LONDON – The reigning champions are back in action. Chelsea Women begin their quest to defend the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this Saturday as they host London rivals Crystal Palace in a high-stakes fourth-round clash at Kingsmeadow.
Sonia Bompastor’s side enters the competition in peak form, fresh from a dominant 5-0 victory over West Ham in the WSL. After securing an incredible domestic treble last season—including a 3-0 win over Manchester United in the 2024/25 FA Cup Final—the Blues are heavy favorites to advance once again.
The “Underdog” Challenge
While Chelsea aims for a quadruple this season, Crystal Palace arrives at Kingsmeadow looking to cause one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. Currently sitting 5th in the Women’s Championship after their relegation from the top flight last year, the Eagles have shown resilience.
However, the historical record favors the home side. In their last three meetings during the 2024/25 campaign, Chelsea outscored Palace 12-0, including a narrow 1-0 victory in last year’s quarter-finals.
Predicted Lineups: Star-Studded Blues
Chelsea is expected to field a strong XI to avoid any “giant-killing” surprises, likely featuring summer signing Naomi Girma and the clinical Alyssa Thompson upfront.
Chelsea Women (4-3-3): Hampton; Girma, Bright, Buurman; Carpenter, Nüsken, Cuthbert, Baltimore; James, Kaneryd, Thompson.
Crystal Palace Women (4-4-2): Yanez; Napier, Cato, Nolan, Veerde; Larkin, Blanchard, Everett, Howat; Hughes, Sharpe.
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Match Details
Competition: Adobe Women’s FA Cup (4th Round)
Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Kick-off: 12:30 PM (UK Time)
Venue: Kingsmeadow, London
Next up: FA Cup. 👊 pic.twitter.com/eDzbzzhdwP
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) January 14, 2026
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
