FA Cup: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Preview
The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals set-up a pair of intriguing ties, with the all-London game between Palace and Chelsea arguably the more predictable of the two games.
That is because Thomas Tuchel’s side currently sit in the Champions League places and are virtually assured of a top-four finish, while Patrick Viera’s Palace are hovering around midtable.
However, those league places don’t tell the full story. Over the past few weeks, not only has Chelsea’s season been thrown into disarray, but questions have been asked about the stability of the club as a whole.
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend, Vierra, has steadied the ship at Crystal Palace and ensured The Eagle’s loyal fanbase have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.
His side destroyed Everton 4-0 in the quarterfinals and they have the potential to cause an upset against The Blues.
Tuchel will have other ideas, it is unlikely that he will be Chelsea’s manager after the summer, so he will be eager to add another trophy to his short, but important, legacy at the club.
Cup Form
As stated, Palace made easy work of their Premier League rivals, Everton, in the quarters. Chelsea never had to get out of second gear to get by Middlesbrough in the last-eight tie.
Last season’s European Champions have yet to face a top-flight club in the FA Cup this season, knocking out Luton, Plymouth Argyle and Chesterfield before that tie against Middlesbrough.
Palace didn’t run into much difficulty taking out lower-league opposition in the earlier rounds either, as they got by Stoke City, Hartlepool and Millwall.
The semi-final will be a much sterner test for both sides.
Match Tickets
Due to the local London rivalry of this fixture, tickets for Chelsea vs Palace will be in hign demand. Order your seats, tickets and everything else for this Wembley Stadium showdown.
Head-to-Head
Crystal Palace’s record against Chelsea is nothing short of abysmal, as they have lost their last nine games against them.
The Eagles defeated the Blues twice in 2017 but haven’t been victorious against them since. They are also going up against one of the tournament’s most consistent sides, as Chelsea has got as far as the semi-final of the tournament in five of the past six seasons. In that time, they have been to three FA Cup finals, all of which they have lost.
The Star Men
Mason Mount
The Chelsea star will be keen on adding to his growing repertoire of goal involvements in the semi-finals, with the England international coming up with two assists against Middlesbrough in the quarters. He is a player that loves knockout football and tends to produce his best football on the days when it really matters.
Wilfred Zaha
When Palace do something good, Zaha is usually at the centre of it, the Ivory Coast international brings the style to a team that has traditionally been full of pragmatism. For Chelsea to get the better of Palace, they will have to stem Zaha’s involvement.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea football club is currently a mess, but although the future of the club may not look bright, the present still has the illuminating features of a great manager and an excellent team. In terms of realistic chances of silverware, the FA Cup is well within their remit.
Of course, Crystal Palace will want to have a say in that matter, but they may not have enough for this battle.
Patrick Vierra has done an excellent job with the club, but Chelsea is still a few gears above Palace and we expect them to come out on top and reach another domestic final. See our FA Cup Ticket and Event Page for complete information including the FA Cup Final which will be the winners of this game and Liverpool vs Manchester City in the other Semi-Final matchup.
