FA Cup semi-final preview: Chelsea aiming for 10/10 against Crystal Palace

Chelsea return to Wembley on Sunday as hot favourites to progress in the FA Cup against a Crystal Palace side that have surprised many this season.

The Blues will be hurting after their Champions League loss to Real Madrid after extra-time on Tuesday, though equally that could focus their minds on winning the cup – surely their only remaining objective this season.

Thomas Tuchel’s side can be backed at 1.61 to win this match in normal time, with Crystal Palace 7.0 outsiders. If the game is drawn, it goes to extra-time and possibly penalties. That eventuality is on offer at 4.2.

Chelsea in form

Chelsea, clearly, have more big-game experience in their ranks and it was only a matter of weeks ago they were last at Wembley as they suffered a tight EFL Cup final loss to Liverpool after a marathon penalty shootout.

The Blues have spent much of this season flirting with success only to fall short, and their midweek match against Madrid seemed to encapsulate that as they won 3-1 in 90 minutes, having staged a miraculous comeback after losing the first leg 3-1. They ultimately conceded in extra-time and were unable to respond.

With the exception of back-to-back home defeats against Brentford and Real Madrid, their form has been very good. Indeed, they have won their last seven matches away from Stamford Bridge and are on a nine-game winning run against Palace.

FA Cup pedigree

Patrick Vieira, meanwhile, is a man who knows what the FA Cup is all about. The Crystal Palace manager won the trophy four times as a player with Arsenal, yet his managerial career has notably been without such distinction to date.

Their FA Cup run has been kind until this point. Millwall, Hartlepool, Stoke and Everton have all been overcome, yet a far sterner test awaits on Sunday. This is especially the case because star man Conor Gallagher cannot play against his parent club.

Palace have never won the FA Cup and have only been runners up on two occasions, most recently in 2016, so this is a historic occasion for the club and one they will be determined to make the most of.

Patrick Vieira is aiming for his first major honour as a manager

Blues to cruise

Expect quality to tell in this match, with Chelsea proving too strong for their opponents. The Blues are in nice touch at present and after five days rest have had ample chance to overcome their midweek exertions.

Given that they have won three of their last four matches against Palace by three clear goals, there could be some value in backing the Blues -1 on the Asian Handicap market at 1.9.

Perhaps better value, though, is on goals. Palace have nothing to lose in this game and will give it their everything, while Chelsea have been involved in high-scoring matches of late, with five of their last six seeing the ball hit the net at least three times.

Recommended bets

Chelsea @ 1.61

Over 2.5 goals @ 1.91