EPL: Chelsea Held to Goalless Draw by Crystal Palace in Premier League Opener

Crystal Palace defend well to hold Chelsea to 0-0 draw

Chelsea and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in the Premier League opener. Eberechi Eze had a free kick ruled out due to Marc Guehi's proximity to the wall.

The game's tempo slowed as the first half progressed, with Trevoh Chalobah's wild shot...

Match Recap

Chelsea and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in the first London derby of the new Premier League season, extending Chelsea's unbeaten head-to-head run to 17 games, with 14 wins and 3 draws since 2017. Both teams had a successful summer, lifting silverware, which contributed to the positive atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.

The match started energetically, with Chelsea dominating possession, holding 71% of the ball, while Crystal Palace had 29%. Despite Chelsea's control, they struggled to create clear-cut chances, with only 3 shots on target compared to Palace's 4. Eberechi Eze had a notable moment when he scored a beautifully struck free kick, but it was disallowed due to Marc Guehi being less than one meter away from the Chelsea wall.

Player Performances

Eberechi Eze: Had 5 shots, including the disallowed free kick, and completed 2 successful dribbles. He was Palace's most persistent attacking outlet.

Marc Guehi: Led the defense with discipline and clearance, playing a crucial role in Palace's solid defensive display.

Robert Sánchez: Made 4 saves to preserve a clean sheet for Chelsea, showcasing confident distribution during rare Palace breaks.

Enzo Fernández: Orchestrated Chelsea's passing game but struggled to unlock Palace's defense

Both teams will look to build on this result, with Chelsea facing West Ham United next and Palace taking on Fredrikstad FK in the Conference League playoff tie.

Eberechi Eze's powerful free-kick seemed to have given Palace the lead, but VAR intervened, ruling that Marc Guehi was too close to the Chelsea wall when the kick was taken. The decision denied Palace a potential early advantage.

The game's tempo slowed as the first half progressed, with Trevoh Chalobah's wild shot from close range being the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock. Despite Chelsea's dominance in possession, Crystal Palace's defense held firm, showcasing their ability to compete with top teams.

Chelsea and Crystal Palace have to settle for a point each 🤝 pic.twitter.com/MEAVWTNSuQ

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 17, 2025

Palace's recent successes, including winning the FA Cup against Manchester City and edging past Liverpool in the Community Shield, were a testament to their strength. They continued to demonstrate their defensive prowess in this match, making it difficult for Chelsea to create clear-cut chances.

The introduction of debutant Estevao brought a boost to Chelsea's attack, injecting fresh energy into the team. However, despite this spark, Chelsea still found it challenging to create clear-cut scoring opportunities, leaving the match poised for a dramatic finish.

Substitutes Liam Delap and Andrey Santos posed a late threat to Crystal Palace's defense, but the Eagles' resolute rearguard held firm, securing a point for the away side in their Premier League opener.

Post-Match Analysis

Avoiding defeat in their season opener will please Palace fans, especially considering their poor record in recent opening matches. This result sets a positive tone for their domestic campaign. The team's focus now shifts to the UEFA Conference League play-off against Fredrikstad FK on Thursday.