Chelsea vs Ipswich Preview

• Chelsea to win
• Více než 2,5 gólu

Chelsea took a significant step towards their first European final since 2021 on Thursday evening, dispatching Legia Warsaw 3-0 in Poland to seize control of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final. That commanding victory may allow head coach Enzo Maresca some breathing room to rotate for next week’s second leg, leaving him free to name a strong starting XI for this crucial Premier League encounter.

The Blues begin the weekend sat fourth in the table, clinging to the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot only by virtue of goal difference over Newcastle United, who also hold a game in hand. With the top-five now confirmed to grant Champions League football next season, Maresca’s men know that every point counts as the season enters its final stretch.

Sunday’s visitors, Ipswich Town, could on paper present a relatively straightforward task for the hosts. Rooted firmly in the bottom three, the Tractor Boys appear destined for an immediate return to the Championship. That said, the East Anglian side stunned Chelsea with a 2-0 victory at Portman Road in December — a result that temporarily revived belief in a possible survival push. However, just one win from 12 league matches since the turn of the year (D2, L9) has undone that momentum, leaving them 12 points adrift of safety heading into this round.

Kieran McKenna’s side were dealt what appeared to be a fatal blow last weekend with a 2-1 home defeat to fellow relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. That loss left even McKenna himself conceding that Ipswich are likely to “fall short” of their goal to remain in the top flight. Despite that, he stressed that the squad’s motivation remains high, and there is still history to chase: Ipswich could complete only their second-ever league double over Chelsea, having previously achieved the feat during the 1978/79 season.

From a historical perspective, Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Ipswich. The Suffolk club are winless in their last eight league visits to this part of west London (D2, L6), with their last success coming as far back as May 1979 in a thrilling 3-2 win. To compound their challenge, Chelsea have won each of their last six competitive home matches, including three in the Premier League, underlining the Blues’ steady recovery in form after an inconsistent first half of the campaign.

Enzo Maresca will undoubtedly have been pleased with his side’s performance in Warsaw, where a brace from Noni Madueke and a dominant team display allowed Chelsea to assert their quality on the European stage. With no new injuries reported, the Italian tactician may well stick with many of the same faces, particularly given that Chelsea have no midweek league fixture to contend with before the Conference League return leg.

Key players to watch

Noni Madueke picking form as a reliable attacking outlet could not be more timely. The England U21 international now has seven Premier League goals to his name this season, with Chelsea unbeaten in four of the five league matches in which he has found the net (W3, D1).

His pace and trickery down the right flank could prove too much for an Ipswich defence that has looked increasingly frail in recent weeks, conceding 10 goals across their last four league outings.

If Ipswich are to salvage anything from this game, much will depend on Liam Delap. The on-loan striker has been one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise difficult campaign, netting 12 Premier League goals — a remarkable return for a 21-year-old in a struggling side.

Only three players aged 22 or under have scored as many goals in a single top-flight season for a newly promoted club, which underlines Delap’s potential and resilience under pressure.

Yet even with Delap’s contributions, Ipswich have struggled to stay competitive on their travels. They’ve lost six of their last seven away league fixtures, and their 16 away defeats this term is the joint-highest in the division. Couple that with the fact that Chelsea have scored two or more goals in each of their last four league games at home, and it’s easy to see why the odds are firmly stacked against the visitors.

Key Stats

• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight home league games against Ipswich (W6, D2), last losing in 1979.
• The Blues have won six consecutive home matches across all competitions.
• Ipswich have won just once in their last 12 league matches (D2, L9).
• Liam Delap has scored 12 league goals this season — more than any other Ipswich player.
• Chelsea have lost only once in Premier League fixtures where Madueke has scored (W3, D1, L1).

Předpověď

Given the gulf in quality, form, and stakes, this clash looks firmly in Chelsea’s favour. With a chance to maintain their top-four status and facing an Ipswich side whose relegation fate seems all but sealed, anything less than three points would be viewed as a major setback at Stamford Bridge. The visitors may remain spirited, but the home side’s superior firepower and growing confidence should be too much to handle.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich Town

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Chelsea v Ipswich, 2024/25 | Premier League