Will the Hammers win the dress rehearsal for the SBU?
Chelsea have gone through some troubled weeks and months and have lost three of their last six games. Overall, though, the Blues are on course. They are a comfortable five points clear of fifth place in the Premier League, which means they have a good chance of successfully qualifying for the Champions League. Moreover, the Pensioners reached the FA Cup final at the weekend.
Now a city rival is visiting Stamford Bridge, West Ham, who are seventh in the table and still have hopes for a European competition. The Hammers also play Eintracht Frankfurt next week for a place in the Europa League final. With that game already casting its shadow, the odds are swinging in the Blues’ favour ahead of the London derby between Chelsea and West Ham.
The Blues have won ten of their last 15 Premier League home games against the Hammers, so in principle there is nothing wrong with playing Chelsea vs West Ham tip 1. However, considering that three of the last five derbies between the two London teams have gone to the Hammers, betting on both teams to score covers more eventualities.
The fact that both teams have scored in 21 of the Irons’ 33 Premier League games – the highest number in the league – also speaks in favour of goals on both sides.
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
From the infamous Lukaku interview to the Abramovich exit and associated sanctions that continue to hit the Blues hard and result in numerous player contracts hanging in the balance, there has been constant outside interference fire at Chelsea since the winter break.
Currently, a takeover of sports stars such as Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams is being discussed. For the most part, the team has been able to give good answers on the pitch. Nevertheless, there have been three painful home defeats against Brentford (1:4), Real Madrid (1:3) and Arsenal (2:4) in the last six competitive games.
On course for the Champions League despite firestorms and setbacks
The Pensioners are still third in the table and remain on course for the Champions League. Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel’s squad still has some difficult weeks ahead of them.
After the home game against the Hammers, they will play Manchester United away. Two games in which it is also a matter of keeping potential pursuers down and tying up qualification for the top flight, in which the reigning overall winners failed to reach the quarter-finals despite a strong comeback in Madrid.
Only ninth in the home table
On Sunday, the Blues celebrated an important 2-0 home victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final, which enabled Chelsea to punch their ticket to the final. It would be correspondingly important to follow up in league play and send out as many exclamation marks as possible in the direction of final opponents Liverpool.
The Pensioners are favourites for the city derby against the Hammers. However, the Tuchel eleven’s home record is capable of improvement. Chelsea have won only seven of their 15 Premier League home games at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Alonso – Rüdiger – Christensen – James – Azpilicueta – Kovacic – Jorginho – Mount – Werner – Havertz
Last matches played by Chelsea:
Premier League
21/04/2022 – Chelsea FC 2 – 4 Arsenal FC
FA Cup
17/04/2022 – Chelsea FC 2 – 0 Crystal Palace
Champions League Final
13/04/2022 – Real Madrid 2 – 3 Chelsea FC
Premier League
09/04/2022 – Southampton 0 – 6 FC Chelsea
Champions League Final
07/04/2022 – Chelsea FC 1 – 3 Real Madrid
West Ham – Statistics & current form
West Ham United have enjoyed a real renaissance in recent years under manager David Moyes. The Scot, who took over the traditional London club two and a half years ago in a relegation battle, led the Hammers to sixth place in the final table already last summer.
For the first time ever, the Irons were allowed to participate in the group stage of a UEFA competition. And after very strong performances so far, the Londoners even have excellent chances of winning the title, according to the Europa League 2022 Overall Winner Prediction.
Five points behind in fourth place
No wonder the Europa League is the main focus these days. If the Hammers finally make it to the final against Eintracht Frankfurt, they could even get a direct ticket to the Champions League. It would be another highlight of the current high.
But even through the Premier League, a place in the top flight is not yet off the table. West Ham dropped five important points against Brentford (0:2) and Burnley (1:1). Nevertheless, the Irons are still in seventh position in the table, five points behind fourth place.
Wonless in five Premier League away games
However, it is by no means out of the question for Chelsea to pick up a point against West Ham at Stamford Bridge. The Hammers have only won one of their last 15 Premier League away games at the Blues’ stadium. In the first leg, however, the Moyes team won 3-2 against the Pensioners.
However, the Irons must get to grips with their recent away weakness. After all, they haven’t had a treble in five Premier League away games (one draw, four defeats) – the longest drought since a period between December 2019 and June 2020…
Predicted West Ham line-up:
Fabianski – Cresswell – Masuaku – Dawson – Johnson – Rice – Soucek – Vlasic – Lanzini – Bowen – Antonio
Last matches played by West Ham:
Premier League
17/04/2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Burnley
Europa League Final Stage
15/04/2022 – Lyon 0 – 3 West Ham
Premier League
10/04/2022 – Brentford 2 – 0 West Ham
Europa League Final Stage
08/04/2022 – West Ham 1 – 1 Lyon
Premier League
03/04/2022 – West Ham 2 – 1 Everton
Chelsea – West Ham Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 52 – 22 – 43
There have been a total of 117 meetings between the two teams so far and the Blues lead the head-to-head comparison with 52 wins. However, Chelsea not only lost the first leg against the Hammers (2:3), but have lost a total of three of the last five London derbies against West Ham.
Chelsea – West Ham Tip
The prediction for Chelsea against West Ham goes in the direction of the home side, who have suffered several setbacks at home to Stamford Bridge recently. However, West Ham are missing both regular centre-backs Zouma and Diop, whose absences are difficult to compensate for. The Irons, moreover, have now waited five Premier League away games for another treble (one draw, four defeats).
A little more value than betting on a home win for the favoured Blues, who have only won seven of their 15 Premier League home games, is offered by betting on goals on both sides. After all, no other Premier League team has had goals in both ends in as many games as the Hammers (in 21 out of 33 games).
