In the Premier League, Chelsea could only manage a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, with goals from Jackson and Eze at the 25th and 53rd minute mark, respectively. Enzo Maresca, at the reins of Chelsea, must now continue his quest for a home victory, which has been challenged by Eze’s stunning sequeliser that balanced the scales despite Chelsea showing signs of improvement.
Maresca has been working to make Stamford Bridge a stronghold this season, having released several seasoned players he felt were no longer needed. However, the optimism remained guarded post their initial defeat at home to Manchester City and ahead of the showdown with a team still striving for their first point. Notably, this match was preceded by Chelsea’s 6-2 drubbing of Wolves at Molineux.
The latest recruit, Jadon Sancho, was mildly welcomed by the Stamford Bridge audience prior to the game’s start. Arrivals are becoming a commonplace event with 12 newcomers this summer, as the fanfare is reserved for those departing due to the expanding squad.
Of note during the pre-match proceedings was the handing over of the PFA Player of the Year award to Cole Palmer. This seemed to ignite his ambition to pursue the 2024-25 title again. Palmer, the creative force at the heart of Maresca’s developing squad, performed crucially in Chelsea’s better spells of the game.
As the match commenced, Palmer narrowly missed a goal within 12 minutes. However, he compensated by assisting Nicolas Jackson within the 25th minute to conclude a fluid transition of play from defence to attack, involving Levi Colwill and Noni Madueke. This move provided Chelsea with the initial lead.
In a dramatic turn of events, Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson experienced a non-fatal collision with his fellow team player, Daniel Muñoz’s knee, only to resume play after medical attention and contribute significantly to the game. His team-mate Palmer remained a formidable force on the pitch, and Will Hughes could have been subjected to a second yellow card for another violation against him near the penalty zone.
Hughes, already struggling with an injury, was substituted five minutes post the interval, leading to a shift in the game dynamics. Cheick Doucouré, Hughes’ replacement, attempted a unsuccessful shot from a partially cleared set piece three minutes after his introduction. However, the rebound was deftly handled by Eze, who took sufficient time to curl the ball perfectly into the distant post.
The visitors, Chelsea, suddenly found themselves at the mercy of the buoyed-up Crystal Palace, leaving their goalkeeper Robert Sánchez grateful as Daichi Kamada’s powerful 18-yard shot near the 77th minute flew away unscathed, slipping through his grasp at the goal line.
The addition of eight minutes to the match roused Chelsea, providing Jackson enough opportunities to breach the defensive setup of Crystal Palace twice. His first attempt found the side-netting, while his second was thwarted by the collective efforts of Henderson’s thigh and wrist. This resulted in a tense beginning to a new managerial chapter for Chelsea, without a home league victory before the first international break.