 Jun 2025 – FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16

Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace also arrive at Stamford Bridge with a boost of confidence after lifting the FA Community Shield.

They held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw on 10 August 2025 before prevailing on penalties, adding more silverware to their cabinet following last season’s FA Cup triumph.

Glasner’s side have had a mixed preseason, splitting results in a doubleheader against FC Augsburg, losing 1-0 in one match but bouncing back with a 3-1 win in the other, both on 1 August.

They were also held 1-1 by Mainz on 29 July, defeated Crawley 3-0 on 25 July, and edged Millwall 1-0 in their opening summer fixture on 12 July.

While not as explosive as Chelsea’s buildup, Palace’s results suggest a side capable of grinding out results when it matters most.

Crystal Palace recent results