After securing their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals, Chelsea will visit Fulham on Sunday, April 20, in a fiery London derby marking Matchday 33 of the Premier League. The Blues, following a disappointing draw last weekend against Ipswich Town, must return to winning ways if they hope to break into the top five and secure a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Rejoining Europe’s elite is the minimum goal for Enzo Maresca, and should Chelsea also lift the Conference League trophy, his debut season at a top club would be considered a success. A Champions League spot is well within reach, especially with Nottingham Forest dropping points and Manchester City showing inconsistent form. Fulham, now in their third consecutive top-flight season after bouncing between the first and second tiers, are dreaming of closing in on 8th place — which could grant them a Conference League spot next season. Having started the campaign with the goal of a safe mid-table finish, Marco Silva’s squad now have something more ambitious in their sights. With six matches to go, starting with this derby clash, the Cottagers will be aiming to collect as many points as possible. A win here would bring them within just three points of Chelsea, heating up the final stretch of the Premier League season.

Fulham's Recent Form and Key Stats

Fulham missed an opportunity to close the gap on the European spots last weekend, falling 1-0 to Bournemouth. Over their last five matches, Silva’s men have recorded 2 wins and 3 losses, averaging 1.2 goals scored and 1.6 conceded per game. Their overall league record stands at 13 wins, 9 draws, and 10 losses, totaling 48 points.

At Craven Cottage, Fulham have won 3 of their last 4 Premier League matches, including a thrilling 3-2 win over Liverpool on April 6. At home this season, they’ve picked up 26 points (7 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses), with 1.56 goals scored and 1.43 conceded per match.

Chelsea's Recent Form and Key Stats

Chelsea are on a three-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, though they slipped up last weekend with a 2-2 draw against Ipswich. With 54 points (15 wins, 9 draws, 8 losses), Maresca’s side remain firmly in contention for a Champions League return — a competition they’ve won twice in their history.

However, away form has been a serious issue. The Blues haven’t won a Premier League away match since December 8, when they edged Tottenham 4-3. Since then, Chelsea have recorded 5 defeats and 3 draws away from Stamford Bridge.

Fulham vs Chelsea Prediction and Tactical Overview

Chelsea have a strong record in recent visits to Craven Cottage. In the last 10 head-to-head clashes played at Fulham’s home ground, the Cottagers have won just once (during the 2022/23 season), while Chelsea have claimed six victories. Last season, Palmer and co. secured a 2-0 win here, with goals from Mudryk (suspended for this match) and Broja (now at Everton).

Both sides have serious motivation — Fulham to chase 8th place, Chelsea to reach the top five. While this could lead to a balanced encounter (as seen in the reverse fixture where Fulham won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge), Chelsea's superior technical quality might make the difference across the 90 minutes.

For this reason, the BetMines Algorithm prediction for Fulham vs Chelsea sees Enzo Maresca's team favourite to win. 

• BetMines algorithm prediction for Fulham vs Chelsea predicts the 1 at 30%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Fulham vs Chelsea predicts the X at 23%
• BetMines algorithm prediction for Fulham vs Chelsea predicts the 2 at 47%

Fulham vs Chelsea Predicted Lineups

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Sessegnon, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz. Manager: Marco Silva

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson. Manager: Enzo Maresca