On Friday, February 14, 2025, Brighton & Hove Albion will take on Chelsea for the third time this season in a Premier League showdown between the 10th and 4th-placed teams.
Nolan James Feb 12
FA Cup Triumph Sets the Tone
Last weekend, Brighton secured a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup, capitalizing on a lackluster attacking display from the Blues, who registered just one shot on target. Chelsea took an early lead after a mistake from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen just five minutes in, but the Seagulls responded swiftly. Georginio Rutter leveled the score with a powerful header in the 12th minute, and Kaoru Mitoma sealed the win with a composed finish just before the hour mark.
The match was a stark contrast to their previous encounter at Stamford Bridge in late September, where Chelsea cruised to a 4-2 victory, thanks to a stunning four-goal performance from star man Cole Palmer.
Brighton’s Strong Campaign Under Hurzeler
Brighton currently sits on 34 points from 24 matches, trailing seventh-placed AFC Bournemouth by six points. Under the guidance of 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler, the Seagulls have maintained their signature attacking style while producing results. In the FA Cup, they have advanced past Norwich City (4-0) and Chelsea (2-1) and will now face Newcastle in the Fifth Round.
Chelsea's Struggles Under Maresca
Chelsea’s momentum has slowed under Enzo Maresca, leaving them with only the Premier League and UEFA Europa Conference League to focus on. Despite sitting fourth in the league standings, they hold just a three-point lead over seventh-placed Bournemouth, making their position far from secure.
Earlier in the season, Chelsea had collected 34 points from their first 16 matches, keeping pace with league leaders Liverpool. However, recent struggles mean they now face a tough battle for Champions League qualification, with Manchester City and Newcastle closing in.
The Blues have won only two of their last eight league matches, suffering setbacks like a humiliating 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 1-0 loss to Everton before their FA Cup elimination against Brighton.
Recent Form and Key Matchups
Brighton rebounded from those defeats with a crucial 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, courtesy of goals from Yankuba Minteh, Mitoma, and Rutter, followed by a 2-0 win against Ipswich Town.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost two of their last three games, falling to Brighton (2-1) and Manchester City (3-1). Their only victory in that stretch was a 2-1 win over West Ham, where Pedro Neto and an Aaron Wan-Bissaka own goal overturned Jarrod Bowen’s opener.
Prior to that, Maresca’s men secured a 3-1 victory over Wolves after being held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth.
Prediction: Brighton to Edge It Again
This marks the second meeting between Brighton and Chelsea in just six days, following the Seagulls’ FA Cup triumph. The head-to-head record in the last 12 encounters is fairly balanced, with Chelsea winning five, Brighton claiming three victories, and four matches ending in a draw.
However, given Brighton’s dominant performance last weekend, Fabian Hurzeler’s side looks well-positioned to claim another win. Additionally, with six of the last seven meetings producing over 2.5 goals, expect another high-scoring affair at the Amex Stadium.
