World Champions falter as Eagles dent Chelsea’s Premier League hopes

After winning the Club World Cup, many would have seen Chelsea as one of the favourites to win the 2025/26 Premier League title, however their first match of the season has brought the Blues back to earth.

Despite trying their hardest, the World Champions were unable to get the better of a stubborn Crystal Palace, who would have taken all three points from Stamford Bridge but for a contentious free kick decision.

Chelsea started the game in the ascendancy, threatening to blow Crystal Palace away, but it was the Eagles who came closest to actually scoring.

Against the run of play, Eberechi Eze had the ball in the back of the net midway through the first half, but the Eagles star’s strike was ruled out after VAR review.

Eze’s well taken free kick appeared to have given Crystal Palace the lead, but the sumptuous strike was controversially ruled out as Eagles captain Marc Guehi was adjudged to have interfered with Chelsea’s defensive wall.

There was little action for the rest of the first half as both sides cancelled each other out, especially thanks to some dogged defending from the visitors.

The second half was more of the same as Chelsea pressed the issue but were met with a stiff Crystal Palace defence.

Despite 74% possession and eight shots in the second period, Chelsea were unable to penetrate to find the winner.

In the end, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils even though the Eagles probably deserved more.