Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Three of Crystal Palace’s last five league games have finished as draws
• Chelsea have failed to win six of their nine home games in the Premier League
• Both teams have scored in five of Crystal Palace’s nine away league games
• Jean Philippe-Mateta has scored twice in the league this month

Tight affair expected at Stamford Bridge

There is not much to cheer about for Chelsea or Crystal Palace this festive period and their clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday is a tricky one to call.

Both clubs have spent the majority of season lingering around the mid-table positions and it is hard to make a strong case for either side.

The Blues had to battle Wolves on Christmas Eve and have not coped brilliantly with the recent fixture congestion, losing to Manchester United and Everton in December and Mauricio Pochettino still has work to do with the London club.

At Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this term, Chelsea have won three, drawn three and lost three of their nine assignments and Crystal Palace have an identical win-loss-draw record on the road.

Recent results have not been disastrous for the Eagles, though, with Roy Hodgson’s men holding West Ham, Manchester City and Brighton to draws in December.

As for Chelsea, they have had to settle for a share of the spoils on four occasions in the Premier League this term and they were also held to a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Both meetings between these sides last term were closely fought with Chelsea prevailing by a single goal on both occasions and this time around, the draw could be the best bet.

Anticipate goals in the capital

Although a stalemate could be on the cards, that does not mean this will be a game short of drama.

Chelsea have been involved in some belters the last couple of months, beating Tottenham 4-1 and drawing 4-4 with Manchester City in November.

Goals could be on the cards with both teams having scored in six of Crystal Palace’s last seven matches and two of those games finished 1-1, which looks like the wisest correct score pick.

Odsonne Edouard has been Crystal Palace’s main goal threat this season, having netted six times in the Premier League, but he is set to miss this fixture through injury.

Mateta can make his mark

In his absence through injury, one player who has stepped up to the plate is Jean Philippe-Mateta.

Mateta has not had the easiest time of it since moving to Selhurst Park from the Bundesliga but he has looked sharper recently, scoring against both Liverpool and Manchester City this month.

He has managed just 12 shots in the league this season but he is the club’s second joint-top scorer in the league after Edouard and is as good a bet as any to score against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.