Premier League giants Chelsea welcome League One side Port Vale to Stamford Bridge in the last eight tie of the 2025-26 FA Cup, hoping to progress to keep their hopes of winning silverware alive.
Ayomide Oguntimehin provides insight into the April 4 matchup.
Chelsea vs Port Vale match preview
Chelsea head into the encounter hoping to end their four-match losing streak across all competitions, including a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League Round of 16 clash. The Blues, however, have been in impressive form in the FA Cup this season. They defeated Charlton 5-1 in their third round clash and breezed past Hull City 4-0 in their fourth round encounter.
They faced more difficulty in the fifth round, needing extra-time to go past Wrexham, sealing a 4-2 win after the regular time had finished 2-2. A win against Port Vale would send them to their second semifinal in three years, after they also reached the last four stage in the 2023-24 season, before losing to Manchester City.
The Blues return to action this week as we welcome Port Vale to Stamford Bridge. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/sEZysNoZ20
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 30, 2026
Port Vale, meanwhile, have enjoyed a fairytale run so far and are the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition. The League One side have reached the last eight for the first time since the 1953-54 season when they reached the semifinals. The Valiants are in poor form in the league, but have been very remarkable in the FA Cup and have already gone past the likes Bristol City and Sunderland to reach this stage of the competition.
Best betting odds
Over 2.5 Goals – 1.24 (via 1xbet)
Prediction
Chelsea possess better quality and are expected to dominate the clash, which promises to provide lots of goals.
Gearing 🆙@BingXOfficial | #TrainingInsider pic.twitter.com/FkGJuoeeWb
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 2, 2026
Head-to-Head record
(Last five meetings)
- 06.04.1929 – Port Vale 1-0 Chelsea
- 24.11.1928 – Chelsea 3-3 Port Vale
- 07.04.1928 – Chelsea 1-0 Port Vale
- 26.11.1927 – Port Vale 1-1 Chelsea
- 16.03.1927 – Chelsea 2-0 Port Vale
Chelsea have edged the last five meetings between these two sides, recording two wins while Port Vale have won just once.
However, this will be their first meeting since 1929, when Port Vale won 1-0 in a League Two encounter.
Recent form: Chelsea
Chelsea are on a poor run of form and have suffered defeats in all of their last four games across all competitions, losing over two legs to PSG and also to Newcastle United and Everton in the Premier League.
The Blues have failed to score in their last three matches and have not kept a clean sheet in their eight across all competitions.
Recent form: Port Vale
Port Vale have also endured a disappointing campaign so far and have only managed one win in their last six games, which was a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the League One.
They have also failed to score in their last two and have managed just one clean sheet in their last four matches.
Player to watch
Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea)
Five players who could make debut for Nigeria before AFCON 2027
The Nigerian-eligible defender will be eyeing a major role in defence as Chelsea might look to reshuffle their backline ahead of this clash. Tosin Adarabioyo‘s experience and threat from aerial balls would be very vital to their chances of getting a good result from the matchup.
