Match Preview: Chelsea FC v Crystal Palace
Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Chelsea will take a trip down to South London and Selhurst Park Saturday afternoon to take on Crystal Palace in the Barclay’s Premier League. The league leaders Chelsea look to secure another 3 points against the newly promoted side they defeated 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in December. Palace are large underdogs against the pace setters in the Premier League, and the road will be even tougher as they will be without Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle through injury, those two players have combined for 8 of the 19 goals Palace have scored in the league so far.
Despite both teams being from London, the visitors and their fans don’t hold the venom towards Palace that they have for other London sides, and this is primarily a product of recent history. Palace have not been in the Premier League since 2004-2005, when they were last relegated while Chelsea have of course been competing for the Premier League title more often than not in that 10 year span.
Chelsea will be without striker Samuel Eto’o, who came off against Arsenal last week with a hamstring injury, and Ramires who has 2 matches left in his suspension following actions against Aston Villa that saw him sent off. Willian will return to the side, following his one match ban from that same match.
Chelsea enter this match off the back of a thorough thrashing of London rivals Arsenal, whom they took apart to the tune of 6 goals last Saturday in Arsenal manager Arsene Wengers 1000th match in charge. The Blues got 2 goals from Oscar, 1 from Eden Hazard via the penalty spot, and one a piece from Andre Schurrle, Samuel Eto’o and Mohamed Salah (his first for the club).
Palace, meanwhile, lost 1-0 at Newcastle United last weekend, and have not won vs Chelsea at Selhurst Park since 1990. However 20 of their 28 points in this campaign have come at home, the Palace faithful received much praise from Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in the previous meeting this season, and they will look to lead their side to an upset over the league leaders.
Chelsea Predicted Starting XI:
————————Cech———————–
Azpilicueta—-Cahill—-Terry——Ivanovic
————-Matic———-Luiz———-
Hazard———-Oscar———–Willian——–
———————-Torres————————
My prediction:
I’m thinking Chelsea will bang another few goals in and come out winners in this one, 3-0.
UTC!