Enzo Maresca’s Blues Held by Determined Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge

Enzo Maresca’s Blues Held To A 0-0 Draw To Crystal Palace at The Bridge

Chelsea’s first home outing of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign ended in a frustrating stalemate as Crystal Palace left Stamford Bridge with a hard-earned point. Despite a spirited performance from the Blues, the visiting Eagles stood firm, forcing Enzo Maresca’s side to settle for a goalless draw.

• Maresca’s Points At A Few Things Chelsea Could Have Done Better Against Palace.

The match began with Palace showing intent, with Eberechi Eze commanding attention from early on. The midfielder’s 20-yard free-kick in the 13th minute appeared to open the scoring, only for a VAR intervention to chalk it off.

Palace defender Marc Guehi’s positioning in the wall, mere metres from the shot, triggered the rarely enforced law, leaving Oliver Glasner's Eagles momentarily deflated. Nonetheless, Palace continued to probe Chelsea’s backline, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix testing the Blues’ defensive organisation throughout the opening period.

For Chelsea, the first half was muted, reflecting the challenges of a condensed pre-season following their Club World Cup triumph in New Jersey. With only 13 days of preparation, Maresca’s squad struggled to find rhythm, though flashes of promise came from the substitutes after the break.

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Debutants Estevao Willian, Liam Delap, and Andrey Santos showcased glimpses of creativity, sparking several opportunities that, unfortunately for the home crowd, failed to find the back of the net.

The match also highlighted the youth infusion Maresca is implementing. Five players, Estevao, Delap, Santos, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens, made league debuts for the Blues, reflecting a summer of heavy transfer activity at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca appeared willing to trust new faces, blending them with experienced campaigners to navigate the opening challenges of the Premier League.

While Chelsea sought to impose control in the latter stages, Palace’s early pressure and disciplined defending ensured the Blues could not secure a breakthrough. With the transfer window still active, Palace faces uncertainty surrounding the futures of Eze and Guehi, adding further intrigue to their season’s start.

• Enzo Maresca Confident Chelsea Are Primed for Palace Test.

Maresca will take solace in his squad’s toughness and organisation, yet will be acutely aware that converting dominance into goals remains a priority.

As Chelsea continue to integrate new arrivals and adapt tactics, the point against a determined Palace side offers both encouragement and lessons ahead of the demanding season.