Chelsea vs Brighton and Hove Albion; Premier League
Chelsea vs Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League.
Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea 4
- R Lavia (4th minute)
- P Neto (14th minute)
- J Pedro (32nd minute)
- C Palmer (74th minute)
Brighton and Hove Albion 3
- M Yalcouyé (35th minute)
- J Pedro (63rd minute own goal)
- P Groß (96th minute)
Watch match highlights
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton: Blues win seven-goal thriller as Xabi Alonso continues victorious start as manager
Report and highlights as Chelsea beat Brighton 4-3 at Stamford Bridge; Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer were on target while Joao Pedro scored at both ends; Malick Yalcouye and Pascal Gross also scored; Xabi Alonso makes it two wins from two
Sunday 30 August 2026 18:46, UK
Chelsea held off a Brighton fightback to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory and continue their winning start under manager Xabi Alonso.
The Blues raced into a three-goal lead through Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and former Brighton forward Joao Pedro in a scintillating opening period at Stamford Bridge, but the visitors responded.
Malick Yalcouye slammed home before the break to give them hope and they reduced the deficit to one goal when a Pascal Gross shot deflected off Joao Pedro and beyond Emiliano Martinez, who was making his debut following his £7.5m arrival from Aston Villa.
Brighton had further chances, with Diego Gomez going close and Martinez making several impressive stops as the visitors limited Chelsea to only 25.6 per cent possession, the club's lowest share on record in a Premier League game.
- As it happened | Teams | Stats | Watch FREE PL highlights
- Latest news and rumours: Chelsea | Brighton
- Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱
- Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream Premier League games with no contract📺
But Cole Palmer found the bottom corner in superb style for Chelsea's fourth goal, meaning there was no time for Brighton to mount a comeback when Gross headed in deep in stoppage time.
Chelsea were without Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of the squad for a second consecutive game amid interest from Manchester City, while Moises Caicedo had to come off injured soon after coming on for his first appearance of the season.
But the victory continues a positive start under Alonso. While the new Chelsea manager has issues to address defensively, his side's new-look attack proved too much for their opponent for the second game in a row following their 3-2 win over Fulham.
Joao Pedro and Palmer were on target for a second consecutive game, while record signing Morgan Rogers added an assist to his goal against the Cottagers when he crossed for Neto's strike.
Brighton, meanwhile, showed impressive spirit after their nightmarish start to the game despite a lengthy list of injuries, with Yasin Ayari missing out along with Georginio Rutter, Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh.
Key moments at Stamford Bridge
- 4: GOAL! Lavia pounces on an error by Bart Verbruggen to score Chelsea's opener from close range following a corner.
- 14: GOAL! Rogers sets up Neto for Chelsea's second goal.
- 25: MISS! Joao Pedro misses a glorious chance to score when he slots wide from 10 yards out.
- 32: GOAL! Joao Pedro finishes of an electrifying Chelsea counter then celebrates in front of the Brighton fans having been booed.
- 35: GOAL! Yalcouye sends a thumping finish in off the woodwork as Brighton instantly respond.
- 63: OWN GOAL! Joao Pedro inadvertently sends the ball past Martinez from Gross' shot as Brighton strike again.
- 74: GOAL! Palmer drives forward and sends a sumptuous finish into the corner from the edge of the box for Chelsea's fourth.
- 81: INJURY? Caicedo looks emotional as he heads down the tunnel with an injury
- 90+6: GOAL! Gross heads past Martinez but it's too little, too late as it's followed by the final whistle.
WATCH: All the goals
Explosive Joao Pedro silences boos
Sky Sports' Nick Wright at Stamford Bridge:
Brighton supporters made their feelings about Joao Pedro clear before the game had even started, greeting his name with cacophonous boos every time it was read out by the PA announcer. The hostility only seemed to make him more determined.
The 24-year-old, clearly fresh after his inexplicable World Cup omission by Brazil, picked up where he left off against Fulham, tearing into Brighton right from the start of the game, running the channels, holding the ball up and dovetailing with team-mates.
"I think he's in the form of his life," said Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith. "I haven't seen him play better than he has in the first two games."
Joao Pedro had his head in his hands when he dragged wide 25 minutes in but didn't have to wait long for his goal, finishing off a sensational counter-attack only a few minutes later and making the point of running over to the Brighton fans to celebrate.
His unfortunate own goal was only a minor blot on his afternoon and he was unlucky not to score more. He ranked top among Chelsea players for shots, touches in the opposition box, dribbles and fouls won and proved a constant menace to Brighton.
His total of 13 duels won was the second highest by any player in a Premier League game so far this season and underlined the physical prowess that contributes to making him such a handful.
Smith added: "People wondered if he was an out-and-out centre forward. He's playing like one. His movement has been brilliant, he's scoring goals. A great boost for Chelsea."
Is Chelsea's low possession a problem?
Chelsea supporters were delighted by the speed and incisiveness of their side's attacks but their victory also featured a record low share of possession. Their total of only 146 successful passes was also their lowest on record in a Premier League game.
It followed them having only 38 per cent of the possession in their opening win against Fulham. But does it matter? Few fans would say so, as long as the results continue to go their way.
Alonso was also keen to point out the importance of context. As against Fulham, his side spent almost the entire game leading against Brighton, meaning the attacking onus was on their opponent.
"You need to have context for every data for sure," he said. "After 30 minutes we scored the 3-0. Probably in that moment, we played too much with the result instead of keeping playing.
"But the data is not important, it is how you play and what we can do better. But it is never that approach, I don't say today we need to have 60 per cent or 20 cent. I never talk about those things, it is about how to prepare, how to be more competitive."
Alonso on Fernandez, Caicedo, Martinez
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said:
"All the wins, I enjoy them a lot. It was a game of different moments, different feelings and the end we are happy with the result."
On Enzo Fernandez's future: "We'll see. We want the best for the team. That's why we made the decision against Luton and today. Anything that happens before Tuesday evening, we need to be aware of what is going to develop.
"We are not sure, we are preparing for all the scenarios, but I am sure that whatever happens from Wednesday, we will have a good enough squad to compete in all the Premier League games."
On Emiliano Martinez's debut: "With Emi, World Cup winner, experience all around. I spoke with him yesterday [Saturday]. We talked about the game, about our team. He felt ready.
"I don't have to say many things for him to perform. He wanted to have a clean sheet but I'm happy. He has only been here for 48 hours, so now we have to help him prepare for the next one.
"He has charisma and aura to have a very positive influence on the rest of them."
On Moises Caicedo's injury: "Hopefully it was not new and it wasn't more than last time. He was cautious to stop, to say that his feeling was not the best, but we need to assess during the week. But it wasn't something new."
Hurzeler praises Brighton efforts
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said:
"I would never sit in any press conference and complain about the injuries. It's part of football. I see it more as an opportunity to step up and that's what the other boys showed today.
"Everyone who saw the game couldn't believe it was 3-0 for Chelsea. But afterwards they showed a big belief.
"We made the 3-1, we were there to control the game, create chances. We dominated the game and made the 3-2. We had a chance to make the 3-3 and then who knows?
"Overall we weren't clean enough in the basics. We missed the balance. But to come to this place and create that many chances and cause that many problems is something where I have to give my players a lot of credit. We will make a step and keep trying to improve the boys."
