On April 20th, the West London derby will hold high stakes as Chelsea and Fulham fight for more than pride. With only a handful of points between them in the Premier League standings, both teams are looking forward to their European qualification, and each game is essential.
The stakes are pretty high: victory can bring either team nearer a prized European position in addition to bragging rights in the local area. Fulham arrives with full confidence after he recently beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s unpredictable form this season will provide another dimension of tension to the game that threatens drama, passion, and possibly season-defining drama.
Fulham’s home form – only two defeats in their last 10 Premier League games at Craven Cottage – will be the stage for a close and technical West London derby. Marco Silva’s team has been difficult to breach at home. Added, with Rodrigo Muniz playing pretty well, the team might possess a true focal point up front. Furthermore, Muniz’s clever movement and physicality have also made him a persistent threat, requiring Chelsea’s defense to be vigilant.
Chelsea, under the leadership of Enzo Maresca, continues to dominate possession but has been unable to translate their dominance into goals. Although they have an attacking build-up which is usually fluid, a lack of cutting edge in recent matches has cost them points. The battle in the middle might be pivotal for the clash, with João Palhinha’s ball-winning presence set to conflict with Enzo Fernández’s creative playmaking. The team in control of the middle could decide the tempo of the match.
There are chances of Fulham choosing a high press to start and trying to take advantage of Chelsea’s laboured build-up out from the defence. Chelsea are more likely to build into matches, take the pace and line-breaking abilities of Sterling and Mudryk wide, and exploit gaps with their vision.
Both sides have threats and have scored from dead-ball scenarios. With passions running high and local pride at stake, this derby might get dirty. Chelsea are top of the Premier League in yellow cards, and a feisty, card-ridden affair is predicted.
For those wishing to spice things up a bit during the game, taking a peek at the best football betting sites could provide entertaining markets on set-piece situations, cards, and goals in what is set to be an ultra-competitive fixture.
