Chelsea stunned! Palace holds blues to shock goalless stalemate at Stamford Bridge

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Chelsea kicked off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues struggled to break down a disciplined Palace defense despite dominating possession.

The match, a highly anticipated curtain-raiser for Enzo Maresca’s side, saw moments of promise but ultimately lacked the cutting edge needed to secure all three points.

Chelsea, fresh off their Club World Cup triumph in July, entered the match as favourites, with new signings Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Jorrel Hato eager to make their mark in the Premier League.

The Blues started brightly, with Cole Palmer pulling the strings in midfield and Estevao, the young Brazilian phenom, injecting pace on the right flank.

However, an early setback came when a free-kick from Palace’s Eberechi Eze in the 12th minute was disallowed after a VAR review ruled that Moises Caicedo had been impeded in the defensive wall.

The home side responded with waves of attacks, with Liam Delap’s volley in the 89th minute forcing a stunning save from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who was in inspired form throughout.

Despite Chelsea’s dominance, with 62% possession and 14 shots compared to Palace’s six, the Eagles’ compact shape and resolute defending kept the scoreline level.

Crystal Palace, buoyed by their Community Shield victory over Liverpool the previous week, showcased their defensive solidity under Oliver Glasner.

Despite injury concerns, with key players Eddie Nketiah and Daichi Kamada sidelined, Palace relied on the experience of Marc Guehi and the tenacity of Adam Wharton to frustrate Chelsea’s attacking efforts.

A late fitness test saw Matheus Franca deemed unfit to start, but new signing Borna Sosa impressed at left-back, keeping Chelsea’s wide players in check.

Palace’s best chance came in the 53rd minute when Eze combined with Jean-Philippe Mateta, only for Wesley Fofana to make a crucial last-ditch tackle.

The visitors’ pragmatic approach earned them a valuable point, extending their recent run of draws against Chelsea, with the last two encounters between the sides also ending level.

The draw leaves Chelsea with work to do as they prepare for a tough away fixture against West Ham United on August 22.