Chelsea narrowly defeat Manchester United as they tighten their grip on a Champions League spot

Marc Cucurella’s header secured a gritty 1-0 victory for Chelsea against Manchester United, enhancing their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. This win also maintained their impressive unbeaten home Premier League streak in 2025, now extending to 10 matches (W8, D2).

In a bold move, Ruben Amorim named a surprisingly strong team just five days ahead of the UEFA Europa League final, urging his players to demonstrate their readiness for the crucial match in Bilbao on Wednesday.

Right from the start, Chelsea were almost caught off guard when Noni Madueke misfired a close-range attempt over the bar after receiving a well-placed pass from Cole Palmer.

However, it was the Red Devils who initially looked more confident and thought they had struck first when Harry Maguire executed a brilliant sliding finish from a pinpoint delivery by Bruno Fernandes. Fortunately for Chelsea, a narrow VAR offside review spared them from embarrassment.

At the opposite end, Reece James unleashed a stunning long-range shot that crashed against the post, while Palmer was thwarted by a fine save from Andre Onana as Chelsea ended the first half vigorously.

The urgency for all three points was heightened for the hosts when Aston Villa triumphed 2-0 against Tottenham earlier in the evening, putting pressure on Chelsea’s top-five aspirations.

Former Chelsea player Mason Mount aimed to make things even more difficult for the home side but could only skew his shot wide after a promising run and cross from Amad Diallo.

United looked dangerous on the break, and Fernandes’s frustration was evident when he blasted a speculative effort over the bar following good link-up play between Mount and Amad.

There was a glimmer of hope for Chelsea when referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty after a clash between Onana and Tyrique George, only for VAR to overturn the decision upon review.

The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge erupted when Cucurella powered a magnificent header past Onana following an excellent turn and cross by James, with relief sweeping through the stands.

It nearly became 2-0 moments later when Palmer’s pass sliced through United’s defence, but Madueke shanked his shot wide of the goal.

Amad became a key figure in attack for United, and his effort was well denied by Robert Sanchez at the near post as the visitors sought an equaliser.

In the end, Enzo Marseca’s squad held firm to secure a narrow victory, propelling them into fourth place, while Manchester United are left reeling with the longest winless stretch in their Premier League history, failing to win any of their last eight league matches.

However, all will be forgotten if they can secure a win at San Mames on Wednesday; otherwise, it will mark a season of total humiliation for Amorim’s side.