Goalless draw with Brentford dents Chelsea’s top-four hopes

Chelsea missed an opportunity to strengthen their grip on a Champions League qualification spot as a much-changed side was held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, April 5th. The result extends Chelsea’s winless away run in the Premier League to eight games, while Brentford remain winless in their last eight home league matches.

Blues head coach Enzo Maresca opted to rest several key players following Thursday’s 1-0 win over Tottenham, with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson among five changes, starting on the bench ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming Europa Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw.

Brentford had the better opportunities in a lackluster first half. Mikkel Damsgaard sent a free-kick over the bar and later failed to connect properly when through on goal after being set up by Yoane Wissa. Keane Lewis-Potter forced a good save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with a header from a corner, while Bryan Mbeumo fired wide after intercepting a Reece James clearance. Chelsea failed to register a shot on target before the break.

Chelsea improved significantly in the second half following the introduction of Jackson at halftime, and later Palmer and Pedro Neto. Jackson nearly forced an own goal from Sepp van den Berg and later fired across goal from a tight angle after a fine Enzo Fernandez pass. Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken denied Reece James’s header and made routine saves from Neto. Despite Chelsea registering 17 shots in the second half (out of 21 total), they lacked a clinical edge, with Palmer’s three attempts failing to hit the target.

Brentford had late chances to snatch a win. Mbeumo forced another save from Sanchez, and both Van den Berg and Wissa headed opportunities wide.

The draw keeps Chelsea fourth in the Premier League but means they failed to significantly close the gap on third-placed Nottingham Forest, who lost to Aston Villa earlier on Saturday. Brentford remain 12th, though the clean sheet was their first at home since May 2024. The result leaves the race for the top four wide open, with Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United closely pursuing Chelsea.