By Okafor Joseph Afam, December 16, 2024

Chelsea continued their Premier League title push with a 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening, further solidifying their place as serious contenders under Enzo Maresca.

The match was a tense affair, with Brentford holding Chelsea at bay for much of the first half. However, the breakthrough came just before halftime, courtesy of left-back Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard scored with a flying header, meeting a delightful cross from Noni Madueke. Cucurella’s rare goal gave Chelsea a crucial advantage heading into the break.

In the second half, Brentford responded with renewed vigor, and just minutes after Chelsea doubled their lead, they pulled one back through Ivan Toney. Yet, Chelsea’s striker Nicolas Jackson sealed the win with a vital goal, his ninth of the Premier League season, ensuring the Blues stayed in control.

Despite the win, Cucurella’s day took a sour turn after the final whistle. He was involved in a scuffle with a Brentford player, resulting in a red card. The left-back will now miss Chelsea’s upcoming fixture against Everton next weekend.

The victory was important for Chelsea, as it kept them in second place with 34 points, just two points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand. While the Reds remain the leaders at Christmas, Chelsea’s resilience in the face of challenges shows they are a force to be reckoned with. Although they have defensive vulnerabilities, with just three clean sheets in 16 matches, Maresca’s side certainly possess the firepower to keep pace at the top.

Brentford, meanwhile, are struggling on the road. They remain in 11th place with 23 points, and their away form continues to be a major concern. With only one win from their eight away games this season, the Bees will have to improve if they want to avoid relegation battles later in the campaign.

Man of the Match: Marc Cucurella
While his post-match scuffle and red card marred an otherwise stellar performance, Cucurella’s flying header was the defining moment of the game. His determination and crucial goal earned Chelsea all three points, helping them keep pace in the title race.

Stats:

Chelsea’s victory means they remain second in the league with 34 points.

Nicolas Jackson’s goal was his ninth in the Premier League this season.

Brentford have lost seven of their eight away matches in the top flight this season.

Marc Cucurella’s goal was his first Premier League strike since May 2022.

As Chelsea’s title hopes continue to burn brightly, their fans will hope they can tighten up defensively as the season progresses.