The 2025/26 Premier League season begins with a blockbuster London derby as Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, August 17, 2025. Both sides enter the campaign with recent silverware, setting up an exciting curtain-raiser.
⸻
Match Details
• Fixture: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
• Competition: Premier League (Matchday 1)
• Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
• Kick-off: 2:00 PM BST (9:00 AM ET / 6:00 AM PDT)
• Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
⸻
How to Watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
Fans around the world can catch all the action live:
• United Kingdom (UK): Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event
• United States (USA): Peacock (streaming), NBC Sports
• Nigeria & Africa: SuperSport Premier League (DStv)
• Canada: FuboTV
• India: Star Sports Select, Disney+ Hotstar
• Australia: Optus Sport
• Worldwide Streaming: Official Premier League app/website (subscription required)
⸻
Chelsea: Building on Continental Success
Chelsea enter this clash on the back of an incredible 2024/25 campaign where they lifted both the Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League. Their pre-season was short but effective, with victories against AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
• Form: Unbeaten in last 16 league matches against Palace (13 wins, 3 draws).
• Unavailable Players:
• Levi Colwill (ACL injury)
• Tosin Adarabioyo (knock)
• Benoît Badiashile, Romeo Lavia (recovering)
• Nicolas Jackson (suspended)
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez; James, Chalobah, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
⸻
Crystal Palace: Cup Specialists on the Rise
Crystal Palace head into the new season brimming with confidence after winning both the FA Cup and the Community Shield, defeating Liverpool and Manchester City respectively. While their European ambitions were curtailed due to ownership restrictions, the Eagles remain a dangerous side.
• Form: Lifted two trophies in 2025, full of belief.
• Unavailable Players: Eddie Nketiah, Cheick Doucoure, Chadi Riad (injured).
• Key Players:
• Eberechi Eze – the creative hub, linked with Tottenham but set to feature.
• Marc Guéhi – defensive leader, also attracting interest from top clubs.
Predicted XI (3-4-3):
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze, Mateta
⸻
Tactical Outlook
Expect a fast-paced and physical battle. Chelsea will aim to dominate possession through Caicedo and Enzo, while Palace will look to strike quickly through Eze and Mateta on the counter.
• Chelsea’s home advantage and recent dominance in this fixture make them favorites.
• Palace’s momentum from their cup wins ensures they won’t be underestimated.
⸻
Prediction
A close and fiery derby is expected at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s depth could just give them the edge, but Palace are more than capable of causing problems.
Predicted Score: Chelsea 2–1 Crystal Palace
⸻
Key Stats
• Chelsea unbeaten in 16 Premier League meetings with Palace.
• Palace have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City in recent finals.
• Both teams scoring is a strong betting trend for this fixture.
