Stamford Bridge, London – August 17, 2025
Chelsea’s 2025/26 Premier League campaign began with frustration as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined Crystal Palace. The clash was defined by defensive resilience, tactical discipline, and a controversial VAR ruling that denied Eberechi Eze a spectacular free-kick goal.
Chelsea’s 2025/26 Premier League campaign began with frustration as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a disciplined Crystal Palace. The clash was defined by defensive resilience, tactical discipline, and a controversial VAR ruling that denied Eberechi Eze a spectacular free-kick goal.
⚡ VAR Controversy: Eze’s Free-Kick Denied
The game’s defining moment arrived in the 13th minute. Eberechi Eze unleashed a stunning free-kick past Robert Sánchez, sparking celebrations among the Palace faithful. But VAR intervened, and referee Darren England disallowed the strike.
The ruling cited Law 13, introduced in 2019, which requires attacking players to remain at least one meter from a defensive wall of three or more players. Palace captain Marc Guéhi was adjudged too close to Moisés Caicedo, rendering the goal illegal.
While technically correct, the decision ignited fury in the away end. Palace fans chanted “It’s not football anymore”, while pundits debated whether the letter of the law had undermined the spirit of the game.
🧠 Tactical Breakdown
Chelsea (4-3-3) – Possession Without Penetration
- 71% Possession, Minimal Threat: Despite dominating the ball, Chelsea produced only three shots on target from 19 attempts. Their 0.6 xG from open play underlined a lack of cutting edge.
- Midfield Stifled: Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo were smothered by Palace’s Adam Wharton and Will Hughes, reducing Chelsea to sideways passing.
- Estêvão’s Impact: The 18-year-old Brazilian added urgency after coming on in the 54th minute, creating chances and unsettling Guéhi, but could not unlock Palace’s defense.
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1) – Compact and Disciplined
- Defensive Structure: Guéhi, Chris Richards, and Maxence Lacroix formed a resolute back three, registering 18 clearances.
- Counter Threats: Jean-Philippe Mateta tested Sánchez twice, while Eze remained Palace’s creative heartbeat with four successful dribbles.
- Full-Back Influence: Daniel Muñoz’s forward runs stretched Chelsea and forced defensive adjustments.
🌟 Standout Performances
- Josh Acheampong (Chelsea): The 19-year-old defender impressed with composure and aggression in only his second senior start, though one sloppy pass nearly gifted Eze a chance.
- Marc Guéhi (Palace): Amid strong Liverpool links, Guéhi led superbly at the back, winning five of seven aerial duels and marshalling the line with authority. Ironically, his involvement in the VAR call denied Palace a famous win.
- Dean Henderson (Palace): Largely untested but produced a crucial stoppage-time save to deny Liam Delap and secure a point.
⚖️ Manager Reactions
- Enzo Maresca (Chelsea): “We created enough to win. Palace are a very strong side and beat Liverpool and City last season. We will improve, but we lacked sharpness.”
- Oliver Glasner (Palace): “We deserved the point. The disallowed goal? It’s the rule, but many teams encroach. Eze and Guéhi showed 100% commitment despite transfer noise.”
🔍 Key Takeaways
- Chelsea’s Attack Misfiring – Despite heavy investment (£230m on João Pedro, Estêvão, and Liam Delap), the Blues averaged just 0.11 xG per shot. Lack of a clinical finisher remains their Achilles’ heel.
- Palace Show Transfer Resilience – With Eze strongly linked to Tottenham and Guéhi to Liverpool, both stars delivered disciplined displays, underlining their professionalism.
- Fitness Gap Evident – Chelsea, fresh from Club World Cup duties, looked leggy after just 13 days of pre-season training, while Palace had eight games to build rhythm.
- VAR in the Spotlight Again – The disallowed Eze strike was a correct but contentious call, reigniting the wider debate about football’s laws versus its spirit.
🚀 What’s Next
- Chelsea: Travel to West Ham (August 22). Maresca is expected to push for late-window reinforcements, with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho still on the radar.
- Crystal Palace: Host Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the Europa Conference League play-off (August 21), before returning to Premier League duty against Nottingham Forest (August 24).
Final Word
Chelsea’s stalemate was a sobering reminder of the challenges that lie ahead after their global triumphs. For Palace, it was further proof of their tactical discipline and ability to frustrate elite opponents. But above all, this was a match where VAR stole the headlines—leaving fans once again questioning whether football’s laws are overshadowing its magic.
