(Football news) While Roberto De Zerbi’s team advanced to the Europa League knockout stages with a 1-0 victory against AEK Athens on Thursday, the Blues suffered a 4-1 blowout at the hands of Newcastle United last weekend.
Even though Chelsea was completely destroyed in last weekend’s match in the North East, where a beautiful Raheem Sterling free kick had first cancelled out an Alexander Isak opener, Newcastle’s injury-ravaged starting lineup may feel decimated going into the winter months.
Chelsea’s reprieve only lasted until the hour mark, though, when the Magpies scored twice in as many minutes thanks to goals from Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles, who took advantage of a mistake made by Thiago Silva in defence, and Anthony Gordon added the icing on top.
A dejected Mauricio Pochettino, who watched from the stands due to a touchline ban, acknowledged that Chelsea’s horror show was their “worst game” of the season thus far and that the Blues are still unable to break free of mid-table indifference. Captain Reece James was also sent off the field for two bookable offences.
With a third of the season remaining, Chelsea is in tenth place in the standings. In terms of points, they are still closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League slots, even if their loss at St. James’ Park was only their second loss in their past nine games in all competitions.
Chelsea, a team of elite calibre, has only won once in their last 14 Premier League home games, a 3-0 victory over newly promoted Luton Town. The Blues welcome Brighton to West London, having taken just two of the last 15 available points at Stamford Bridge, conceding ten goals in the process.
In their Europa League match against AEK Athens on Thursday, Brighton can consider themselves lucky not to concede any goals themselves. Bart Verbruggen’s strike for the Seagulls and the wastefulness of the Greek powerhouses combined to keep the visitors’ clean sheet intact.
While De Zerbi’s defence held firm, Joao Pedro coolly scored a penalty at the other end of the field to extend Brighton’s first-ever European experience. The Seagulls, who trail Marseille by one point, will now, at the very least, be playing in a playoff knockout round match in a few months.
Following an equally nerve-wracking Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend, De Zerbi’s team emerged victorious in the Europa League, ending a miserable six-game losing streak. They are currently in a healthy eighth place, just a point behind Manchester United and Newcastle United.
De Zerbi’s team will bring a seven-game unbeaten streak to Stamford Bridge, including three wins from their last three away from home. Brighton has now scored in 11 straight games, albeit they have also failed to keep a single clean sheet in the 2023–24 Premier League. The Europa League frequently serves as a safe haven for the devastated Seagulls.
Also read: Atlanta will play Sporting Lisbon in the UEL
