Chelsea vs. Palace: Predicting a healthy confidence boost for the Blues
Chelsea host another London bogey team as they look to break their slump. Crystal Palace are a far shout from the Blues’ recent opponents, but by no means will this be a walk-over.
Manchester United needed a stoppage time goal from Nemanja Matic to complete their comeback over Crystal Palace on Monday. Chelsea hope they won’t need on a once-a-year screamer to see off a team that is not a rival and should not be a threat, but somehow always is in their own way.
Khaled Abdallah: Chelsea 3 – 0 Crystal Palace. A double from Olivier Giroud and the opener from Andreas Christensen. Things have been rough lately, but surely Chelsea can’t lose to Crystal Palace twice in one season. This game will serve as a nice confidence boost ahead of the second leg against Barcelona the same way smashing Hull set the Blues up for the first leg.
Kevin Peacock: 4 – 0. The Palace players may well raise their game as they normally do against the bigger sides, but they’re not bottom three because they’re any good. Expect them to feel the full force of a Chelsea backlash as Brighton did back in January. Chelsea still have plenty to play for this season.
Brendan McDonnell: 2 – 2. Ever since the debacle that was City, I have been solely focused on Barcelona and, well, I kind of forgot Chelsea even had Palace up next. My predictions have been pretty disastrous this season as every time I think the Blues have “turned the corner” or are “hyper-focused,” I’m way off.
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So, take this with all the grains of salt. Barcelona is on everyone’s minds, and the Blues don’t show up with the requisite focus and energy. Being at home will help, but a 2-2 draw is in the cards.
Barrett Rouen: 2 – 1. Chelsea need this one, but Palace are in good fighting form at the moment so it’s not going to be easy. The Blues need to win out for the rest of the season. There’s no two ways about it at this rate. Eden Hazard will have one of those matches where he reminds people just why his bad games are so frustrating by being phenomenal and fighting through some rough challenges. Olivier Giroud to continue to exhibit what is wrong with Alvaro Morata.
Hugo Amaya: 2 – 0. Antonio Conte will want to make things right, and with Crystal Palace enjoying their run of form against the Blues, it will be the perfect time to do so. Although Palace will try to catch Chelsea on the counter, the boys will be air-tight and serve them their own medicine. Conte will be happy and the players confident for the big game against Barca.
Abhishek Pancholi: 3 – 1. With two of the four clubs above Chelsea playing each other, this is the chance to get within touching distance of the Champions League places once again. If Giroud starts, expect him to score one and set up another. Zaha could be back for Palace. If so, he is likely to get on the scoresheet.
Nate Hofmann: 3 – 0. In the words of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers: R-E-L-A-X. Relax. he last few weeks have felt like one boiling cauldron of stress and pressure in west London, and football has ceased to be fun. For one day, Chelsea can take a collective deep breath and just go play some football. A loose, relaxed Chelsea is inarguably better than this Crystal Palace side, and for all the drama and narrative surrounding the Blues, a comfortable win is on the way. Hazard, Giroud, and Willian to score.
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How do you think things will play out at Stamford Bridge? Leave your predictions below or on Twitter!