Chelsea stretched their winning run to seven matches across all competitions with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge. The home side broke the deadlock at the end of the first half through Marc Cucurella, while Nicolas Jackson doubled the lead in the second half. Late in the game, the visitors pulled one back via Bryan Mbeumo. Here are the Blues' positives and negatives from the match.
Positives
1. First Premier League Win Over Brentford at Stamford Bridge
Failing to beat an opponent at home in the league is rare for a club of Chelsea's stature. When that opponent is a London rival like Brentford, the blemish is even harder to ignore. Chelsea had faced Brentford three times at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and lost every match.
On Sunday, the record was rewritten. The victory marked Chelsea's fifth league win in a row, leaving them just two points behind leaders Liverpool. More importantly, it added three crucial points to their top-four aspirations. The Blues now boast 34 points after 16 matches—15 more than they managed in the corresponding fixtures last season, the largest improvement of any Premier League team this term.
2. Tactics with a Purpose
In previous years, Chelsea often entered matches without a clear tactical approach, relying on individual brilliance to make the difference. Under Enzo Maresca, however, the Blues appear more organized and prepared for each opponent.
Chelsea, who average 15 crosses per match, attempted 21 crosses in the first half alone against Brentford. This was no coincidence, as the visitors have struggled to defend crosses—conceding both goals from crosses in their earlier 2-1 loss to Fulham this season.
Marc Cucurella played an advanced, inverted role alongside Nicolas Jackson, contributing to several dangerous moments. In the 43rd minute, Noni Madueke delivered a brilliant inswinging cross, which Cucurella expertly headed in to give Chelsea the lead. Chelsea’s quick pressing also stifled Brentford’s counterattacking potential.