Chelsea v Sunderland Betting Tips and Predictions

David Moyes won’t be celebrating, though, given the Black Cats’ embarrassing season – but the Scot will surely be hoping that they can squeeze one last afternoon of joy out of one of the darkest periods in the club’s history. Chelsea will certainly be keeping one eye on the FA Cup final against Arsenal but Antonio Conte will want to keep his players match-sharp ahead of the Wembley showpiece, so he is expected to field a strong team here.

After an entertaining 4-3 victory over Watford on Monday night, the Blues will want to round off a spectacular season in style with another three points, to take them to an impressive 93 points. They’re almost certain to do just that as they’ve won all five of their home games against teams in the bottom-six so far this season, scoring at least three goals on four occasions.

Sunderland have had as much joy on the road as they’ve had in front of their own supporters in recent weeks, beating both Hull City and Crystal Palace on their travels. However, a trip to Stamford Bridge is an entirely different prospect and, although they frustrated Arsenal for more than an hour at the Emirates on Tuesday night, something tells us their resistance will be easily broken by the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.

Chelsea are certainly finishing their season in style. They’ve won their last five league games, scoring an impressive 15 goals in the process, so expect Conte’s side to record another comfortable win here. Given the recent form and level of quality of both sides, we’d recommend backing a 3-0 Chelsea win, while Michy Batshuayi – who has featured mostly in cameos this season – is expected to start the game. With three goals in just 211 minutes of Premier League action this season, he is a solid price at 13/5 with most bookmakers to score first. With Sunderland likely to be sitting with 11 men behind the ball, Chelsea are guaranteed to create plenty of opportunities for the Belgian forward to score.

The loss to Arsenal earlier in the week was Sunderland’s 10th in their last 13, and it will take a monumental effort from Moyes’s side to rain on Chelsea’s parade here. Sunderland have conceded three in their last two visits to Stamford Bridge and they will have to improve upon their efforts to stop Alexis Sanchez from scoring for Arsenal on Tuesday. Chelsea have scored three goals in five of their last six matches, so that 3-0 at 5/1 with Bet365 is looking rather tempting.

Expect a heavily one-sided encounter at the Bridge, one that will pretty much reflect the fortunes of both these sides this season. Can Sunderland provide their travelling supporters with rare feelings of joy, or will Chelsea end the season in the dominant, sweepingly impressive form they have been in for most of the season?