Chelsea vs Brighton Player Ratings

Chelsea 4-3 Brighton Player Ratings: Martinez 8.8/10 as Xabi Alonso's Blues Survive Brighton Fightback at the Bridge

Mohit Tomar

Modified - Aug 30, 2026, 02:59 PM

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Summary

Chelsea claimed a dramatic 4-3 Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge: Lavia, Neto, Joao Pedro, and Palmer all scored as Xabi Alonso's side survived Brighton's remarkable late fightback, capped by Groß's 90+6th-minute throw-in header that set up a breathless finale.
Joao Pedro's extraordinary evening, goalscorer in the 32nd minute and own goal provider in the 63rd, was the defining individual narrative of a chaotic afternoon that Brighton made genuinely uncomfortable, with Groß's stoppage-time header confirming that Hurzeler's side were never truly out of this contest.
Emi Martinez was the match's outstanding performer at 8.8/10; his crucial second-half saves proving the difference between three points and a dropped lead, even as Groß's late header from a brilliantly executed throw-in set piece ensured the Stamford Bridge crowd endured the most nervy possible final whistle.

Three goals in the first 32 minutes looked like the platform for a comfortable afternoon at Stamford Bridge. Brighton had other ideas. Xabi Alonso's Chelsea ultimately claimed a 4-3 Premier League victory, but the scoreline flatters the ease of the evening, and Emi Martinez's performance between the sticks was the primary reason Brighton's second-half momentum never translated into something more damaging.

Emi Martinez was outstanding at 8.8/10. His saves from Yalcouye's driven effort and two close-range Brighton chances in the final 20 minutes prevented what would have been a genuinely nervy finale. Lavia's 4th-minute composed drive, Neto's clinical 14th-minute finish, and Joao Pedro's composed 32nd-minute third had established Chelsea's commanding lead before Hurzeler's side found their footing.

Joao Pedro's evening deserves its own sentence. He scored Chelsea's third in the 32nd minute, then deflected a Brighton cross into his own net in the 63rd to hand the visitors a route back into the contest. Palmer's composed 74th-minute finish ended any remaining Brighton hope and sealed six points from two games for Alonso's side.

Brighton's quality deserves full acknowledgement. Yalcouye's confident 35th-minute debut goal, their sustained second-half pressure, and Pascal Groß's 90+6th-minute header, the veteran midfielder stealing in at the back post from a brilliantly rehearsed throw-in set piece to make it 4-3, confirmed that Hurzeler's side will push every top-six opponent to the absolute limit this season. Chelsea held on, but only just. Check out the Chelsea vs Brighton player ratings.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Here are the Chelsea player ratings from the Chelsea vs Brighton player ratings.

Player Name	Ratings
Emiliano Martinez	8.8
Wesley Fofana	6.3
Maxence Lacroix	6.7
Levi Colwill	6.8
Malo Gusto	6.8
Cole Palmer	8.0
Romeo Lavia	7.8
Jorrel Hato	7.5
Pedro Neto	8.0
Morgan Rogers	8.0
Joao Pedro	7.9

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Have a look at the Brighton player ratings from the Chelsea vs Brighton player ratings.

Player Name	Ratings
Bart Verbruggen	3.7
Ferdi Kadıoglu	5.0
Luka Vuskovic	5.5
Lewis Dunk	5.0
Olivier Boscagli	6.3
Mats Wieffer	5.8
Pascal Groß	7.5
Diego Gomez	6.9
Malick Yalcouye	8.2
Maxim De Cuyper	6.8
Charalampos Kostoulas	7.0

Brighton Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Emi Martinez.