FC Fulham – FC Chelsea
A derby that is more than just a neighborhood rivalry: Fulham welcomes Chelsea to Craven Cottage, and both clubs are fighting for nothing less than their European ambitions. Fulham are in ninth place with 48 points, have a nearly full squad to choose from and fondly remember their 2-1 Boxing Day win over the Blues. Their city rivals are six points ahead, but have been struggling for weeks – and facing loud criticism from their fans. Marco Silva calls the game a “final,” while Enzo Maresca demands that his offense finally show some efficiency. In short, prestige and a milestone for the season’s final stretch are at stake in West London.
Fulham – Chelsea Info
- Venue: Craven Cottage, London
- Date and time: 20.04.2025, 15:00
- Competition: Premier League (matchday 33)
Fulham form & record check
Fulham remains a surprise package. A thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool was followed by a lackluster 0-1 defeat at Bournemouth; two wins have been offset by three defeats, with no draws. Silva’s plan relies on high full-backs and quick transitions – if the pressing doesn’t work, things get airy at the back. Four of their last five games have ended with them conceding goals, and in just as many they have conceded more than 1.5 goals. The Cottagers look more courageous at home, which gives hope for the derby. Reiss Nelson remains the only absentee, while Harry Wilson is back in contention after a long break.
Predicted Fulham line-up (4-2-3-1): Leno – Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson – Berge, Lukić – Sessegnon, Pereira, Iwobi – Muniz. Silva sticks to his usual formation, relying on Robinson’s runs down the left and Iwobi’s creativity between the lines.
Chelsea form & record check
Chelsea find themselves in a paradoxical situation: defensively stable, offensively tough. Their recent record – two wins, two draws, one defeat – falls short of their own expectations, and the team did not lead at half-time in any of those games. Cole Palmer has been waiting for a goal for 15 games, Nicolas Jackson for twelve; Maresca is putting public pressure on the team. The Blues are sixth with 54 points, just one point behind fifth place, but their poor start is costing them points. The return of Caicedo and Fernandez, who have been rested, should pick up the pace in the center.
Predicted Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1): Sanchez – Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella – Caicedo, Fernandez – Madueke, Palmer, Neto – Jackson. Fofana and Mudryk are still out, Sancho is likely to be on the bench again. Maresca is likely to refrain from experimenting and hopes that Palmer and Jackson will end their goal drought.
Fulham – Chelsea Head-to-Head & Statistics
The head-to-head record remains in Chelsea’s favor: four wins in the last five encounters. However, the 1-2 defeat on Boxing Day showed that Fulham can spring a surprise. In all five games, there were no more than three goals, and four times no more than two. Fulham never scored before the break, and four second halves ended in a draw. An early goal could therefore be the deciding factor again – in any case, the statistics do not offer much scope for spectacle.
