The FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend. Following Manchester City and Liverpool’s showdown on Saturday, Chelsea and Crystal Palace go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday.
The Eagles have never managed to get their hands on the famous trophy, despite getting to the final in 1990 and 2016. Can they reach their third FA Cup final this year?
Attention turns to the #EmiratesFACup. 👊 pic.twitter.com/M6DgRSUeuY— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2022
Attention turns to the #EmiratesFACup. 👊 pic.twitter.com/M6DgRSUeuY
As for Chelsea, they have won the FA Cup on eight occasions. Interestingly, they have reached four of their previous five finals – winning one (2018) and losing three (2017, 2020, 2021).
Given the 25-point gap between third-place Chelsea and tenth-place Crystal Palace in the Premier League table, the Blues are favored to triumph on Sunday.
Chelsea head into Sunday’s showdown on the back of a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. However, they ended up losing 5-4 on aggregate.
Since Thomas Tuchel’s side trail first-place Manchester City by 12 points in the Premier League, the FA Cup is now Chelsea’s only chance of silverware this season.
Fortunately, the Blues boast an impressive recent record in the FA Cup – having lost just one of their previous ten matches.
It is also worth noting that Chelsea have lost only two of their last ten games across all competitions, picking up eight wins along the way.
On the flip side, Crystal Palace come into this clash on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City – despite racking up 11 shots at the King Power Stadium last weekend.
It is worth pointing out, however, that Patrick Vieira’s men enjoyed a five-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League before losing to the Foxes.
The Eagles have seen off Millwall, Hartlepool United, Stoke City, and Everton to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup – dispatching the Toffees 4-0 to book their spot in the last four.
Having lost just two of their previous 12 encounters in all competitions, Crystal Palace will be confident of frustrating Chelsea.
Head-to-head: Impressively, Chelsea have won each of their past nine meetings with Crystal Palace across all competitions – keeping five clean sheets in the process.
Let’s not forget that Chelsea have also scored over 2.5 goals in five of their last eight matches against the Eagles.
Team news: Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi remain injury absentees for Chelsea, while Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley are doubts for Sunday.
Crystal Palace will be without the injured Nathan Ferguson. There are also question marks over the fitness of Will Hughes, Michael Olise, and Tyrick Mitchell.
Given Chelsea’s recent domination of Crystal Palace, Tuchels’ men are expected to book their spot in the FA Cup final without any major problems.
Forebet predicts that Chelsea will keep a clean sheet on their way to dispatching the Eagles at Wembley.