Chelsea moved into second place in the Premier League after a 2–0 win over Burnley on the road this Saturday, a result that says a lot more about the team’s current form than the score itself. With goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández, Enzo Maresca’s side reached 23 points, jumped ahead of Manchester City and closed the gap to just three behind Arsenal, creating a competitive picture that would’ve sounded unlikely a few weeks ago.
Neto takes charge and Chelsea settles in
Burnley started by pushing high and trying to work the ball wide through Anthony and Tchaouna. Chelsea had to defend quite a bit early on, and Chalobah, Santos and Tosin handled the pressure with key blocks in the box.
Once the team caught its breath, Chelsea began finding pockets of space. Delap wasted a promising chance by shooting wide when Neto and Gittens were in good positions, but the team adjusted its decisions in the final third, and the opening goal came right as the match tilted in Chelsea’s favor.
Cucurella carried the ball through midfield, Gittens received it on the flank and delivered a sharp cross. Pedro Neto attacked the ball with a diving header and scored his third goal in his last five starts. Early in the second half, the Portuguese forward struck the post in a play Dubravka managed to touch just enough.
Chelsea kept pushing. João Pedro tried from distance, Gittens forced a save and Pedro Neto remained a constant threat. The team created chances but struggled to finish the game earlier than it could’ve.
Enzo closes it out and Chelsea confirms its growth
Burnley’s big moment came with Zian Flemming, who shot over the bar after a high ball caught Badiashile off guard. It was the only real scare. Soon after, Chelsea regained control and pushed Burnley back again.
The goal that sealed the match started with Sánchez, moved through Pedro Neto, who dribbled past two defenders, and reached Marc Guiu. The young forward powered through his marker, drove into the box and sent a low cross for Enzo Fernández to finish from close range.
The win doesn’t suddenly make Chelsea a title favorite, but it does show consistency, something the team had been missing. It’s now three straight victories without conceding and with a rising volume of chances, a stretch that reflects a clearer team identity and a much more stable approach.