Final
Chelsea 0–0 Crystal Palace
MVP
Josh Acheampong (Chelsea)
Turning Point
13’ Eberechi Eze free-kick ruled out by VAR (Law 13)
Football summary: Chelsea 71.5% possession; shots 19–11 (SOG 3–4); pressing edge (PPDA 5.87 vs 17.63). xG varied by model.
1) Match Overview
- Competition: English Premier League 2025/26
- Date & Time: Aug 17, 2025 — 09:00 ET
- Venue: Stamford Bridge (Attendance: 39,678)
- Officials: Referee — Darren England
- Weather: Dry, mild ~24 °C, light wind
- Final Score: Chelsea 0–0 Crystal Palace
- Scorers/Highlights: No goals; Eze’s FK disallowed after VAR (Law 13, wall encroachment)
2) Highlight Timeline
03’
Cucurella’s header cleared off the line by Ismaïla Sarr
13’
Eze FK goal overturned by VAR (Guéhi encroachment)
Key events include disallowed goal, 1v1 save on Mateta, and late misses by Delap & Santos.
3) Top 5 Key Moments
- Eze FK disallowed (13’)
- Mateta denied by Sánchez
- Estêvão debut impact after 54’
- Delap late chance saved
- Santos stoppage-time miss
4) Lineups & Tactical Flow
Chelsea — Sánchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; João Pedro. Subs: Estêvão, Delap, Santos, Gusto
Crystal Palace — Henderson; Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell; Hughes, Wharton; Sarr, Eze; Mateta. Subs: Lerma, Devenny
Chelsea built in 3-2-5, pressed high (PPDA 5.87). Palace compact mid/low block, transition through Eze/Mateta (PPDA 17.63).
5) Statistical Validation
| Metric | Chelsea | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| xG (Understat) | 1.37 | 1.03 |
| Shots (OT) | 19 (3) | 11 (4) |
| Possession % | 71.5 | 28.5 |
| PPDA | 5.87 | 17.63 |
Other models: Opta ≈ 1.8–1.1; FBref ≈ 1.6–0.6
6) Momentum & Flow
Chelsea’s steady possession vs Palace’s sporadic but sharp counters. Expected goals confirm Chelsea’s steady accumulation, Palace’s spikes.
7) Clutch & Pressure
- Delap chance 90’ saved
- Santos stoppage-time miss
- Eze late shot parried
8) Errors & Missed Chances
- Santos volley over
- Delap weak shot at Henderson
9) Duel / Matchup Analysis
- Palmer vs Mitchell: limited until Estêvão sub
- Eze vs Caicedo: set-pieces vs open play containment
10) External Conditions & Officiating
- Weather: no disruption
- VAR: Law 13 applied strictly
- Chelsea still building rhythm after preseason
11) Player Ratings
| Player | Team | Role | Key Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Acheampong | Chelsea | RCB | Composed debut; anchored clean sheet | 7.8 |
| Dean Henderson | Palace | GK | Key saves, composure | 7.5 |
| Eberechi Eze | Palace | AM | FK (disallowed), late shot | 7.3 |
| Marc Cucurella | Chelsea | LB | Header cleared off line, overlaps | 7.2 |
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | AM | Link play, little end product | 6.3 |
| João Pedro | Chelsea | ST | Quiet, one miss | 5.8 |
12) Best & Worst
Top 3: Acheampong, Henderson, Eze
Struggles: João Pedro, Palmer, Delap
13) Post-Match Reactions
- Headlines: “Chelsea held 0–0 at home”
- Maresca: “We created enough”
- Glasner: “Defensive work was excellent”
14) Social Buzz
Debate over strict enforcement of Law 13 dominated social media.
15) Standings & Impact
- Both teams start with 1 point
- Next: Chelsea vs West Ham (Aug 22), Palace vs Forest (Aug 24)
- First Chelsea 0–0 opener since 2011/12
16) Final Assessment
Chelsea pressed well but finishing absent. Palace disciplined, set-piece organization crucial. A match defined by VAR law application and missed clinicality.
17) Tornado Sensitivity Summary
- Chelsea pressing intensity (PPDA)
- Set-piece legality (Law 13)
- Right-flank dynamic (Estêvão vs Mitchell)
References
Chelsea FC Official · Premier League · ESPN · Understat · Opta Analyst · Reuters · IFAB Law 13
※ Informational purposes only. Not betting advice.