Chelsea Stars Struggle in Frustrating Opening Day Stalemate Against Crystal Palace
Chelsea's 2025–26 Premier League season began with a disappointing start as they were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
The FIFA Club World Cup winners gave debuts to new acquisitions João Pedro and Jamie Gittens—with the former preferred over fellow newcomer Liam Delap—and youngster Josh Acheampong, who partnered Trevoh Chalobah in the heart of defense.
The Blues nearly found an early opener when Marc Cucurella's deflected header from Reece James's curling corner was heroically cleared off the goal line by Crystal Palace's Ismaïla Sarr, though ten minutes later it appeared Chelsea had conceded first.
A spectacular free-kick from Eberechi Eze, the sought-after playmaker who remains firmly on Tottenham Hotspur's wishlist, flew home from 20 yards, beating goalkeeper Robert Sánchez despite getting both hands to it.
However, an obscure regulation, violated by Marc Guéhi, resulted in the strike being disallowed, much to the joy of the majority of supporters at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's reaction to this reprieve wasn't what you might have anticipated. Enzo Maresca's team showed little fluidity, with Palace looking settled for the rest of the opening period and much of the second, while Jean-Philippe Mateta was thwarted by an excellent stop from Sánchez.
Estêvão entered the fray ten minutes after the break, taking Gittens' place, and he nearly marked his Chelsea debut with a goal shortly afterwards. The gifted Brazilian couldn't keep his attempt down though, sending it sailing over the crossbar after Cole Palmer had managed to thread a delivery into Palace's box.
Delap and Andrey Santos also entered from the substitutes' bench, making their Premier League bows for the club, with the former helping create an excellent opportunity for the latter during added time. Cucurella was also part of the move, laying the ball off for Santos following a brilliant first touch from Delap, but he sent his shot well over the target to encapsulate the hosts' frustrating day.
The draw represented the first occasion in 2025 that Chelsea have been shut out at home, giving Palace a crucial point in what might prove to be Eze's farewell appearance for the Eagles.
Chelsea Player Ratings vs. Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1)
Ratings provided by FotMob*
Player | Rating Out of 10 |
|---|---|
GK: Robert Sánchez | 7.8 |
RB: Reece James (c) | 7.9 |
CB: Josh Acheampong | 7.4 |
CB: Trevoh Chalobah | 7.6 |
LB: Marc Cucurella | 7.2 |
CM: Moisés Caicedo | 7.5 |
CM: Enzo Fernández | 6.7 |
AM: Cole Palmer | 6.5 |
RW: Pedro Neto | 7.3 |
ST: João Pedro | 5.8 |
LW: Jamie Gittens | 7.0 |
SUB: Estêvão (54' for Gittens) | 6.5 |
SUB: Liam Delap (73' for Pedro) | 6.0 |
SUB: Andrey Santos (79' for Fernández) | 6.0 |
SUB: Malo Gusto (79' for James) | 6.1 |
Subs not used: Filip Jorgensen, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Dário Essugo, Tyrique George.
Chelsea's Player of the Match: Reece James
Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Dean Henderson; Marc Guéhi, Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards; Daniel Muñoz, Will Hughes, Adam Wharton, Tyrick Mitchell; Eberechi Eze, Ismaïla Sarr, Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Subs: Walter Benitez, Borna Sosa, Jefferson Lerma, Nathaniel Clyne, Justin Devenny, Romain Esse, Odsonne Edouard, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Rio Cardines