Chelsea’s buildup vs. Palace’s 5-3-2 featured a shift from inverted fullbacks to a 4-1 / 2-3 structure. Cucurella stayed wide, providing stability, while the midfield rotated to create overloads. A conservative approach, balancing control and progression against a defensive block
Palace buildup in a 3-4-2-1 vs. Chelsea’s aggressive press. The press trigger is the wingbacks receiving the ball, prompting m2m duels. Acheampong tasked with tracking Eze’s deep movements creates an intriguing battle to watch in this matchup.
Palmer and Enzo switch roles in the second half to disrupt Palace’s modified press by altering passing lanes and overload dynamics. However, the recurring use of this pattern, seen previously against Fulham and Ipswich, risks predictability.
