Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 24 minutes

Reece James is surprised to be shown a yellow card after halting a Crystal Palace attack with a bundle in the back. Eberechi Eze stands over the free kick – this one isn’t within his range, you’d think.

Adam Wharton, in the end, takes it short to Eze, who progresses to within shooting distance and tamely curls into the embrace of Robert Sanchez.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:25

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 22 minutes

Adam Wharton’s rump deflects a Pedro Neto shot into the stands beyond the Crystal Palace goal. Another chance for Chelsea to pile bodies into the box.

Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah both pose imposing figures above the comparatively small Marc Guehi, but the similarly-sized Jean-Philippe Mateta prevents the pair making much of Reece James’s nicely judged delivery. Goal kick.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:24

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 21 minutes

That’s more like it. Cole Palmer drifts into a pocket of space and connects with a leftward pair, following his pass to then have it returned to him. A shot or cross from 20 yards ends up being neither, bending away from Dean Henderson’s left-hand post and over the crossbar, too.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:22

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 20 minutes

Chelsea have been very deliberate in their passing play so far, a few glimpses of brighter and breezier spells in possession in there but control primarily the focus.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:21

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 17 minutes

A shame for Crystal Palace, that, having really built the pressure there and deserved to go ahead. They’ll be pleased with how they’ve settled in though, after the early aerial bombardment.

(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:19

RULED OUT! Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 15 minutes

Chalked off! Marc Guehi’s actions are deemed illegal, the barging of Moises Caicedo seemingly drawing the VAR’s intention because it took the pair within a metre of the wall. Harsh? Perhaps. But it won’t count. Back to nil-nil.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:16

GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (Eberechi Eze, 13 minutes)

It had to be him! A thunderous strike from Eberechi Eze as Crystal Palace take the lead!

Phwoar! That’s some hit from the forward, absolutely leathering it through Robert Sanchez and virtually bursting the mesh behind him. Sanchez will be disappointed to have barely got hands on it – it was pretty much straight at him – but that was travelling.

Hang on, though – VAR are having a look at possible interference from Marc Guehi…

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:15

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 11 minutes

A bright spell for Crystal Palace, this. Marc Cucurella scythes into Will Hughes in the ‘D’ on the edge of the area. Free kick, very much within range. Is it too close, though?

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:12

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 9 minutes

A slightly stop-start first ten minutes continues with Ismaila Sarr the next player to get up limping.

Chance? You’d say so! The resultant free kick after the Sarr incident is swung on to the head of Chris Richards, and the defender probably should have done more with his effort. A sprawling Robert Sanchez snares it but it was going wide anyway.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:10

Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 8 minutes

Gittens, back amongst things after receiving treatment, loses track of a volleyed crossfield pass and lets it bounce out of play off his chest. Right out of the sun – always tough, as a regular boundary-rider in village cricket will tell you.

Harry Latham-Coyle17 August 2025 14:08