Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace Player Ratings: Chelsea and Crystal Palace Share the Spoils After a Goalless Tactical Showdown

Club World Cup winners Chelsea locked horns against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace for game number seven of matchday one in the Premier League 2025/26. The Chelsea vs Crystal Palace clash took place at Stamford Bridge in Fulham on 17th August 2025. Both teams displayed immense dedication to start off the season on a positive note, and after an electrifying showdown, both teams shared the spoils 0-0. Chelsea got the ball rolling, and they started putting some early pressure in the Crystal Palace box with some heavy-paced corners. In the 13th minute, Cucurella conceded a foul just outside the Chelsea box. Eberechi Eze stepped in to take the free kick and scored an absolute banger. However, in the VAR check, Guehi was seen getting too close to the Chelsea wall and even pushing Caicedo towards the wall. For this reason, the referee ruled out the goal, bringing the game back to nil-nil. Later, either side attempted their luck at goal, but the backline stood strong, and at halftime it was 0-0. In the second half, the game was more or less dominated in the midfield with but both teams failed to break the deadlock and had to settle for a draw.

Here are the Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Player Ratings

Chelsea Player Ratings

Here are the Chelsea Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Robert Sanchez - 6.5/10

The keeper efficiently gathered the ball whenever Crystal Palace posed a threat to his side. Was reliable and solid at the backline.

Defenders

Reece James - 7.7/10

James was the most alive player on the pitch from minute one of the game, providing some teasing crosses and long balls to the final third. He provided some key passes and maintained a solid passing accuracy, too. A clumsy foul booked him under the referee's books. Overall, he had a spectacular day.

Josh Acheampong - 7/10

Acheampong was strong as a rock in the backline, winning duels and interceptions, coupled with blocks and clearances, whenever Palace entered the final third.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7/10

Chalobah, along with Acheampong, created a compact defensive fortress that Crystal Palace struggled to break open. Put in an immense workload and also provided a good number of long balls to the attacking half.

Marc Cucurella - 6.5/10

Put pressure upon the opponents quite early by standing as a tall man in the Palace box, whenever his team took set-pieces. Conceded a foul just outside the box, and this was converted into a goal by opponents; however, to his relief, it was ruled out. Did pretty well to shadow Sarr.

Midfielders

Enzo Fernandez - 6.5/10

Enzo was decent on the right flank and was unable to perform up to the expectations the fans would have had of him. Was very mobile, but this mobility did not help the team much.

Moises Caicedo - 7/10

Caicedo was a central figure in the middle third and had a great share of contribution in dispossessing the opponents in the midfield and winning back possession for his team. He was also successful in winning a good number of duels and made a remarkable number of interceptions

Pedro Neto - 6.5/10

Neto delivered some powerful corners from both sides to pile pressure upon Palace, right from the first quarter of the game. But later in the game, Neto was struggling to create attacks and was seen gifting possession to Palace. Attempted almost a dozen crosses and only a couple of them found his teammate. Could have had a better performance.

Cole Palmer - 6/10

Palmer was not in his best form on the pitch as he was rarely seen making any contributions to the attack. Whenever he made some attacking initiatives, it was easily dealt with by the opponents. Took some free kicks, but was disappointed in the end.

Jamie Gittens - 6/10

Gittens showcased his pace right from the first whistle on the left and put the opponents under some trouble, but as minutes went by, his impact remained relatively minimal, and he was subbed off in the second half. Overall, he had an above-average and promising debut.

Forward

Joao Pedro - 5.8/10

Pedro was rarely seen inside the penalty box during the Chelsea attacks and was not performing his duties as a number nine effectively. Was struggling in duels and kept gifting possession to the opponents.

Substitutes

Estevao - 6.5/10

Liam Delap - 6/10

Malo Gusto - 6.5/10

Andrey Santos - 6/10

Manager

Enzo Maresca - 6/10

The team lacked finishing and could have done better in multiple aspects of the game and the manager would be disappointed that they were unable to get the win.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings

Here are the Crystal Palace Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson - 6.5/10

Was put under pressure right from the first minute of the game, but almost every time the keeper did not flinch and did well.

Defenders

Chris Richards - 7.2/10

Richards kept his eyes on the ball and defended Gittens pretty well early in the game when he made accelerated runs down the left. Was a solid presence in the defence and did not move forward to contribute offensively.

Maxence Lacroix - 7.2/10

Lacroix marshalled the defence and played a pivotal role in keeping the Chelsea players away from scoring. Blocked shots, made clearances and had a good number of sprints, and he intercepted the ball from the opponents and had a satisfying performance.

Marc Guehi - 6.5/10

Guehi was too close to the Chelsea wall and pushed Caicedo during Eberechi Eze's free kick, for which the team was penalised by ruling out the goal. Later, he was having a relatively good performance.

Midfielders

Daniel Munoz - 6/10

Munoz received an unfortunate yellow card following a clash with Cucurella in a 50-50 situation, and this made the player play the rest of the game on a safer side. Had just an average stat and a passable performance.

Adam Wharton - 6.5/10

Wharton could have wished to have a better performance in the opener. His role was nothing exceptional, nor terrible. Was present at both the defence and attack whenever his team needed him.

Will Huges - 7.2/10

With his dancing feet, he made some beautiful moves in and around the penalty box, which forced the opponents to concede free kicks at dangerous positions. Maintained 83% passing accuracy, won two out of four duels, and made three clearances and one interception for his side.

Tyrick Mitchell - 7/10

Mitchell had a dominating performance on the left wing with a good duel conversion rate. However, while coming to passing and long balls the player was struggling with just a 55% passing accuracy.

Ismaila Sarr - 7/10

Sarr, in the third minute of the game, made a timely clearance on the goal line at the back post to keep his side alive. Later, the player was creating trouble for the Chelsea backline with his quick movement with the ball, coupled with goal attempts.

Eberechi Eze - 6.5/10

Scored a banger free kick in the 13th minute, but to his dismay, it was ruled out due to a foul committed by Marc Guehi in the 18-yard box. Made some dribbles and won almost all the duels involved in, and was a potent threat to the opponents.

Forward

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 6/10

Mateta got a golden opportunity to break the deadlock as he came in a 1v1 situation with the keeper in the 19th minute, which to his disappointment, was hit straight to the keeper's body.

Substitutes

Jefferson Larma - 6.5/10

Justin Devenny - 6.5/10

Manager

Oliver Glasner - 6/10

His team displayed a commendable performance and had the hunger to win, but had to share the spoils.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Reece James.