Enzo Maresca, the former Leicester manager, made a winning return to the King Power Stadium as Chelsea secured a comfortable 2-1 victory over his old side. The win allowed Chelsea to solidify their position in third place in the Premier League standings. Despite a late Leicester consolation goal, the result never appeared in doubt, as Chelsea dominated the game from start to finish.
Maresca, a perfectionist by nature, would likely have been frustrated not to have left with a clean sheet, but he could still reflect on a composed and professional performance by his team. Leicester, under Steve Cooper, seemed lacking in inspiration and struggled to show the kind of urgency one might expect from a side facing their former manager. Their football was flat and uninspiring, and Chelsea quickly took control, establishing a rhythm with their superior midfield play and crisp passing.
By the half-hour mark, Chelsea had 82% possession, with Leicester unable to sustain any meaningful attacks. Noni Madueke was a constant threat on the right wing, while João Félix, making his first league start since his transfer from Atlético Madrid, looked eager to impress. The Blues were relentless in their pursuit of a goal, and it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken.
The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute, and it was a goal that reflected Chelsea’s dominance. A long ball from the back was flicked on by Nicolas Jackson, who showed tremendous determination to chase down what appeared to be a lost cause. Leicester’s Wout Faes was caught off guard, failing to clear the ball multiple times, and when it finally broke free, Jackson pounced, finishing with a composed right-footed strike into the far corner past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Jackson’s seventh goal of the season gave Chelsea a well-deserved lead.
Enzo Fernández, playing in an advanced role, was instrumental in the build-up. It was his pass to Jackson that set up the goal, and his performance throughout the match highlighted his growing influence in midfield. Despite Leicester’s best efforts to regroup, Chelsea continued to dominate, with João Félix and Madueke regularly testing the Leicester defense.
Leicester, however, showed some signs of life towards the end of the first half. After a few yellow cards were handed out to their players for rough tackles, the home side created a few half-chances. Kasey McAteer fired a shot just wide, and Jamie Vardy, typically a threat in such situations, linked up well with Victor Kristiansen. But Chelsea’s defense, led by Benoît Badiashile and Levi Colwill, was resolute, and Leicester’s attempts came to nothing.
The second half saw Chelsea regain control, and Leicester offered little in terms of attacking threat. Jackson had a chance to double the lead early in the second period when Félix played him in, but Hermansen denied his bending shot. A follow-up from Cole Palmer was blocked by Madueke, but the pressure remained constant.
Finally, with 15 minutes left, Chelsea sealed the victory. Marc Cucurella delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Jackson’s header was saved by Hermansen. The rebound fell kindly to Fernández, who made no mistake, calmly nodding the ball into the empty net to make it 2-0. By this point, Leicester had shown little sign of mounting a comeback, and the game was effectively over.
Leicester, still hovering just above the relegation zone, did manage a late penalty when Roméo Lavia fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid in stoppage time. Jordan Ayew converted from the spot to give the home side a brief moment of hope, but it was too little, too late. Chelsea had already done enough to claim all three points.
For Maresca, the result was the perfect way to mark his return to his former club, even if he might have preferred a cleaner performance from his defense. Chelsea’s dominance in possession and attacking play was never truly threatened, and the Blues left the King Power Stadium with a deserved win that further cemented their position in the upper echelons of the Premier League table.
