Enzo Maresca prepares to lead "Chelsea" into their Premier League opener against "Crystal Palace" at Stamford Bridge, as both London clubs look to start their domestic campaigns on a high note following contrasting summer experiences.
"We've had a shortened pre-season due to our Club World Cup commitments, but the team has shown good form with victories against Bayer and Milan," the Italian coach might explain about his side's preparations.
The Blues finished fourth last season, securing a return to Champions League football after a year's absence. Now with substantial summer investment in new players, fans expect more than just stability – they want a genuine title challenge. Today marks the beginning of a series of London derbies for "Chelsea", with matches against West Ham, Fulham, and Brentford to follow.
Interestingly, history favors the home side, with "Chelsea" unbeaten against the Eagles in 15 consecutive league matches. At Stamford Bridge specifically, they've won seven of their last eight encounters with "Palace".
Oliver Glasner's men arrive following what can only be described as a rollercoaster summer. After winning the FA Cup, "Palace" faced disappointment when UEFA rejected their appeal against demotion from Europa League to Conference League – a decision based on sharing common ownership with Lyon, who also qualified for Europa competition.
Despite this setback, "Palace" began their season by defeating Premier League champions "Liverpool" on penalties in the Community Shield. They accomplished this not by sitting back, but by outplaying Klopp's men on merit.
August presents a challenging schedule for the Eagles, with today's Chelsea fixture followed by a clash against Aston Villa and a Conference League playoff against Fredrikstada. Add in transfer speculation surrounding key players Mark Guehi and Eberechi Eze, and "Palace" clearly have their hands full.
Yet the visitors arrive in excellent form – unbeaten in nine consecutive official matches. This impressive run surely gives them confidence for today's trip to Stamford Bridge, even as bookmakers heavily favor "Chelsea" with odds of 1.64 compared to 5.20 for an away win.
Both managers have strong squads available, with "Chelsea" likely fielding new signings while "Palace" rely on their established core that delivered Community Shield success. Can Glasner's men continue their impressive form, or will Maresca begin his Premier League journey with three points? The London derby promises to deliver answers.
