Chelsea (1) 2 v 0 (0) Fulham
10,49 Havertz
Yellows: Zouma Aina
Played at an empty Stamford Bridge Saturday 1 May 2021.
Having branded Chelsea with the 1-0 score line tag they have produced two 2-0 scores in their last 2 matches albeit against rather different opposition. Kai Havertz scored both against Fulham as he hits form just when it was needed. It has been 2-0 in 7 out of the last 11. This latest Premier London Derbies (PLDs) match brought the Cottagers nearer the drop. They played well as the score suggests but it will take a lot more than Manager Scott Parker’soptimism to conjure up a great escape with 4 wins in their last 4 matches. This was a routine win for the Blues who were never really troubled.
If that was routine then the win over Real Madrid by the same score giving a 3-1 aggregate win was not. It could have been more with Timo Werner and Mason Mount both scoring. The Spanish giants are struggling financially and perhaps needed the European Super League more than Chelsea or Manchester City who will meet in the Champions League final on 29 May in Istanbul and both English Clubs have petro-dollars to burn, or buy another centre back! They also meet in the Premier League (PL) on 8 May 2021.
Chelsea Women are also on the up and took over at the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) from Manchester City Women when they beat Tottenham Women 0-2 on Wednesday 5 May 2021. Sam Kerr scored both. They are the WSL defending Champions.
Next up for the PLDs matches it is Chelsea again this time at home to Arsenal on Wednesday 12 May 2021. These are our two “all-time best” PLDs Clubs, and Chelsea edge this fixture historically: 3-1 in 2016-17; 0-0 in 2017-18; 3-2 in 2018-19; and 2-2 in 2019-20. They are supposedly in the race for 4th place in the PL but with a match to come against Leicester City a win against the Gunners and one fancies them for third place on current form. Arsenal failed to score against Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final second leg match, going down 1-2 on aggregate to their former Manager Unai Emery. They are unlikely to be in a European competition next season for the first time in 25 years!
Until next time, “Keep Safe” and enjoy your football whatever, Andrew at PLDs.