Chelsea will be looking to extend a 25-year streak when they face Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues were able to reclaim fourth position in the standings on Thursday evening as they edged their way to a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Success for Maresca's side ensured that they bounced back from losing to fellow London side Arsenal before the international break, but they now face a third derby showdown in a row.
Holding just a two-point advantage over sixth position, Chelsea are under pressure to deliver at the Gtech Community Stadium as they bid to earn Champions League qualification for 2025-26.
However, Chelsea have a battle on their hands to extend a run that first started towards the back end of 2000.
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What streak do Chelsea want to extend?
Not since December of that year have Chelsea recorded five successive away defeats in the Premier League, losing to Sunderland, Southampton, Charlton Athletic, Everton and Middlesbrough respectively.
Ahead of the weekend, Chelsea have lost four times in a row, those results being posted versus Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
Furthermore, Chelsea have gone eight away domestic fixtures without recording a victory, their last success coming at Spurs on December 8.
On a more positive note, Chelsea are currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak in away encounters against Brentford, a streak that has lasted since 1938.
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Brentford with chance to improve home fortunes
At one stage earlier in the season, Brentford held the best home record in the Premier League, yet they have now gone seven matches without a win on familiar territory.
Thomas Frank's side are also yet to keep a clean sheet in such fixtures during 2024-25, although they still have 24 points from 15 home games.
Brentford are looking to avoid losing three home London derbies in a row for the first time since 1982, succumbing to Arsenal and Spurs in their most recent such contests.
Despite their being seven positions between the two sides, Brentford have only scored three fewer goals than Chelsea in this season's Premier League.
Darren Plant
