Chelsea kicked off their Premier League campaign with a lackluster 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Despite significant investment in the squad, the Blues failed to break down a resilient Palace defense, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning their attacking prowess.

Match Highlights

• Early Disallowed Goal: Eberechi Eze thought he had given Palace the lead with a stunning free-kick, but VAR ruled it out due to Marc Guéhi being within one meter of the defensive wall.
• Chelsea's Struggles: The Blues struggled to create meaningful chances, with Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto largely ineffective in the first half.
• Estêvão's Impact: The introduction of Estêvão off the bench injected some much-needed energy into Chelsea's attack. The 18-year-old Brazilian had the best chance of the game but fired over the bar after a poor touch.
• Late Surge: Chelsea's best spell came in the final 10 minutes, with substitute Andrey Santos missing a golden opportunity to snatch a late winner.

Player Ratings

• Robert Sanchez (5/10): Made a crucial save against Mateta but was otherwise untested.
• Josh Acheampong (7/10): A standout in defense, winning several duels and marking Mateta closely.
• Cole Palmer (4/10): Struggled to influence the game and was largely anonymous.
• Estêvão (6/10): Brought energy and creativity but failed to capitalize on his big chance.

Manager's Take

Enzo Maresca (5/10) was proactive in making changes, bringing on Estêvão early, but perhaps should have introduced Liam Delap sooner to try and unlock the Palace defense.

Conclusion

Chelsea's inability to convert chances into goals will be a concern for Maresca as they look to bounce back in their next fixture. The draw highlights the need for more cohesion in attack and better execution in front of goal.