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.
2025/2026 Premier League
0-0
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.
It ends in a draw. #CFC | #BOUCHE pic.twitter.com/fP24V3i0YH
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 6, 2025
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