Victor Moses caps a great game with a goal for Chelsea / Image via 365dm.com
The Blues have endured a mixed start in the new season going three Premier League games without a win ending with a win over Hull City prior to the two-week break and Saturday’s triumph over Leicester City was the second consecutive for the first time since August.
The reigning champions of England made a poor start to their title defence, especially on the road where they have yet to win a single game and shipped 10 goals prior to their visit to Stamford Bridge.
Claudio Ranieri’s men suffered another huge blow having succumbed to their fourth game in the season which once again outlined huge defensive issues for the Foxes.
Team News & Form Guide
Leicester City returned to the ground where their historic Premier League title was confirmed, with N’Golo Kante as the integral part of Foxes’ success now on the opposite side of the pitch.
Both sides have struggled with consistency over the last couple of weeks and the Saturday’s clash was seen as a good chance to kick-start their respective campaigns.
Chelsea captain John Terry is fit again, but the experienced England defender started on the bench as Antonio Conte decided to go with the three-man defence line against the reigning champions. Brazilian winger Willian was not involved in the game following the death of his mother, while Alonso and Moses were given starting berths at left and right back.
Claudio Ranieri continued with his rotation policy after his team played seven matches in 22 days. Shinji Okazaki has shaken off his ankle injury, but was not among the players who travelled to Stamford Bridge. Nampalys Mendy remains out after suffering a recurrence of his ankle injury, with Daniel Amartey starting in his behalf.
First Half
Leicester City’s defensive difficulties took just seven minutes to come to the forefront as the game’s first corner kick allowed Chelsea to break the deadlock and get up in front thanks to a new goal from Diego Costa.
Nemanja Matic flicked Eden Hazard’s corner kick for Diego Costa, who got all the space in the world to calmly tap the ball in the back of the net.
The Spanish international continued his fine form both for club and country scoring his seventh Premier League goal in 8 games so far. The Spaniard had a hand in 50 Premier League goals in just 62 games having notched 29 goals of his own and making 11 assists.
Leicester City were unable to put together any sort of attacking move following Chelsea’s opener, with hosts dominating most of the proceedings.
David Luiz came close to scoring his first since return to the club and second of the game for Chelsea but his free kick only met the left post.
Their dominance came to fruition shortly prior to the break at Stamford Bridge when Leicester’s terrible defending and errors from Robert Huth and Luis Hernandez allowed Eden Hazard to latch on a through ball with a bit of fortune and round the keeper slotting it over the line for a comfortable cushion after first 45 minutes.
A fairly straightforward match came to closure with 10 minutes from time when Victor Moses capped his brilliant performance of the day, allowing his team back-to-back wins for the first time since August.
Chalobah flicked pass into the path of Moses, who calmly tucked it away in style. The Nigerian celebrated in same style rounding off a perfect afternoon from Antonio Conte’s men.
Second Half
Aware they have nothing to lose, Premier League champions headed into the second half determined to gain their footing in the game. Claudio Ranieri’s men opened up, stretching the play wide, causing Chelsea some problems with their pressure play.
Foxes came closest to scoring little over the hour mark with David Luiz clearing Leicester cross in for Vardy by sending the ball straight into the left post of Thibaut Courtois’ goal. Brazilian’s second woodwork for the day.
Chelsea had a fine chance of their own though, through Victor Moses, who had a fine game today at Stamford Bridge. Blues winger produced a ferocious strike from the edge of the box towards the left post, but his strong effort was blocked by Schmeichel who pulled off a superb save to keep the ball out of the net.
N’Golo Kante came one step closer to becoming Leicester’s ultimate villain after 72 minutes of play when he came agonisingly close to scoring the third goal for his (new) team.
The French international latched on a bounce inside the box and Costa’s effort which was stopped by Schmeichel, but Morgan was brave enough to get his body in between Kante and the goal preventing the former Foxes dynamo from putting one straight in and killing the game.
Statistical Overview
- Chelsea made 6 shots on goal to zero from Leicester City
- Blues dominated possession with 55% to Leicester’s 45%
- PL champions lose their fourth straight away game this season
- Diego Costa had a hand in 50 PL goals in just 62 games
- Foxes conceded 14 goals thus far in the season
CHELSEA: Courtois 6.5 – Azpilicueta 7, Luiz 7, Cahil 7 – Moses 8 (Aina 6), Kante 7, Matic 7.5, Alonso 7 – Pedro 7 (Chalobah 6), Costa, Hazard 7.5 (Loftus-Cheek 6).
Unused subs: Batshuayi, Begovic, Solanke, Terry
LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 6 – Hernandez 5.5, Morgan 6.5, Huth 6, Fuchs 6.5 – Schlupp 6.5 (Mahrez 6), Drinkwater 7, Amartey 6, Albrighton 6.5 (King 6.5) – Musa 5.5 (Slimani 6), Vardy 6.
Unused subs: Gray, Simpson, Ulloa, Zeler
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
