Sports Mole previews Friday’s Women’s Super League clash between Crystal Palace Women and Chelsea Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Chelsea Women will make the short trip to Selhurst Park for Friday’s Women’s Super League clash against newly-promoted Crystal Palace Women.
The Blues got the better of Aston Villa on matchday one, while the Eagles were swept aside by Tottenham Hotspur in their WSL opener.
Match preview
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Palace are competing in their first-ever WSL campaign after winning promotion from the Championship last season.
The Eagles won 14, drew four and lost just four of their 22 matches to finish top of the standings and one point clear of second-placed Charlton.
Unfortunately for Palace, they were given a significant reality check in their first WSL match against last season’s Women’s FA Cup runners-up Tottenham Hotspur.
Hayley Raso, Jessica Naz, Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen all got on the scoresheet to condemn Laura Kaminski‘s side to a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brisbane Road.
Matters do not get any easier for Palace as they prepare to play host to the WSL champions, but they may be able to draw inspiration from their competitive display in February’s 1-0 loss against the Blues in the Women’s FA Cup.
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After 12 memorable years under Emma Hayes‘s watch, Chelsea kicked off the Sonia Bompastor era with a narrow victory over Aston Villa at Kingsmeadow.
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd produced an unstoppable left-foot strike to break the deadlock, before Hannah Hampton made a couple of late saves to ensure Chelsea began their title defence with a narrow 1-0 win.
Impressively, the reigning WSL champions have now won four consecutive league matches without conceding since losing 4-3 to Liverpool at the start of May.
They also boast an impressive record in 2024, having won 11 of their 13 WSL games in the calendar year, scoring 40 goals and conceding seven times in that period.
The Blues will be targeting another win in their first WSL game against Palace, with the Blues looking to build momentum ahead of three tricky fixtures against Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Crystal Palace Women Women’s Super League form:
Chelsea Women Women’s Super League form:
Team News
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Palace are set to be without the services of Hayley Nolan, while Elise Hughes is continuing her recovery from anterior cruciate ligament.
Chelsea loanee Brooke Aspin is ineligible to face her parent club, but she is also serving a one-match suspension after being sent off against Spurs.
Summer signing Katie Stengel is expected to lead the line, and she has previous experience scoring against Chelsea after netting a brace of penalties in a 2-1 victory for Liverpool in September 2022.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Sophie Ingle, Aniek Nouwen, Niamh Charles, Mia Fishel, Oriane Jean-Francois and Sam Kerr.
Lauren James was not deemed fit enough to start against Villa, but she could be considered for a starting berth for Friday’s fixture.
Summer signing Lucy Bronze will retain her spot on the right of a back four which should feature Kadiesha Buchanan, Millie Bright and Ashley Lawrence.
Crystal Palace Women possible starting lineup:
Yanez; Green, Everett, Veje, Gibbons; Riley, Gejl, Potter, Blanchard, Weerden; Stengel
Chelsea Women possible starting lineup:
Hampton; Bronze, Buchanan, Bright, Lawrence; Cuthbert, Nusken; Rytting Kaneryd, James, Baltimore; Ramirez,
We say: Crystal Palace Women 0-3 Chelsea Women
Chelsea will be the heavy favourites to clinch all three points on Friday, and we think they will showcase their quality as WSL champions to record a commanding victory over their newly-promoted opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.