Second-Half Changes and Open Game
The second half mirrored much of the first tactically. However, Maresca substituted Nkunku—who had a poor first half both in and out of possession—for Nicolas Jackson, who had an immediate impact. After a solid hold-up play, Fernandez found him with a clever pass, leading to a dangerous shot toward the near post.
Frank also made a tweak, switching to a more straightforward man-to-man press against Chelsea’s build-up. This increased their pressing intensity and helped Brentford win more possession, though Chelsea still controlled 60% of the ball. This could be a reaction to Maresca shifting to a 4-2-4 build-up shape with Gusto playing as a conventional right-back.
The second half was more open, with Chelsea enjoying the first period of sustained pressure and creating strong chances. However, Brentford grew back into the match and came dangerously close to scoring on several occasions.
In the end, it was a very competitive, evenly matched game. While Brentford slightly edged it in performance, Chelsea held their own. The match could easily have swung in favor of either side. For Chelsea, however, the result was a slight blow in their top-five challenge.