Fulham vs Chelsea Preview

• Draw
• Both teams to score

Fulham seek comfort in Craven Cottage return

Having looked like genuine dark horses for a UEFA Champions League spot earlier in the campaign, Fulham’s momentum has stalled significantly, particularly on the road. Monday’s 1-0 loss to Bournemouth marked a third straight away defeat, and as such, a return to Craven Cottage will be welcomed by Marco Silva’s men as they look to stabilise their season and potentially reignite a late European push.

The Cottagers face local rivals Chelsea with confidence bolstered by a recent upturn in this fixture. They’ve beaten the Blues twice in the last five Premier League H2Hs (D1, L2), a marked improvement when compared to the solitary win they had managed in the previous 40 encounters across all competitions (D13, L26). After securing a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, Fulham now stand on the brink of a historic first-ever league double over their west London rivals.

Chelsea’s road woes continue

Despite progressing to the UEFA Conference League semi-finals on Thursday with a 4-2 aggregate win over Legia Warsaw, Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat in the second leg did little to inspire confidence. Back-to-back 2-2 Premier League draws, most recently at home to Ipswich, have further underlined the inconsistency that continues to define Enzo Maresca’s side.

The Blues’ form away from home has been particularly concerning. Winless in eight Premier League away games (D3, L5), Chelsea have scored just three goals during that sequence – fewer than any other top-flight side over the same period. While they’ve enjoyed a solid H2H record at Craven Cottage in recent years, winning five of their last six away league meetings with Fulham (L1), they’ll need to rediscover their scoring touch quickly to avoid extending their dismal away streak.

West London bragging rights on the line

There’s more than just points at stake in this capital derby, with Fulham aiming to claim local bragging rights and Chelsea striving to break into the top five. With both sides still harbouring European ambitions – albeit in different competitions – this clash could prove pivotal to how their seasons are remembered.

Fulham’s record in London derbies has improved recently, largely thanks to the impact of Rodrigo Muniz, while Chelsea will be relying on fresh faces like Jadon Sancho to make the difference, especially with their long injury list still a factor.

Players to watch

Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham)

The Brazilian forward has become something of a derby specialist, scoring in three of his last five Premier League appearances against London rivals.

All three goals came from the bench, highlighting his knack for late impact.

Jadon Sancho (Chelsea)

The England international got on the scoresheet last weekend and has a favourable record against Fulham, having scored against them during his time at Manchester United.

With Chelsea short of goals on their travels, Sancho could be key in turning that around.

Hot stat

A pre-round league-high 72% of Fulham’s Premier League matches this season (23 of 32) have seen both teams score.

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Fulham v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League