Chelsea vs Brighton - Match Preview and Team News
This Saturday, Chelsea will host Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge, as Enzo Maresca continues his quest for his first home league victory as the manager of Chelsea.
Even though the team has struggled to perform in front of their home crowd, the Blues have been successful when playing away. They secured another three points last Saturday by defeating their London rivals, West Ham.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler will have to observe his team from the stands, as he was sent off during the match against Nottingham Forest last Sunday. This disciplinary action came late in the game for the 31-year-old coach.
The number of players missing for the Seagulls continues to increase, with Joao Pedro now added to a list that already includes Matt O’Riley, James Milner, and Solly March.
Chelsea Vs Brighton: Match Preview & Updates
Chelsea is experiencing a good streak of results as their new coach, Enzo Maresca, starts to implement his strategies and vision with the team.
In the Carabao Cup earlier this week, they easily defeated League Two team Barrow, with Christopher Nkunku scoring three goals and Pedro Neto finding the net for the first time for the club, leading to a commanding 5-0 victory.
One of the most positive things about their recent performances is that they have allowed just one goal in the last four matches across all competitions. This improvement reflects Maresca's deliberate focus on strengthening a previously weak defense.
However, in their league matches at Stamford Bridge, the West London team suffered a defeat against Manchester City on the first day and frustratingly settled for a draw with Crystal Palace. Improving their dismal home performance will be a top priority for Maresca.
Fabian Hurzeler has maintained a perfect record as a manager in English football, with the Seagulls being one of just four teams in the Premier League that have yet to lose a match.
The talented manager has quickly made a difference on the South Coast, bringing a more organized and controlled approach to Brighton's gameplay compared to the previous season.
The German team is likely to feel let down by their performance last weekend, as they ended up with a 2-2 tie against Nottingham Forest, another team that remains unbeaten.
Chris Wood scored the first goal just 15 minutes into the match, but the Seagulls quickly bounced back with two goals in rapid succession.
Academy alum Jack Hinshelwood nodded in the equalizer before Danny Welbeck kept up his impressive scoring streak with a slick free-kick that surprised the stationary Matz Sels.
However, following the break, Forest equalized with a sharp counterattack that highlighted the significant weaknesses in Brighton's defense, culminating in a goal by summer signing Ramon Sosa.
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Chelsea secured a 2-1 victory over Brighton in their Premier League matchup on May 15, 2024.
In their second-to-last match of the previous season, Chelsea managed to secure a victory on the South Coast, earning all three points.
Cole Palmer scored his 25th goal in a season that earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year title, with a clever header that flew past Bart Verbruggen.
Mauricio Pochettino's team increased their lead in the second half when Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku combined effectively, allowing Nkunku to score the Blues' second goal.
The visiting team allowed their rivals to get back into the game at the end when captain Reece James impulsively kicked Joao Pedro, which led to his red card just two minutes before the match was over.
Brighton eventually made their presence felt in the match when Simon Adingra struck the post with a powerful volley. Shortly after, Danny Welbeck reduced the deficit with a goal from close range.
Nevertheless, that goal turned out to be little more than a consolation as Chelsea secured an important three points in their effort to reach the European positions.
Chelsea's lineup features Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Sancho, and Jackson.
Brighton: Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Hinshelwood, Wieffer, Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma, Welbeck.
Check out our forecast for Chelsea's starting eleven and the latest updates on the team ahead of their match against Brighton.
The referee for the match will be Peter Bankes. He'll have support from assistants Eddie Smart and Nick Greenhalgh, while David Webb takes on the role of the fourth official. Michael Oliver will serve as the VAR, with Natalie Aspinall assisting him.
The match between Chelsea and Brighton won't be shown in the UK because of the usual 3pm blackout rule.
The match at Stamford Bridge is set to begin at 3:00 PM British Summer Time on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
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