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Tag: Chelsea

Chelsea Snatch 1-1 Draw At Manchester City As Fernandez Scores In Stoppage Time

Wale busari03 mins

Managerless Chelsea stole a dramatic point at Manchester City as Enzo Fernandez struck in stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium. Fernandez emerged as the hero for a Chelsea side still reeling from Enzo Maresca’s shock departure, securing a 1-1 draw just three days after the managerial change. With Liam Rosenior reportedly in pole position to take over, Calum McFarlane stepped in to guide the team for the trip to City, who were looking to cut the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal. Instead, Pep Guardiola’s side remain six points behind the Gunners after Fernandez bundled in the equaliser in the 94th minute. City had taken the lead in the 42nd minute when Tijjani Reijnders unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike, punishing Chelsea’s defence. Erling Haaland had earlier struck the post, and although City created several promising chances after halftime, they were unable to turn their dominance into a winning goal. Chelsea capitalised on a weakened City backline, disrupted by Josko Gvardiol’s injury. Malo Gusto’s cross caused confusion in the home defence, and Fernandez was perfectly positioned to finish on his second attempt, sending the away supporters into celebration. Fernandez’s performance underlined his growing importance. The Argentine has now scored six league goals this season, matching his tally from last term. While Cole Palmer struggled against his former club—registering just one shot and failing to create a chance—Fernandez excelled, taking three shots (trailing only Haaland’s five) and leading Chelsea in touches in the opposition box (four) and chances created (two). Statistically, Chelsea edged City in quality of chances. The visitors generated 1.73 expected goals from eight attempts, compared to City’s 0.99 xG from 14 shots, reflecting the higher danger level of Chelsea’s opportunities despite being under pressure for long periods.

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Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins Brace Secures Comeback Victory

Wale busari03 mins

Aston Villa extended their winning streak to 11 matches as Ollie Watkins scored twice to overturn Chelsea in a 2-1 comeback victory at Stamford Bridge, leaving the home crowd booing their side off. The result highlighted Chelsea’s recurring struggles to protect a lead. Chelsea seemed on course for a morale-boosting win after João Pedro’s lucky first-half goal, which capped a dominant opening spell for the hosts. However, Unai Emery’s second-half tactical changes turned the tide, with Watkins and Morgan Rogers combining decisively to swing the game in Villa’s favour. Chelsea started strongly, controlling possession and territory under the watch of suspended coach Enzo Maresca. Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández missed good opportunities before João Pedro’s deflected corner beat Emiliano Martínez. Villa posed little threat before halftime, with Chelsea’s central defence comfortably handling Rogers and Donyell Malen. Yet, Chelsea failed to build on their advantage—a costly pattern once again. The match shifted just before the hour when Emery introduced Watkins as part of a triple substitution. The striker made an immediate impact, finishing after Robert Sánchez’s initial save rebounded, with Rogers providing the assist for the equaliser. Villa’s confidence soared as Chelsea’s control slipped. Watkins completed the turnaround when Rogers delivered a precise corner for the striker to power a header home, silencing Stamford Bridge and sending the away fans into jubilation. Chelsea tried to respond with substitutions, but Villa held firm to secure another memorable victory.

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Chelsea Fight Back From Two Goals Down To Rescue 2-2 Draw Against Newcastle

