Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace draws at start of English Premier League
\[Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:40:04 +0300\]
London - Saba: A goalless draw settled Chelsea's match against Crystal Palace on Sunday at Stamford Bridge in the first round of the English Premier League. The match was exciting from the first minutes after Ivorian Eze scored for Crystal Palace in the 14th minute, but the referee canceled the goal after consulting the video assistant referee (VAR), leaving the scoreless tie at the final whistle. Coach Enzo Maresca decided to rely on new signings João Pedro and Jimmy Gittens in the starting lineup, but they were unable to find the net, and Chelsea had only three attempts on goal out of 19. Crystal Palace had already won the FA Cup from Manchester City and the Community Shield against Liverpool before holding Chelsea to a draw in the Blues' Premier League opener. With this draw, each team has one point at the start of their campaign, while both are awaiting their first victory in the next round of the Premier League.