Chelsea have learned who they are set to face in the first Premier League game of the season following the announcement of the 2025/26 fixtures.
Enzo Maresca will have been hoping for a comfortable start to the new season, after being thrown into a baptism of fire in his first league game in charge of the club last time around.
The Blues faced Manchester City at Stamford Bridge to kick off the 2024/25 season, and the home supporters frustrated Maresca by making their discontent to his new style of play clear to see and hear.
The opening day fixture, set to take place on the weekend of Saturday 15 August, will be the first opportunity for fans to see Liam Delap in Premier League action, as well as potential new addition of Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea start Premier League season against Crystal Palace
After the tough opening to last season, Maresca will be pleased to see that he will not be lining up against one of the traditional big six like they have in the previous two campaigns.
The official announcement from the Premier League revealed that Chelsea will be facing Crystal Palace on the opening day of the campaign.
The FA Cup winners were the Blues’ first opponents in the 2021/22 campaign, where they ran out 3-0 winners at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s results against Crystal Palace in 2024/25
While the Blues will have been happy to avoid one of their fellow Champions League competitors on the opening day of the season, they may not be too thrilled given their record against Palace since Maresca took over.
The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at home in September 2024, at a time where their opponents had not yet picked up a win in the competition.
Despite some Jadon Sancho brilliance, they were forced to settle for the same result in the reverse fixture, as the Blues saw their potential title-winning form from the start of the season begin to tail away.
A strong start will be crucial in laying down a marker to other teams, as they look to build on the top-four finish from last season.
