BURNLEY — This week may reveal lots about what’s lifelike for Chelsea this season. Within the subsequent seven days, each Barcelona and Arsenal go to Stamford Bridge for video games which is able to both showcase their means to go head-to-head with one of the best on the planet or spotlight the issues of a crew that are nonetheless a piece in progress.
In that sense, an early Saturday kickoff in opposition to Burnley within the first Premier League fixture again after a world break was one to navigate safely somewhat than make an announcement.
It wasn’t fairly, however they did what they needed to. Objectives from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández secured a 2-0 win and quietly — for just a few hours at the least — Enzo Maresca’s crew moved as much as second within the Premier League desk.
Whether or not they can final the tempo with Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis will probably be revealed after they face Mikel Arteta’s leaders subsequent Sunday. That mentioned, any crew with even imprecise title ambitions should win powerful away video games in opposition to newly promoted sides and it was a check Chelsea have been in a position to overcome.
“It was a tricky sport for a lot of causes,” Maresca, who was taking cost of Chelsea within the Premier League for the fiftieth time, mentioned afterwards. “It is powerful after the worldwide break, 12:30 p.m., Burnley away, it is all the time a tricky sport. However the best way we competed I’m very joyful. To come back right here and never concede may be very tough.”
It was a day which did not reveal a lot about Chelsea that we did not already know. They missed key defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who was named on the bench resulting from prolonged journey for Ecuador final week, and in his absence Burnley began the sport nicely.
This second of pleasant hearth was nearly disastrous for Chelsea. 😅 pic.twitter.com/93jYwCj76C
— NBC Sports activities Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 22, 2025
Essentially the most notable factor Chelsea did within the opening half-hour was a comical interval of play which noticed goalkeeper Robert Sánchez arrow a kick out of his fingers straight onto the again of Fernandez’s head. However even when the soccer is not flowing, the person high quality remains to be there — and that is with out Cole Palmer.
Marc Cucurella tucking into midfield from left again brought on Burnley issues all afternoon and it was his run from deep which led to the opening objective. The ball was labored again to winger Jamie Gittens, who had been quiet till that time, and his pinpoint cross in direction of the again submit was headed in by Neto.
It was the seventh headed objective scored by Chelsea this season, the joint most with Arsenal, and solely West Ham and Manchester United have conceded extra headed targets than Burnley’s 5. Burnley boss Scott Parker does not want any reminders about how powerful life is within the Premier League, but it surely was one other lesson in how tough it’s at this degree.
“General, the sensation is that I am very happy with the efficiency,” Parker mentioned after a third-straight defeat. “First half, I assumed we have been sensible. Perhaps a kind of half possibilities must go in as a result of the momentum modified a bit within the second half.
“General I am happy, however I say that calmly as a result of clearly we’re disillusioned. You are taking part in in opposition to top quality gamers and for many of it we managed it rather well. They have been medical.”
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Burnley performed nicely and created sufficient alternatives to attain at the least as soon as; Parker was left to rue one explicit sight of objective which fell to Zian Flemming. And as he left his postmatch information convention, the Burnley boss revealed that his Saturday evening can be spent at house in entrance of a lap-top making an attempt to work out the place it went unsuitable.
Chelsea, merely, made extra of their possibilities.
With the sport at 1-0 and the Turf Moor crowd changing into extra concerned, a frantic end was dashed when Fernandez made it 2-0 two minutes from time. It was reward for an industrious efficiency from the Argentina worldwide, who had his fingers full with out Caicedo alongside him.
The transfer began with a dangerous move out from Sanchez, however there was no shock that it additionally concerned Neto, Chelsea’s finest participant on the day.
“It was essential to maintain the momentum from earlier than the worldwide break,” Maresca mentioned. “Now we’ll get better our vitality and transfer on to Tuesday [against Barcelona]. We’re assured. We’re assured as a result of we’re doing nicely. At this time we may have carried out many, many issues higher, that is for certain. We’ll put together nicely for Tuesday and Sunday.”
In some ways it was the proper begin to an necessary week. A win and a clear sheet; Caicedo nicely rested; Reece James’ health managed with 45 minutes earlier than a pre-planned substitution; Neto stepping up because the inventive hub instead of Palmer.
After beating Burnley, video games in opposition to Barcelona and Arsenal provide a platform for Chelsea to indicate that they are severe this season.
On a run of 1 defeat in 10 video games in all competitions, Maresca insists there’s room for enchancment and extra to come back. We is perhaps about to search out out whether or not he is proper.
