Chelsea vs Leicester City. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance39,750.
Chelsea 1-0 Leicester City: Marc Cucurella strike sees Blues move up to fourth in the Premier League
Report and free highlights as Chelsea beat Leicester 1-0 at Stamford Bridge; Marc Cucurella's second-half strike proved the difference between the teams; Cole Palmer saw his first-half penalty saved by Mads Hermansen; the Blues move up to fourth, while the Foxes stay second from bottom
Monday 10 March 2025 06:07, UK
Marc Cucurella's second-half strike saw Chelsea edge a battling Leicester City 1-0 as Enzo Maresca's side moved up to fourth in the Premier League.
It was initially a day of frustration for the Blues in the southwest London sunshine as first a second-minute call for a penalty after the returning Luke Thomas caught Cole Palmer in the box was turned down by Darren England, who had a busy day as the Video Assistant Referee.
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Palmer was soon involved again when Chelsea were given the ideal chance to open the scoring midway through the first half after Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen needlessly clipped Jadon Sancho from behind in the box, giving the England playmaker the opportunity to end his recent mini goal drought.
However Palmer, who had not scored or assisted in any of his previous six Premier League games, his longest spell since joining Chelsea in 2023, saw his penalty well saved by Leicester No 1 Mads Hermansen.
The gasps heard around Stamford Bridge when Palmer - in front of the watching England manager Thomas Tuchel -failed to convert from the spot were because the player had never previously missed a penalty in the Premier League and that appeared to affect the hosts' confidence.
In fact, the visitors almost then took a shock lead after a mix-up at the back as the returning Robert Sanchez came and failed to gather James Justin's looping cross from the right, with Tosin heading on to his own bar, before Levi Colwill was there to clear the rebound off the line before Jamie Vardy could pounce.
However, the Blues came out on the front foot after half-time and deservedly took the lead on the hour mark through Cucurella's low strike from distance that fizzed past Hermansen and into the bottom right-hand corner.
That ultimately proved the difference between the two teams as Chelsea moved back into the Champions League places thanks to a fourth consecutive home league win, while Ruud van Nistelrooy's side stay second from bottom having suffered a 12th loss in their last 13 top-flight games.
Palmer's struggles in front of goal continue - but playmaker still key to Blues' Champions League hopes
Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:
Chelsea's hard-fought win over relegation-doomed Leicester City that lifted them back into the Champions League places was perhaps best summed up by Cole Palmer's battling display in the south west London sunshine.
The twinkle-toed playmaker was not at his best, but as ever was involved in everything good the hosts did at Stamford Bridge, almost winning the Blues a second-minute penalty, before going close with a couple of early strikes that lifted the home crowd.
However, Palmer then spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring from the spot midway through the first half, the first time the England international had missed a Premier League penalty as his top-flight goal drought extended to seven games and 683 minutes - and all this in front of new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
Eyebrows were raised when Palmer was withdrawn with 17 minutes to go and the match very much still in the balance, only for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca to explain his player had not trained for the past two days due to a fever.
"Cole had not been feeling well, he had a fever for the last 48 hours, but he said to me this morning 'I want to help this club get into the Champions League' and this shows how these players want it," said the Italian after the game.
And it is that kind of fighting spirit from both Palmer himself and the team that could very well see Chelsea secure their main objective this season of Champions League football.
What the managers said...
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca:
"People have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play.
"When a team creates the number of chances we created today, you have to be happy. It's not easy. Leicester until minute 83 were 0-0 against Arsenal. The same thing happened against [Man] City.
"If you think football is just PlayStation and you win easy? No way. Every game is difficult. The way the players have done today is fantastic.
"Our Champions League target will also be with our fans to support us. When we play at home, we need them behind the players."
Leicester boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy:
"I get good at this after games. A good performance on and off the ball, everything was there and I think the players deserved more," he said,
"We came away with a penalty save to go into half-time at 0-0. It's the kind of luck you need sometimes to turn things around.
"Lots of positives again but we have to take the blow of taking nothing."
