Chelsea’s Champions League hopes dealt blow

The Blues entered the contest in a buoyant mood. After downing the champions last week, a third Premier League win on the bounce. But their momentum was stifled on Tyneside.

A predictable structure allowed Howe to adjust, and although Maresca adapted pretty well to Jackson’s dismissal, there’s no denying that the Englishman, who brought to light the limitations of the Italian’s game model, won the battle on the sidelines.

Chelsea’s defeat means they’ll surely have to win out to secure a top-five finish and play in next season’s Champions League. The Blues could be down in sixth by the end of the day. Have to win at Nottingham Forest in what’s poise to be a shootout for Europe’s premier club competition on the final day.

While the defeat arrives at a critical juncture, Maresca may well encourage by his team’s second-half display. Jackson is a big miss, however.

Chelsea struggled to break down an aggressive แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ Brentford side, with Noni Madueke’s first-half shot on target the only real effort of note. Though Jackson injected some life into the attack after halftime, Chelsea was unable to overcome the defensive pressure. Brentford finished strong, with Robert Sanchez denying Bryan Mbeumo and Sepp van den Berg’s close-range header going wide.

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Palmer came agonizingly close in stoppage time, curling a shot inches over the bar, leaving Chelsea to reflect on a missed opportunity as their race for Champions League qualification tightens.