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Chelsea rescued a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park on Saturday, sparing Enzo Maresca from a potentially uncomfortable post-match discussion after trailing by two goals to Newcastle. Nick Woltemade put the Magpies in control with a first-half brace, threatening to deepen Chelsea’s recent struggles. But the Blues responded after the break, with Reece James curling a stunning free-kick into the net and Joao Pedro producing a smart solo finish to earn a point. The draw keeps Chelsea in fourth place, though their recent form—just one win in five Premier League matches—remains a concern. For Maresca, the comeback was a timely boost following a turbulent week that sparked speculation over his long-term role at the club. On Friday, Maresca dismissed reports linking him to Manchester City as “100 percent speculation,” despite City reportedly considering him as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola should the Spaniard depart at season’s end. The rumours emerged after Maresca hinted at a lack of backing from Chelsea’s hierarchy, calling the 48 hours following last weekend’s victory over Everton the worst of his time at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s rotation policy has drawn criticism this season, often leaving the team disjointed. After making 11 changes for Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final win at Cardiff, Maresca returned to his senior squad, only for them to struggle against Newcastle’s high-intensity start. Woltemade, eager to atone for his own goal in last weekend’s defeat to Sunderland, opened the scoring within four minutes. A Jacob Murphy cross found Anthony Gordon, whose shot was parried by Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez, leaving Woltemade to tap in from close range. Chelsea’s defence looked vulnerable again in the 20th minute as Gordon’s precise cross allowed Woltemade to score his second, confirmed onside after a VAR review. Chelsea’s struggles continued until the interval, though Woltemade missed a clear chance just before half-time. Maresca’s halftime instructions appeared to have an immediate effect. James struck a brilliant free-kick in the 49th minute, cutting Newcastle’s lead, while a controversial non-awarded penalty for a challenge on Gordon went Newcastle’s way. With injuries depleting Newcastle’s defence—including Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Sven Botman, and Tino Livramento—Chelsea began to press, with Pedro Neto forcing a smart save from Ramsdale. Their persistence paid off in the 66th minute when Joao Pedro cleverly headed Sanchez’s long kick past Malick Thiaw and finished clinically inside the box, earning Chelsea a vital equaliser. Maresca’s relief was evident as he celebrated with an animated jig on the touchline.

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Cole Palmer Ends Goal Drought As Chelsea Beat Everton 2-0 To Return To Winning Ways

Wale busari03 mins

Cole Palmer marked his return to the scoresheet for the first time since September as Chelsea snapped a four-match winless streak with a 2-0 home win over an in-form Everton side at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old attacker, who has been managing a groin problem that sidelined him for over two months, struck after 21 minutes with England boss Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands. The move was sparked by Malo Gusto, who later found the net himself shortly before the interval. Everton started brightly and controlled much of the opening spell. Iliman Ndiaye tested the Chelsea defence with two efforts, while James Garner also went close as the visitors pressed early. Chelsea, however, settled through Palmer after a difficult start to December that featured losses to Leeds and Atalanta, along with a draw at Bournemouth. Slipped in behind the defence by Gusto, Palmer steadied himself before wrong-footing Jordan Pickford with a neat finish at the near post. The goal shifted the balance of the game. Alejandro Garnacho wasted a number of opportunities, the most glaring coming when he fired wide with the goal gaping after latching onto a poor back pass from substitute Carlos Alcaraz. The chance came shortly after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, facing his former club, was forced off injured. Both sides threatened again before the break, with Enzo Fernandez and Jack Grealish unable to convert their chances. Chelsea then doubled their advantage just before half-time as Gusto reacted quickest to bundle in Pedro Neto’s delivery. After the restart, Garnacho lifted a close-range effort over the bar before making way for Jamie Gittens. Grealish had a header saved and later volleyed wide when well placed, while Ndiaye struck the post late on and Trevoh Chalobah produced a crucial block to deny Alcaraz inside the area. Chelsea’s sharper finishing proved the difference as they tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League. Everton, meanwhile, stay eighth, having played more matches than several teams around them.

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Atalanta Rally To Beat Chelsea 2–1 After Second-Half Fightback

