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 16:31, 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 Yalcoule 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 some fine stops, but Cole Palmer found the bottom corner in superb style for Chelsea's fourth, meaning a Gross header in stoppage time was too little too late for the visitors.
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Chelsea were without Enzo Fernandez, who was left out of the squad for a second consecutive Premier League 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, their new-look attack proved too much for their opponent for the second game in a row following their 3-2 win over Fulham.
While Joao Pedro and Palmer were on target for a second consecutive, record signing Morgan Rogers added an assist to his goal against the Cottagers when he crossed for Neto's strike.
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's 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.
