Chelsea’s new Premier League campaign began on a flat note as they were frustrated by Crystal Palace in a goalless encounter at Stamford Bridge.
After lifting the FIFA Club World Cup earlier in the summer with a sparkling win over Paris Saint-Germain, hopes were high for Chelsea’s opener. Instead, the Blues looked far from the side that impressed in the United States.
Palace thought they had stunned the home crowd early when Eberechi Eze smashed a free-kick beyond Robert Sánchez inside ten minutes. The celebration was short-lived, however, with Marc Guéhi’s positioning in the wall judged to have interfered, ruling the strike out.
Despite controlling possession for long spells, Chelsea rarely threatened. Just three efforts on target were registered all evening, with only one arriving before stoppage time. Cole Palmer failed to create a single chance until the closing minutes, while new signings João Pedro and Estêvão offered little attacking spark.
Palace, meanwhile, showed resilience and will be far happier with the point than their hosts. Chelsea, who many tipped for a strong title push this season, will view this as a sobering reminder that consistency remains a challenge.
Key Numbers from Stamford Bridge:
– Chelsea begin a league season with a 0-0 draw for the first time since facing Stoke in 2011-12.
– The 31 total shots made it the highest tally without a goal on the opening weekend since Burnley vs Southampton in 2018-19 (34).
– The Blues have now kept three straight clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since February 2023.
– Crystal Palace remain draw specialists, now level with the most draws in the competition since the start of last season (15).
– Josh Acheampong, at 19 years and 104 days, became Chelsea’s second-youngest starter in a Premier League opener after Glen Johnson in 2003-04.
For Chelsea, this was a disappointing step backwards after a triumphant summer. For Palace, it was a disciplined performance that set the tone for another season of stubborn resilience.
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