Chelsea Football Club returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a struggling Leicester City side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Marc Cucurella’s second-half strike proved to be the difference in a match that saw the Blues leapfrog Manchester City into fourth place, bolstering their hopes of securing a Champions League spot for the upcoming season.
The game, which kicked off at 2:00 PM GMT, was a tense affair with both sides showing moments of quality but struggling to convert chances into goals. Chelsea, under the management of Enzo Maresca, dominated possession early on but faced a resolute Leicester defense marshaled by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. The turning point of the first half came in the 22nd minute when Chelsea were awarded a penalty after Jadon Sancho was brought down in the box. However, Cole Palmer, typically reliable from the spot, saw his effort brilliantly saved by Hermansen, keeping the scoreline level at halftime.
Leicester, managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, adopted a defensive approach, showing little ambition to attack and focusing on frustrating Chelsea’s forward line. Despite their defensive solidity, the Foxes struggled to create meaningful chances, a reflection of their dire form that has seen them lose five consecutive matches without scoring.
The breakthrough for Chelsea arrived in the 48th minute of the second half. Cucurella, the Spanish left-back, found space just outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot that beat Hermansen at his near post. The goal sparked wild celebrations at Stamford Bridge, with the home crowd sensing a vital three points in their pursuit of a top-four finish.
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Chelsea’s midfield duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez were instrumental throughout the match, controlling the tempo and breaking up Leicester’s rare forays forward. Despite the hosts’ dominance, Leicester nearly equalized late in the game when a VAR review denied them a penalty for an alleged handball by Cucurella, much to the frustration of the visiting side.
The victory moves Chelsea to 49 points, placing them fourth in the Premier League table with 10 games remaining in the season. They now sit two points ahead of Manchester City and two behind third-placed Nottingham Forest. For Leicester, the defeat leaves them second from bottom with just 17 points, six points adrift of safety, and facing an increasingly uphill battle to avoid relegation.
Post-match, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his team’s resilience despite their wastefulness in front of goal. “It wasn’t our best performance, but the most important thing is the three points. We created chances, and even though we missed a penalty, we kept pushing and got the goal we deserved,” Maresca said. He also acknowledged the challenge posed by his former club, Leicester, adding, “They made it difficult for us, but we stayed focused and got the job done.”
On the other side, Ruud van Nistelrooy expressed disappointment but highlighted his team’s defensive effort. “We came here with a plan to stay compact, and for large parts of the game, we did that well. Unfortunately, one moment of quality from them cost us. We need to start turning these performances into points if we’re going to stay in this league,” he said.
Chelsea’s attention now turns to their upcoming Premier League fixtures, with a challenging trip to Arsenal and a home clash against Tottenham on the horizon. For Leicester, the focus remains on breaking their scoring drought and finding a way to climb out of the relegation zone.