It has been an exciting summer so far for Chelsea fans, just what they needed after two mixed years in which the London club seemed unable to get anything right. Within a few weeks, they won two titles: after winning the Conference League in May against Betis in the final, Enzo Maresca and his men achieved even greater satisfaction by winning the first edition of the Club World Cup, which they were certainly not favorites to win at the start.
The Italian coach’s masterpiece was the lesson he taught European champions PSG in the final, who until then had seemed unbeatable. Chelsea knocked the French side off their pedestal, crushing them 3-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Joao Pedro immediately decisive
These results confirm the excellent work done so far by Maresca, who has also managed to bring the Blues back to the Champions League after a few years of absence. Chelsea also seems to have done well in the transfer market: the attack, the team’s weakest area, has been reinforced by the arrivals of Delap, Estevao, and above all Joao Pedro, who has been a key player in the United States and in the only friendly matches played in the preseason.
The Brazilian former Brighton player scored against both Bayer Leverkusen and Milan, both games won by the Londoners (2-0 and 4-1). Enzo Fernandez and his teammates will make their Premier League debut at Stamford Bridge in the derby against Crystal Palace: the Eagles surprisingly beat Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield a week ago, lifting another historic trophy after the FA Cup won in May against Manchester City. For Austrian coach Oliver Glasner and the red and blue fans, it was a huge joy that probably erased the bitterness of being excluded from the Europa League (Palace will ‘only’ play in the Conference due to problems related to multiple ownership, as Lyon, another club owned by John Textor, is also in the Europa League).
Odds comparison
Chelsea’s victory is priced at 1.60 on Lottomatica and 1.57 on Snai. A ‘Goal’ is priced at 1.65 on Lottomatica and 1.60 on Snai.
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The prediction
Crystal Palace, buoyed by their Community Shield victory, are likely to give Chelsea a run for their money in a game that will see at least one goal scored by each side. The Blues, in any case, look even more formidable with their brand new attack and should take home the three points: Maresca’s team has shown in recent friendlies that it is in good shape despite the shorter “holidays” due to the Club World Cup.
Probable line-ups for Chelsea-Crystal Palace
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro. CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guéhi, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta. POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1