Premier League
Chelsea Vs Bournemouth Preview: Blues Aim To End 2025 On A High At Stamford Bridge
Chelsea and Bournemouth will meet at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, in what promises to be an intriguing end-of-year Premier League clash.
Both sides will be eager to finish 2025 with a win after recent disappointing results, making this encounter crucial for morale heading into the new year.
Chelsea’s Current Form and Challenges
Joao Pedro’s second successive goal put the Blues ahead at halftime, but Ollie Watkins’ impressive 21-minute brace off the bench turned the game on its head, ending Chelsea’s four-game unbeaten home run.
The defeat saw Chelsea slip to fifth in the Premier League, with goal difference only keeping them above Manchester United.
Head coach Enzo Maresca will be concerned by Chelsea’s form over their last five league matches, which has yielded just one victory alongside two defeats and two draws.
The Blues’ inability to consistently close out matches could be costly against Bournemouth, a side still searching for an away breakthrough this season.
Despite these recent setbacks, Chelsea will find comfort in their strong record at Stamford Bridge to close the calendar year.
The Blues have historically thrived in front of their home fans, winning 13, drawing eight, and losing just once in their last 22 year-ending home matches.
Additionally, Chelsea have claimed two victories in three home encounters with Bournemouth in recent years, although their last clash at Stamford Bridge ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw thanks to a 95th-minute equalizer.
Bournemouth’s Struggles on the Road
Bournemouth began the season strongly, finishing October in second place after five wins from their opening nine games.
However, the Cherries have experienced a troubling dip in form since then, collecting only four points in their last nine league games. Their recent 4-1 defeat to Brentford highlights their vulnerability, with Antoine Semenyo’s lone goal a mere consolation.
Andoni Iraola’s side will enter Stamford Bridge aware of their poor away record this season, having shipped 27 goals in just nine league trips the worst defensive record on the road in the Premier League.
Bournemouth’s only Premier League victory against Chelsea came in December 2019, when Dan Gosling scored an 84th-minute winner. The visitors’ historical struggles in year-ending league matches, with just one win from the last seven, further underline the uphill battle they face.
Team News and Key Players
Chelsea will continue to monitor several injury concerns.
Defender Levi Colwill remains sidelined with an ACL injury, while midfielders Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are out with thigh problems.
Marc Cucurella, withdrawn against Aston Villa with a hamstring issue, faces a late fitness test, with Malo Gusto likely to start if Cucurella is unavailable. Wesley Fofana may also replace Benoit Badiashile in central defence alongside Trevoh Chalobah.
Bournemouth will be without Tyler Adams, who faces two to three months on the sidelines following an MCL injury. Ben Gannon-Doak, Veljko Milosavljevic, and Matai Akinmboni are also unavailable, although Alex Scott, David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, and Evanilson could feature after returning as substitutes against Brentford.
Predicted Lineups:
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Our Prediction
Chelsea struggled to break down Bournemouth in the goalless draw earlier this month at the Vitality Stadium.
However, the Cherries’ tendency to concede on the road could give the Blues the edge. With attacking talents such as Joao Pedro, Neto, and Garnacho in the lineup, Chelsea should be able to exploit defensive weaknesses and secure a comfortable home win.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-2 Bournemouth
Chelsea will aim to end 2025 on a high, leveraging home advantage and attacking firepower to restore confidence ahead of the new year, while Bournemouth will look to arrest their slump and avoid another heavy defeat on the road.
