Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace ended in a stalemate that spoke louder than the scoreline. A 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge exposed recurring problems, possession without penetration, new signings without spark, and a team still struggling to convince.
The biggest flashpoint came early. Eberechi Eze stood over a free-kick, 25 yards out, the type of stage where his talent often speaks for itself. He delivered. His curling strike sailed past Robert Sánchez, seemingly giving Palace a shock lead. The away fans erupted, but the joy was short-lived. VAR intervened, flagging Marc Guéhi for encroachment on Chelsea’s defensive wall. The goal was chalked off. Anger followed. Frustration too. It was a moment that changed the tone of the afternoon.
Chelsea had been handed a lifeline, but they didn’t take it. Enzo Maresca’s men controlled the ball, recycling possession, probing for openings. But when the ball reached the final third, ideas ran thin. João Pedro drifted in and out. Jamie Gittens offered flashes but little end product. Andrey Santos couldn’t stamp authority. Liam Delap found himself isolated.
The afternoon’s rare spark came not from the established names, but from an 18-year-old debutant. Estevão, the highly-rated Brazilian teenager, entered the game in the second half and immediately shifted the tempo. His willingness to take on defenders, his quick feet, and his directness provided the kind of energy Chelsea lacked all night. He didn’t score, but he left the impression of someone unafraid to carry responsibility.
For Palace, it was a performance rooted in discipline. Oliver Glasner’s side set up compact, defended zones rather than chasing shadows, and forced Chelsea into sideways passing. Even after Eze’s disallowed strike, the visitors didn’t lose shape. They held firm, absorbing pressure and waiting for moments to counter.
The broader context makes the result sting more for Chelsea. Fresh from a Club World Cup triumph, the sense was that this season would begin differently, that lessons had been learned from past inconsistencies. Yet on opening day, the same questions resurfaced: where will the goals come from, and how long will it take for this squad to click?
At full-time, the numbers looked respectable for Chelsea, more possession, more shots, more territory. But football isn’t measured in control; it’s measured in goals. And that’s where Chelsea faltered once again.
Palace left Stamford Bridge with a point, pride intact, and the feeling that, on another day, VAR wouldn’t have denied them. Chelsea left with questions, and with West Ham waiting on Friday night, Maresca has little time to find answers.
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