Wale busari02 mins

Atalanta came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2–1, overturning a first-half deficit in a match played at a high tempo and backed by a vibrant home atmosphere. The hosts started strongly, driven by constant noise from the stands, and nearly scored within the opening minutes as Ademola Looman caused early problems. Chelsea absorbed that pressure — helped by key defensive work from Acheampong — and soon settled into the game. Their first meaningful attack produced the opener midway through the half. Reece James, kept onside by a tight call, found João Pedro in the box, and the forward finished with a low toepoke between the goalkeeper’s legs. Chelsea grew more comfortable as the half progressed, and Neto almost added another before the interval, but the visitors held their 1–0 lead at the break. Both teams exchanged chances early in the second half. James missed from a promising position, while Lookman had an effort correctly ruled out for offside. Atalanta equalised moments later when Scamacca, left unmarked, headed in from close range. The hosts pushed for a second and eventually found it in the 83rd minute. De Ketelaere advanced into the area and struck a shot that took a deflection, leaving Sánchez unable to react. Chelsea’s late response lacked urgency. João Pedro had a final opportunity deep into stoppage time, but his shot from close range went straight at the goalkeeper, confirming Atalanta’s win.

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Leeds Beat Chelsea 3-1 To Climb Out Of Relegation Zone

Wale busari03 mins

Leeds delivered a crucial and emotionally charged victory at Elland Road, defeating Chelsea to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone at a time when it mattered most. With reports swirling this week that Daniel Farke’s job was under threat, the German manager watched his side respond in style with a fearless and disciplined performance that overwhelmed a heavily rotated Chelsea team, who slipped to fifth on the table as a result. Leeds set the tone early when defender Jaka Bijol rose highest from a corner to power home a superb header and give the hosts a dream start. The pressure continued, and Ao Tanaka doubled the lead with a stunning strike from the edge of the box, rifling the ball into the net for his first Premier League goal. The effort also made history as the first goal scored by an Asian player for Leeds in the competition. Chelsea attempted a response after the break, with Enzo Maresca making a double substitution at half-time. One of those changes paid off when Pedro Neto pulled a goal back, finishing at the far post after a dangerous delivery from Jamie Gittens. Cole Palmer returned to action for the first time since September and nearly drew Chelsea level, but after a powerful run down the left by Alejandro Garnacho, he pulled his shot wide of the target. Leeds made Chelsea pay for that missed opportunity late on. Sloppy defending from Tosin inside the box allowed Noah Okafor to steal possession in the six-yard area, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left with a simple tap-in to seal a famous 3–1 victory. The result lifts Leeds out of the relegation zone and eases the immediate pressure on Farke, while Chelsea are left to reflect on a damaging defeat.

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Arsenal Held To 1–1 Draw By Ten-Man Chelsea As Merino Cancels Chalobah’s Header

Wale busari03 mins

Arsenal left Stamford Bridge with a single point after Mikel Merino wiped out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener in a contest that felt equal parts chess match and street fight, even after Chelsea were reduced to 10 men. The evening opened with promise on both ends: Bukayo Saka drifted into a pocket of daylight but couldn’t turn it into gold, while Estêvão flashed a reminder of his threat without delivering the final spark. The rhythm never quite settled. Every duel carried a charge, and Moisés Caicedo cranked up the voltage when he flew into Merino with a studs-up challenge that caught the Spaniard above the foot. Merino hobbled but survived, refusing to surrender his place in the storm. Chelsea, a man down, refused to retreat into a shell. Early in the second half, Reece James curled in a teasing corner from the left, and Chalobah rose through the crowd to thump home his third league goal of the campaign, the roar from the stands swelling like blue thunder. Mikel Arteta had both Viktor Gyökeres and Gabriel Jesus waiting on the bench, but Arsenal found their breakthrough through a midfielder who’s been moonlighting as a poacher. Saka clipped in a searching cross, and Merino ghosted into the box to guide it home just before the hour mark, a finish with all the calm of a man flicking a switch. Arsenal pushed. Chelsea bent but refused to break. Robert Sánchez delivered two heroic moments late on, first smothering Merino’s low strike, then springing up to hurl himself into the path of Gyökeres’ rebound, absorbing the impact and the applause in one breath. For Arsenal, the draw tasted like a meal missing seasoning. They never truly exploited their advantage, and the chance to widen their grip slipped away. They still end the weekend five points clear after Manchester City’s win over Leeds. Chelsea, meanwhile, battled with grit sharpened by adversity, matching their visitors stride for stride and climbing back into third place ahead of Aston Villa.

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