Ah, swear down! If you thought the Premier League title race was going to be an easy road, think again! Chelsea stepped up their challenge with a gritty, hard-fought 2-0 victory against a struggling Burnley side at Turf Moor on Saturday. This win was not prettyit was pure grit and it cemented their position near the very top of the table.
Enzo Maresca’s side has been on a serious run, winning eight of their last 10 matches across all competitions. This victory marks a memorable 50th Premier League game in charge for the Italian manager, and the result pushes the Blues to second place on the log, sitting just three points behind leaders Arsenal! 🚀
The Goals: Neto & The Clinical Fernandez
The wahala of the game was settled by two moments of individual class:
1. Pedro Neto Opens the Score (37th minute): The opener was a well-crafted beauty. Marc Cucurella controlled a high ball with a deft touch before passing to Jamie Gittens. Gittens then lofted a pin-point cross to the far post, finding Neto who finished with a superb diving header into the far corner. Neto’s fourth goal this season broke the deadlock and settled the nerves.
2. Enzo Fernandez Seals It (88th minute): After surviving some scary moments (like Zian Flemming skying Burnley's best chance), the game was put to bed late. Enzo Fernandez capped a flowing move with a clinical, close-range finish from Marc Guiu’s pass, making it 2-0 and ensuring all three points were heading back to London.
Maresca’s Headaches and The Ghen Ghen Week Ahead
Despite the crucial win, Maresca certainly has his hands full. The victory was far from smooth, kicking off with a bizarre moment in the fifth minute when keeper Robert Sanchez accidentally booted the ball straight into Fernandez’s head, requiring a brief concussion check for the Argentine!
Adding to the drama:
Palmer’s Prolonged Absence: Star forward Cole Palmer, who has been missed badly, extended his injury layoff after fracturing his toe by stubbing it into a door! He was already recovering from a two-month groin problem. Chineke! Talk about bad luck!
Fatigue is Real: Maresca also complained about being given the early Saturday kick-off, especially after key players like Moises Caicedo arrived back fatigued from international duty just on Thursday.
This win, however, is the ideal warm-up for what comes next: a truly defining week for their title ambitions. Chelsea faces two massive home games:
1. UEFA Champions League: A huge clash against Barcelona on Tuesday.
2. Premier League Showdown: The ultimate test against leaders Arsenal on November 30.
The title challenge is real, the injuries are plenty, but the Blues have the momentum! Oya, let's see how this week goes! 🥶🔥