Marc Cucurella’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for Chelsea over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge, moving the Blues back into the Premier League’s top four. The win, while crucial for Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations, was far from convincing, and the match was marked by Cole Palmer’s continued goal drought and a missed penalty.
Cucurella’s decisive strike came on the hour mark, the Spanish left-back beating Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with a left-footed effort from 25 yards. It was Cucurella’s fifth goal of the season and his second in consecutive league games.
Chelsea had been frustrated up to that point, with Hermansen saving a Cole Palmer penalty midway through the first half. The penalty was awarded after Victor Kristiansen fouled Jadon Sancho. Palmer’s miss ended his perfect record from the spot (previously 12 out of 12) and extended his goalless run to nine matches in all competitions.
Leicester had impressed in the first half, coming close to scoring when Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo headed against his own crossbar.
However, Enzo Maresca’s side improved after the break and deservedly claimed the victory. The win lifts Chelsea to fourth in the table, two points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Palmer’s Struggles Continue, Cucurella Provides Spark
Despite Chelsea’s victory, Cole Palmer’s struggles in front of goal will be a concern for manager Enzo Maresca. The 22-year-old, Chelsea’s top scorer with 14 goals this season, has now gone eight matches without scoring or assisting, a run stretching back to mid-January. He was substituted for Tyrique George.
Cucurella, however, provided a spark from left-back, scoring the crucial winning goal and continuing his recent run of good form.
Leicester’s Survival Hopes Dwindle
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy will take some positives from his team’s defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat in the first half. However, with only 10 matches remaining, Leicester are running out of time to secure Premier League survival.
The defeat was their 12th in their last 13 Premier League matches, and the third time in their history that the Foxes have lost five successive league games without scoring. They remain second-bottom in the table, behind 18th-placed Ipswich on goal difference and six points adrift of Wolves in 17th. Their upcoming fixtures present a daunting challenge, with matches against Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Brighton, and Liverpool before a crucial visit to Wolves on April 26th. Leicester will need to find a way to convert performances into points if they are to avoid relegation.
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