Chelsea drew 0-0 with Bournemouth at the Vitality after a poor game to make it 3 games without a win.
The Blues couldn’t have started the game much worse. They are always slow to start matches and this was a particularly bad example. Antoine Semenyo scored after just 5 minutes, but the Blues were bailed out by a VAR review. Moments later Reece James gave away a penalty, only to be saved by the linesman’s flag.
That was the wakeup call Enzo Maresca’s team needed. It had little effect. They continued to be timid through the whole first period, managing not one shot on goal throughout.
The second half didn’t see much improvement. Bournemouth continued as the much better side, while the Blues toiled. They [had Robert Sanchez to thank](https://chelsea.news/2025/12/robert-sanchez-efforts/) for keeping in the game on multiple occasions when the Cherries threatened.
There was some hope that fresh legs and ideas off the bench would help, but none of them were able to change the dynamic of the game. Just like far too many other games under Enzo Maresca, the tempo was sluggish and the possession sterile. There was never a sense that Chelsea might win the game with a slick move, their only hope seemed to be a moment of magic or a mistake from the home team.
It didn’t come, and in many ways they were lucky to come away with a point from the game.
**MOTM – Robert Sanchez**
Analysis
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Cole Palmer in action against Bournemouth. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Cole Palmer’s return was supposed to help this team with goas and creativity but even the Wythenshawe Wizard couldn’t help the Blues get out of their bad habits of slow, dull possession.
Without Caicedo in midfield to add bite and energy there was a real lack of belief, with the confidence drained from this group rapidly following the high point of last week’s win over Barcelona.
The games come thick and fast now, so there will be immediate chances to make amends.
Teams
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**AFC Bournemouth**
Djordje Petrovic
Adam Smith
Bafode Diakite
Marcos Senesi
Adrien Truffert
Alex Scott
Marcus Tavernier
Alejandro Jimenez
Justin Kluivert
Antoine Semenyo
Francisco Evanilson
_Substitutes_
William Dennis
Julian Araujo
Julio Soler
David Brooks (s 74′)
Amine Adli (s 74′)
Eli Junior Kroupi
James Hill (s 62′)
Enes Unal (s 87′)
Malcom DaCosta
**Chelsea**
Robert Sanchez
Malo Gusto
Wesley Fofana
Trevoh Chalobah
Marc Cucurella
Reece James
Enzo Fernandez
Pedro Neto
Cole Palmer
Alejandro Garnacho
Liam Delap
_Substitutes_
Filip Jorgensen
Benoit Badiashile
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
Andrey Santos
de Jesus Joao Pedro (s 58′)
Jorrel Hato
Josh Acheampong
Marc Guiu (s 32′)
de Oliveira Estevao (s 77′)
Stats
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Quote of the game
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“”e kept a clean sheet and we didn’t lose the game.” – Robert Sanchez keep standards low, post game.