Chelsea go start their Premier League campaign with London derby against Crystal Palace for Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Last season, the two clubs collect three trophies join, and Palace don already add another one this season, after dem knack Liverpool take win Community Shield last weekend.
Match Preview
After Chelsea celebrate Conference League and Club World Cup glory, dem dey come back for Premier League action with hope say dem go improve on that fourth-place finish wey dem manage last season.
Even though Champions League qualification sweet their fans, people dey expect more from Enzo Maresca and im boys this season, especially as the club don invest serious money for new players.
Plenty fans still dey doubt Maresca, despite those cup wins, because Chelsea nearly scatter last season – dem only secure top four on the final day after dem dey fight Liverpool for December.
Because of the Club World Cup, preseason short for Chelsea, and even though dem don spend heavy for transfer market again, many people no see dem as title contenders.
Dem manage play two friendly games before league start, beat Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan at home, but the real wahala dey now – because their first four league games na against London rivals: Palace, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford.
Chelsea lose to Man City for opening game last season, but you go need rewind go late 90s to see the last time dem lose their first match for back-to-back seasons.
For head-to-head, Chelsea dey enjoy this fixture. Dem never lose for 15 straight Premier League meetings with Palace, including 8 games for Stamford Bridge, win 7 of those.
Dem two also meet for opening day back in 2021, Chelsea win 3-0, and the Blues don win all four previous London derbies wey fall on opening day.
For Palace side, e no go easy. Dem still get plenty matches this August because UEFA reject their appeal against demotion to Conference League, so dem go face Fredrikstad for two-leg playoff from Thursday.
But Oliver Glasner and him team dey high in confidence. Dem just beat Liverpool for Community Shield on penalties. But wahala dey as future of Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi dey shakey with transfer rumors. Still, Palace dey unbeaten in 9 competitive games, and dem go wan avoid slow start like last season wey dem win only 1 of their first 13 games.
Form
Chelsea Preseason form: W W
Crystal Palace form (all competitions): W
Team News
Chelsea get serious injury wahala. Levi Colwill don tear him ACL, e go miss most of the season. Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile still dey injury list, so Tosin Adarabioyo go pair Trevoh Chalobah for defence.
Nicolas Jackson dey banned after red card for Newcastle last season, so Joao Pedro fit start upfront, even though Liam Delap score brace against Milan last week. Romeo Lavia still sidelined, so the same XI wey face Milan fit start again here.
For Palace, Adam Wharton don return from injury for Community Shield, and captain Guehi also dey back even though Liverpool dey monitor am. Daichi Kamada collect injury last week, so Will Hughes or Jefferson Lerma go slot into midfield.
Eddie Nketiah get muscle injury for preseason and e no go play, join long-term absentees Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad.
Possible Lineups
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Enzo, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Eze
Prediction
We say: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
Chelsea no dey start season with ease, and Palace don already show dem fit handle Liverpool. If Guehi and Eze dey available, Palace fit use am boost their unbeaten run reach 10. We dey expect another tight London derby wey fit end draw.