Will Stamford Bridge remain a fortress?
Teams whose defensive organization is not functioning at the highest level are going down against the Blues. West Ham (1-5) learned this the hard way in a game that Enzo Maresca’s team played without their talisman Cole Palmer. The hosts are in good form and it is difficult to take away a victory from them in the Chelsea vs. Fulham tip.
On matchday three, Fulham travels to Stamford Bridge for the London derby – a venue that no Premier League club has been able to leave with a win this calendar year (league games only). Alongside Liverpool and Aston Villa, Chelsea is the only PL team that has not lost a home league game this calendar year (8W, 3D).
The cornerstone of our Chelsea vs. Fulham prediction is a home win, which we are packaging into a combination bet with a betting provider licensed in Germany. So far, the Blues’ five goals this season have been scored by five different players – only Liverpool currently has more different goalscorers (6).
The reigning FIFA Club World Champions will have to be careful, especially in the second half. Marco Silva has proven his knack for choosing the right substitutes over the years. Since the start of last season, no club has scored more goals from substitutes than Fulham (19). Nevertheless, the Cottagers are still clear underdogs in the Chelsea – Fulham odds, with odds of around 6.00.
During the week, the visitors scored more than one goal for the first time this season, beating Bristol 2-0 in the League Cup. Marco Silva’s side have drawn their last two Premier League matches (1-1 vs. Brighton, 1-1 vs. Manchester United).
Chelsea – Fulham Head-to-head record
The starting position is clear and firmly anchored in the history of this pairing. Chelsea have lost only three of 36 meetings with the Cottagers (22W, 11D). Last season, the Blues suffered their only Premier League home defeat to date against Marco Silva’s side (1-2), but we consider that to be an exception.
After two matchdays of the new season, the Blues have scored the most expected goals in the league (4.3 xG). The defense has not been neglected either and is in second place with 1.4 expected goals against. If the home side can maintain this course, they will be genuine title contenders this season.
Chelsea – Fulham Tip
Joao Pedro didn’t take long to win the hearts of Blues fans. Across all competitions, the Brazilian has been directly involved in six goals in the previous four games (4 goals, 2 assists). The 23-year-old made up for his mixed performance against Crystal Palace (0-0) with a gala performance against West Ham last week.
Maresca’s tactical instructions help his talented team move the ball into the desired spaces as quickly as possible, where their individual class comes into play. After two matchdays in the English top flight, Chelsea have taken the second-most shots (31) and from promising positions on the field (0.14 xG/shot).
Somewhat surprisingly, Fulham, like Chelsea, have already accumulated 57 touches in the opponent’s penalty area (tied for 6th). The visitors’ game is designed to attack down the wings (32 crosses from open play – 4th), which is particularly successful in the second half.
The Cottagers have scored two goals this season – both after the 60th minute. The visitors have also conceded both of their goals in the second half, so you can focus your attention on this phase in particular. As in both games last season (2-1, 1-2), we expect at least three goals. The strength of the Blues’ squad should be enough to lead the team from Stamford Bridge to victory.
