Match Preview: Chelsea host Fulham ahead of Real Madrid visit

Match Preview: Chelsea host Fulham ahead of Real Madrid visit - Premier League

 

Chelsea must sustain momentum ahead of their crucial game against Real Madrid: (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Chelsea vs Fulham

Stamford Bridge

5:30pm

 

Chelsea are in cloud nine, they can smell a repeat of 2012, top four very much in their hands, a spot in the FA Cup final where they’re clear favourites and an opportunity to better their first leg performance and beat Real Madrid to a ticket to the UEFA Champions League final, who would have thought?

 

Fulham aren’t down yet and they won’t go without a fight, surrounding results last weekend didn’t favour them but they can finish strong, while it’s no longer in their hands, they can do their bit and hope Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle produce the sacrificial lamb among them.

 

The Premier League is known for drama, right until the bitter or happy end, there’s an opportunity for Chelsea to win it all and there’s also disaster waiting, but Thomas Tuchel has turned Chelsea into a difficult team to face.

 

A bit of this and that can sum up the reigns of the German and it’s a difficult fixture for Scott Parker and the Lilywhites, they will definitely fight for their lives but to what end? What does Chelsea have to lose? West Ham and Liverpool are breathing down their necks and Everton have a game in hand over them.

 

The last gasp point Newcastle got against Liverpool definitely ruined the script for Fulham and Burnley also turned on the style against Wolves, Brighton did lose to Sheffield and that explains why they’re in trouble too, Fulham will target them

 

Chelsea will have an eye on the game against Real Madrid in midweek, they can’t afford to rack up injuries or weary legs, fringe players will start this one and the fact that they want to fight for their lives doesn’t bode well for Fulham.

 

How will they line up? Three at the back for both sides to cancel each other out but Fulham will have more men in the middle with Chelsea’s extra men going wide, Timo Werner’s wasteful midweek showing could cost him a place with Olivier Giroud likely to get the nod.

 

Josh Maja will return for Fulham, pace is needed to work up Chelsea’s ageing defence if Tuchel doesn’t start Reece James.

 

Momentum is everything, Chelsea needs lot of it with a very difficult fixture coming up on Wednesday. Whatever happens, Fulham will live to fight another day.

 

Verdict: Chelsea to win