This season, opponents have been adopting a strategy against Chelsea that allows the team to dominate possession while maintaining a high defensive line. Bournemouth effectively employed this tactic, creating several scoring opportunities, primarily through Brazilian striker Evanilson, who posed a challenge for Chelsea’s defenders.
As Bournemouth struggled to maintain their pressure, Chelsea began to find more open space in attack. However, the midfield’s performance in transitioning play was lacking, with the absence of Enzo Fernández being notably felt.
This situation prompted players like Cole Palmer to drop deeper to initiate attacking moves. When not being fouled by the opposition, he was instrumental in generating chances for Chelsea. Nicolas Jackson had two promising scoring opportunities, but was ruled offside during one and saw his shot saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers in the other.
Bournemouth nearly capitalized on their momentum when Robert Sánchez committed a foul on Evanilson in the penalty area. The resulting penalty kick was poorly executed by Evanilson, allowing Sánchez to easily deflect the attempt away from danger.
In the second half, Jadon Sancho made his Chelsea debut, taking the place of Pedro Neto on the left wing. He quickly demonstrated his impact by creating opportunities, including a dangerous cross for Marc Cucurella and an assist attempt for Nicolas Jackson that ended up sailing over the crossbar.
Despite Chelsea’s growing presence, Bournemouth seemed to have a greater advantage on the offensive side, with Sánchez coming up big with critical saves.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca continued to adjust his lineup in search of the winning goal. With Sancho making an immediate difference, the team pushed forward and eventually succeeded as Christopher Nkunku converted a chance following some of Sancho’s earlier setups.
This match saw two midfielders sidelined due to illness, and Renato Veiga started in place of Fernández. The first half featured a total of six yellow cards, and Sancho’s impressive performance highlighted his potential role within the team.
Remarkably, there were 14 yellow cards issued during the game, along with two more for off-field officials, setting a Premier League record for most bookings in a single match.
Looking ahead, Chelsea’s next challenge will be an away game against West Ham in the Premier League.