Chelsea enters the West London derby against Fulham not only facing their direct rival on the pitch but also battling a historical ghost.
The Blues visit Fulham this Monday evening in the opening round matches of the English Premier League season.
The Blues are suffering from a complex opening curse that has caused them to drop points in the first match for three consecutive seasons.
Conversely, Fulham does not appear to be in better shape regarding season openers, yet they possess an additional historical motivation summarized by achieving a rare feat seldom accomplished since the 1970s.
Will Chelsea escape their nightmare of poor starts, or will Fulham write a new chapter in the derby's history?
Chelsea Battles History Against Fulham
1 - If Fulham manages to defeat Chelsea, it will mark their first victory in two consecutive matches across all competitions against their London rivals since their three-match winning streak between April 1977 and October 1979.
2 - Fulham has won their opening match in only one of their last six Premier League seasons, which was a 1-0 victory over Everton in the 2023-2024 season.
3 – Chelsea failed to win their opening match in each of the past three seasons (two draws and one loss).