Chelsea Football Club achieved a 4-3 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 30, 2026, extending manager Xabi Alonso's perfect start with the team. This match marked Alonso's third game in charge, following two wins in the Premier League and one in the League Cup.
The match took place at Stamford Bridge, where Romeo Lavia scored the opening goal for Chelsea, marking his first goal since joining from Southampton in 2023. Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro added to the scoreline, but Brighton's Malick Yalcouye responded late in the first half. An own goal by Pedro in the second half created tension for Chelsea, but Cole Palmer's goal in the 74th minute provided some relief. Pascal Gross scored for Brighton in stoppage time, but it was not enough to change the outcome.
Chelsea's next match will be against Premier League champions Arsenal on September 6, 2026. Alonso's team has scored nine goals in their first three games, although they have conceded four. The transfer window is closing soon, and it remains uncertain if midfielder Enzo Fernandez will be available for the upcoming match against Arsenal, as he missed the last two games due to transfer speculation involving Manchester City.
Emiliano Martinez made his debut for Chelsea after transferring from Aston Villa for £7.5 million ($10 million). He replaced Robert Sanchez, who had faced criticism for his performances. Martinez became the first player over 30 to play for Chelsea in a league match since 2024.
The match began with Chelsea scoring within 31 seconds, and they maintained pressure throughout. Brighton's goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and defender Mats Wieffer struggled to clear a corner, allowing Lavia to score. Neto scored his first league goal since December, and Pedro added to the tally before Brighton's Yalcouye scored. Chelsea's defense faced challenges, but they managed to secure the win.
Pedro expressed his satisfaction with the match, stating it was special for him and highlighting the teamwork among the front three players. He also praised Martinez for his contributions to the team.