Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four after securing a hard-fought victory over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge. The match was settled by Marc Cucurella’s well-taken goal in the second half, marking his fifth of the season and his second consecutive league goal following his strike against Southampton.
The Spanish left-back broke the deadlock on the hour mark, unleashing a precise left-footed shot from 25 yards that eluded Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Up to that point, Chelsea had struggled to capitalize on their chances, with Hermansen proving to be a formidable presence in goal.
Palmer’s Miss and Leicester’s Resilience
Earlier in the game, Chelsea had an opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after Jadon Sancho was fouled by Victor Kristiansen. Cole Palmer stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw his effort denied by Hermansen, ending his perfect penalty record after converting his previous 12 attempts. The miss also extended Palmer’s goal drought to nine matches across all competitions.
Leicester put up a strong fight in the first half and nearly took the lead in an unusual moment when Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo inadvertently headed the ball onto his own crossbar. However, the visitors failed to create any other clear-cut opportunities, allowing Chelsea to gain control after the interval.
Chelsea Leapfrog City as Leicester Struggles Continue
With the victory, Enzo Maresca’s side moved ahead of Manchester City in the standings, establishing a two-point cushion over the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s defeat kept them in deep trouble near the foot of the table. They remain in 19th place, level on points with Ipswich but trailing on goal difference. The Foxes are now six points behind Wolves, who occupy the last safe spot in 17th place, leaving them in a precarious battle for survival.
