EPL: Chelsea edge Burnley 2-0 to mount pressure on Arsenal

Chelsea strengthened their Premier League title hopes on Saturday with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley. 

Pedro Neto opened the scoring for the Blues just before halftime at Turf Moor, giving Chelsea control of the game. Enzo Fernandez later sealed the win with a late goal, ensuring all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side.

The result lifts Chelsea to second place on the table, now three points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday.

Maresca’s men have now won eight of their last ten matches across all competitions, making the game a fitting way to mark his 50th Premier League match in charge.

It was the ideal warm-up for Chelsea ahead of a crucial week featuring home games against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the Premier League on 30 November.

The west Londoners would drop back to third place if Manchester City avoids defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but regardless of that result, their hard-fought victory in freezing Lancashire added to their title momentum.

“It’s tough after the international break, 12:30, Burnley away, it’s always a hard game. But the way we competed I’m very happy,” Maresca said.

“To come here and not concede is very difficult, but overall, they only had one real chance.

“It was very important to keep the momentum from before the international break. Now we’ll recover our energy and on to Tuesday.”

Fourth-bottom Burnley have now lost five of their last seven league matches.

Chelsea were without Cole Palmer after the England forward extended his prolonged injury absence by fracturing his toe after stubbing it on a door. Palmer had been set to resume training this week after two months out with a groin problem.

Adding to Maresca’s issues, fatigued Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo was left on the bench after arriving back from international duty on Thursday.

Maresca had complained about Chelsea being given the early Saturday kick-off again. His mood wasn’t improved in the fifth minute when Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez accidentally booted the ball into Fernandez’s head, a miscue that left the Argentine midfielder needing a brief concussion check.

Fernandez was able to play on, and despite that painful interlude, Chelsea eventually took control.

Neto’s effort from the edge of the area deflected wide before Jamie Gittens lashed over from a tight angle.

Kyle Walker bailed out Burnley on his 400th Premier League appearance with a last-ditch block to stop Gittens tapping in Neto’s cross.

Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was fortunate not to concede a farcical penalty when the defender used his hand to stop Sanchez’s pass inside his own area before returning the ball to the keeper. Sanchez appeared not to have restarted play, instead letting Chalobah take the goal-kick, so Burnley’s hopes of a penalty were dashed.

Maresca’s men made the most of that let-off to take the lead with a well-crafted goal in the 37th minute.

Marc Cucurella showed a deft touch to control a high ball into the Burnley area before passing back to Gittens. Lofting a pinpoint cross to the far post, Gittens picked out Neto, who delivered a superb diving header into the far corner.

Neto’s fourth goal this season was almost followed by another for Chelsea as Liam Delap’s drive forced a save from Martin Dubravka. Gittens’ deflected strike flashed just wide early in the second half.

Neto, picked out by Fernandez’s pass, was inches away from doubling Chelsea’s lead as his fierce blast cannoned into the near post.

Unmarked inside the Chelsea area, Zian Flemming wasted Burnley’s best opportunity to snatch an equaliser with a wild shot that cleared the bar.

But Fernandez put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute, capping a flowing move with a clinical close-range finish from Marc Guiu’s pass.

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