Chelsea kept their Champions League dreams alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over struggling Leicester, thanks to a stunning long-range strike from Marc Cucurella at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard’s second-half rocket secured a crucial three points for Enzo Maresca’s side, lifting them above Manchester City into fourth place in the Premier League. While it wasn’t their most convincing performance, Chelsea’s determination saw them grind out just their fourth win in 12 league matches.
Cole Palmer had a frustrating night, missing a first-half penalty—his first career miss from the spot—and extending his seven-game drought without a goal or assist. The England forward’s body language has come under scrutiny, and he was eventually substituted in the second half.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s woes deepened as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side suffered their fifth straight league defeat, leaving them six points from safety and staring at an immediate return to the Championship.
Before kickoff, Chelsea legends including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Dennis Wise graced the pitch to mark the club’s 120th anniversary. But on the field, it was far from a vintage Blues display.
Leicester nearly made Chelsea pay for their missed chances when Robert Sanchez completely misjudged a cross, leading to a nervy moment as Tosin Adarabioyo’s clearance rattled the woodwork.
The breakthrough finally came on the hour mark when Cucurella unleashed a 25-yard screamer, drilling the ball into the bottom corner to send the home fans into celebration.
With the top-four race heating up, Chelsea will need more moments of brilliance like Cucurella’s to cement their place in next season’s Champions League.
