Chelsea began their Premier League title defence with a frustrating 0–0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Despite dominating possession and territory, the Blues failed to find the net.
They controlled the ball with 71% possession and fired 31 shots—more than any other team on opening day. But only three were on target, exposing their lack of sharpness in front of goal.
Chelsea nearly scored within three minutes. A corner from Reece James found Marc Cucurella at the near post. His flick was heading in until Ismaïla Sarr cleared off the line with a smart backtracking effort.
Palace responded in the 13th minute. Eberechi Eze curled in a brilliant free-kick that beat Robert Sánchez. But VAR intervened. Marc Guéhi was ruled to be too close to the defensive wall, violating Law 13—a rarely enforced rule that prohibits attackers from interfering with the wall’s formation. The goal was disallowed.
Chelsea kept pushing. In the second half, manager Enzo Maresca introduced Estevão, the 17-year-old Brazilian winger signed from Palmeiras. He added pace and flair, beating defenders and delivering dangerous crosses. One low ball nearly found Pedro Neto, while Liam Delap forced a strong save after coming on.
In stoppage time, Andrey Santos had a final chance. His shot flew just over the bar, summing up Chelsea’s frustrating afternoon.
Palace’s Defensive Grit and Chelsea’s Historic Shot Count
Crystal Palace defended with discipline. Centre-back Josh Acheampong, 19, impressed on his full Premier League debut. His well-timed tackle on Daniel Muñoz drew applause and showed maturity beyond his years.
Chelsea’s 31 shots were the most in a goalless Premier League opener since Burnley vs Southampton in 2018–19. It was also the highest shot count in any Chelsea match since 2016.
The draw extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run against Palace to 16 matches—13 wins and 3 draws. Palace haven’t beaten Chelsea in the league since October 2017.
What The Coaches Said
After the match, Maresca remained calm. “We always try to win the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but I think overall we deserved to. We created enough chances and, apart from the free-kick, we didn’t concede any clear-cut chances. Slowly, slowly, we are going to be better.”
Palace manager Oliver Glasner praised his team’s effort. “We defended with heart. Chelsea are a top side, but we stayed compact and made it difficult for them.”
Regarding Eberechi Eze, this is what Glasner had to say:
Chelsea now face tougher fixtures ahead, including a trip to Anfield and a London derby against Spurs. Their attacking precision must improve quickly if they hope to challenge for the title.
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