Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea: Blues drop points as they suffer 3-game winless run

Chelsea were unable to capitalise on Arsenal's slip-up in the Premier League title race as Robert Sanchez starred in a goalless draw away to Bournemouth.

Match Report

Having seen Arsenal fall to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa earlier on Saturday, Chelsea failed to fire despite Cole Palmer returning for the first time since mid-September. 

Enzo Maresca's side could have cut the gap on the leaders to six points, but a third game without victory leaves them in fourth and eight off the summit.

Visiting goalkeeper Sanchez was largely to thank for the draw at the Vitality Stadium, where Bournemouth thought they had taken a fourth-minute lead.

Evanilson was adjudged offside in the build-up from Alex Scott's cross, however, as the VAR intervened to overturn Antoine Semenyo's close-range finish.

Semenyo and Scott then both worked the impressive Sanchez in a one-sided first half, though Chelsea improved after the break and saw Alejandro Garnacho head against Djordje Petrovic's right-hand post.

Enzo Fernandez and Palmer followed up by testing Petrovic, while Sanchez was kept alert late on at the other end to deny another rasping Semenyo effort.

But neither side were able to find a decisive winner, as Andoni Iraola was left frustrated with a sixth straight league game without victory.

Data Debrief: Winless theme continues for pair

More frustration in front of goal saw Bournemouth fail to score in consecutive league games under Iraola for just the third time, also doing so in September 2024 and October 2023.

That was not for a lack of effort, though. Bournemouth had 13 attempts here worth 1.37 expected goals, their most efforts without scoring in a Premier League home game since February against Liverpool (14).

A drab draw also ended Chelsea's 13-game run of scoring in every Premier League match, since failing to find the net against Crystal Palace in August.

The visitors' 11 shots generated an xG tally of 0.88, their lowest in an away game in this season's competition when they have not been shown a red card.

But Maresca may, at least, take positives from a fourth clean sheet in five away league games – more shutouts than they managed in their previous 19 matches on the road in the competition (three).

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Semanyo follows up to score, but ruled out for Evanelisson's offside in buildup

14' James brings down Scott, referee blows for foul

15' Jiménez fires rapid double but sends both efforts wide

21' Neto crosses, Cucurella heads over

23' Semanyo fouls Gusto, who goes down in pain

32' Delap comes off injured, replaced by Guiu

36' Semanya denied, Evanelsson skies rebound

49' Neto cuts inside and fires low, saved by Petrovic

51' Garnacho heads against the post

52' Palmer fires low shot, Petrovic saves

66' Guiu snaps at shot from close range but blazes over

72' Garnacho cuts inside and shoots just wide

80' Semanyo blasts from tight angle, saved by Sánchez

Line-ups

Bournemouth XI: Smith, Marcus Tavernier, Kluivert, Marcos Senesi, Djordje Petrovic, Evanilson, Antoine Semenyo, Bafodé Diakité, Adrien Truffert, Alex Scott, Jimenez

Subs: E.Ünal, Brooks, James Hill, Julián Araujo, Adli, Will Dennis, Eli Kroupi, Julio Soler, Malcom Dacosta

Chelsea XI: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Enzo, Gusto, Garnacho, Liam Delap

Subs: Badiashile, Jørgensen, João Pedro, Gittens, Jorrel Hato, Andrey Santos, Josh Acheampong, Estêvão, Guiu