Chelsea The Blues are still struggling to get going despite their recent big win over Wolves. The Blues drew 1-1 with Crystal Palacewhom they had beaten in their last 13 games, on Sunday.
Nico Jackson opened the scoring in the first half. But, just after the two teams returned from the break, Eze He scored a great goal from which the home team could not recover. Enzo Maresca's side remain winless at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca was convinced by the squad he presented last week against Wolves and repeated the same eleven with the exception of Mudryk, who was substituted at Molineux at half-time. His place on the left flank was taken by Peter Neto who, like the rest of the team, started the match very well.
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However, it was on the right where Chelsea began to create the first chances thanks to the partnership that Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke are beginning to take shape. Crystal Palace held on as best they could until, in the 25th minute, Nico Jackson made it 1-0 after a great counterattack led by both Englishmen.
This is the second consecutive game with a goal for the Senegalese striker, who will extend his contract until 2033 in the coming days.
Far from slowing down, Chelsea continued to dominate the game and should have gone into the break with a much bigger lead. Apart from a couple of long-range shots, Crystal Palace barely bothered to score. Roberto Sanchez who was a spectator in the first half. In fact, Nico Jackson He could have scored a double himself after a free header from the penalty spot.
Mental fragility
After the break Palmer He was close to scoring with a free kick that Dean Henderson He drifted away from the top corner as Palace slept. But that was when Eze picked up a loose ball outside the area to make it 1-1 in the 53rd minute, making By Robert Sanchez save useless.
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The draw finally woke up Crystal Palace, who in 10 minutes of the second half had already created more chances than in the first half. Maresca, For his part, he reacted quickly and presented João Felix before game time to try to change things. Eze's goal It did a lot of damage to a Chelsea team that showed signs of mental weakness in the face of adversity.
Problems began to pile up and with 15 minutes to go, Bad taste He had to leave the field due to an injury. Reece Jameswho is still suspended, Caicedo He had to play as a right back, leaving Enzo as the only reference in midfield. However, Palace wasted several clear counterattacks.
After Palmer's chance At the start of the second half, Chelsea had no problems. Dean Henderson Back to again Nico Jackson, In added time, he missed a one-on-one. The Blues pressed in the final minutes, but lacked the imagination to break down the defensive block and Crystal Palace ended up taking their first point of the season. A ground where they had not scored since 2017.
