Next win for the Blues?
Chelsea have since digested the final defeat against Liverpool in the EFL Cup and recently found themselves back on track. After the successful comeback against Luton (3:2), there was a power performance against Burnley FC in the league. The Blues scored a total of four goals against the relegation-threatened league rivals and thus got the frustration off their chest.
Thomas Tuchel & Co. now face their next match against a potential relegation candidate during the week. The Londoners will meet Norwich City, who are bottom of the Premier League. Unlike Chelsea, who recently won three PL matches in a row, Norwich lost their last four league games and are heading for the second division.
The Canaries are already five points off a non-relegation spot ahead of the upcoming encounter. It is unlikely that this gap will be reduced at home against CFC, especially as Norwich already suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat against Chelsea in the first half of the season.
The Blues are the clear favourites at the Canaries anyway, according to the best bookmakers. Currently, betting odds of 1.32 are offered on Norwich vs Chelsea for tip 2. In the event of the host’s success, on the other hand, odds beyond the 10.00 mark are paid out.
Norwich – Statistics & current form
After the first half of the season, Norwich City were already among the narrow circle of potential relegation candidates. After a poor start to the second half of the season, the Canaries have already slipped to last place in the table and are heading for the second-tier Championship in their current form.
Head coach Dean Smith, who took over from Daniel Farke just four months ago, has lost four Premier League matches in a row. In fact, Norwich have lost five matches in a row across all competitions. Last week, the last-placed team already went down in the match against Brentford and conceded a 1:3 defeat.
It was the ninth defeat in 14 home games for the Canaries. Overall, Norwich have a home record of 2-3-9, making them the second-weakest home team in the English top flight. Only Watford FC have taken fewer points (7) than Norwich (9) in that period.
No punch in the attack?
However, the failure this season was not only due to poor defensive work. Above all, the offensive was the big problem area for the Canaries. The promoted side scored just 16 goals in 27 matchdays this season, making them statistically the weakest attacking side in the Premier League.
One of the few bright spots in the attack is Teemu Pukki, who tops the Canaries’ internal goalscoring charts with seven goals and one assist. Against Chelsea, the Finnish striker will once again be set up front. But head coach Smith will be without a total of three players against the Londoners.
The last time Norwich won a PL home game against Chelsea was in December 1994. Since then, there have been two draws and a total of eleven defeats against the Blues in the last 13 home games at league level. It’s quite possible that betting on the visitors from London will pay off this time as well.
Predicted line-up of Norwich:
Krul – Aarons, Hanley, Zimmermann, Williams – Lees-Melou, Rupp – Sargent, Dowell, Rowe – Pukki
Last matches played by Norwich:
Premier League
03/05 2022 – Norwich 1 – 3 Brentford
FA Cup
03/02 2022 – Liverpool FC 2 – 1 Norwich
Premier League
02/25 2022 – Southampton 2 – 0 Norwich
02/19 2022 – Liverpool FC 3 – 1 Norwich
02/12 2022 – Norwich 0 – 4 Manchester City
Chelsea – Statistics & current form
In the Premier League, Chelsea are only looking for damage limitation in the second leg. The Blues are unlikely to make the leap to the top of the table with their current lead, so the primary goal for the rest of the season is a direct starting place for the top flight.
As third in the table, Chelsea currently have a six-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester. If the Blues win both of their catch-up games, the points cushion can even be extended to twelve points. One of the two games takes place this week at Norwich City.
If the current table in the English top flight is anything to go by, it is already a “David against Goliath” constellation. After all, Thursday’s opponents Norwich City are in last place in the table and already lost 7-0 to Chelsea in the first half of the season. Therefore, it is not out of the question that the Blues will score another big victory this week.
Next clean sheet for Chelsea?
Last week, Thomas Tuchel’s side were already successful in their away game against Burnley FC and even kept their clean sheet. For the twelfth time this season, Chelsea remained without conceding a goal in a PL match. It is quite possible that this statistic will be extended against Norwich City.
The Blues’ defensive bulwark should not have too much trouble against their opponents’ modest attack. Chelsea currently have the best defence in the league, right up there with the leaders from Manchester. On average, the Londoners have conceded less than one goal per league game.
Almost a fortnight ago, Chelsea even held LFC’s attack at bay in the cup final. Thomas Tuchel will also start the post-match match against the Canaries with his best squad. Only Chilwell will miss the match in Norwich due to injury. Players such as Hudson-Odoi, Alonso and Azpilicueta, on the other hand, are still question marks.
Predicted Chelsea line-up:
Mendy – Chalobah, Christensen, Rudiger – Hudson-Odoi, Kovacic, Jorginho, Saul – Mount, Pulisic – Lukaku
Last Chelsea games:
Premier League
03/05 2022 – Burnley 0 – 4 Chelsea London
FA Cup
03/02 2022 – Luton 2 – 3 Chelsea London
Carabao Cup
02/27 2022 – Chelsea London (10)0 – 0(11) Liverpool FC
Champions League Final
02/22 2022 – Chelsea London 2 – 0 Lille
Premier League
02/19 2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 1 Chelsea London
Norwich – Chelsea Direct comparison / H2H record
This is the 40th time the two clubs have met in the Premier League. The Blues lead the direct comparison as expected. After 39 league games, Chelsea’s record against Norwich is 17-12-10. In the Premier League, the Blues have won their last five matches against Norwich City.
Among them was the emphatic victory in the first half of the current season. The Londoners celebrated an impressive 7-0 home victory over the Canaries at Stamford Bridge. Mason Mount in particular flourished. The youngster not only laced a hat-trick, but also set up another goal.
At Norwich City’s Carrow Road, Chelsea have won their last four away games at league level. Only once, however, has CFC gone without conceding a goal in that period.
Norwich – Chelsea Tip
Norwich are currently in a crisis of form. Not only have the Canaries lost their last five competitive games in a row, but they have now slipped to the bottom of the Premier League table. Less than a week after the bitter home defeat against Brentford FC, Norwich are threatened with the next setback in the catch-up game against Chelsea.
The Blues are one of Norwich City’s most feared opponents. At home, the promoted team has not won any of its last 13 home games in the Premier League against Chelsea. On top of that, Norwich were already clearly outclassed against Chelsea in the first half of the season and conceded a heavy 7-0 defeat.
We therefore expect a clear balance of power this time as well and are leaning towards a comfortable win in favour of the Londoners. For Norwich vs. Chelsea, our betting odds of 1.90 are therefore “HT/FT: 2/2”. For this, we bet six out of ten possible units. Bets on HT/FT in favour of Chelsea have paid off in three of the last four PL matches between the two clubs.
