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Chelsea 1 – 4 Brentford



Chelsea 1 – 4 Brentford

Brentford produced perhaps the performance of the season to thrash Chelsea 4-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Christian Eriksen among the goal scorers as they sealed a first west London derby victory at their rivals in 83 years.

Thomas Frank’s side impressed in the first half but trailed three minutes into the second when Antonio Rudiger fired home an incredible thunderbolt from 35 yards.

Rudiger and Chelsea supporters celebrated the goal-of-the-season contender wildly – and no one expected what was to come next.

Vitaly Janelt blasted in an equaliser from the edge of the box just two minutes later, sparking a spell which saw the two teams slug away at each other. During the chaos, Kristoffer Ajer pulled off a superb block to deny Kai Havertz.

But it was the Bees who then struck again with a lightning breakaway led by Bryan Mbeumo, who teed up Eriksen to tuck in the second from close range.

It’s another chapter in the fairy-tale return to football for Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Euros last summer but marked his comeback to the international stage with a goal for Denmark last week.

As for the Brentford story, that looks set to continue in the Premier League next season after this incredible win.

Janelt found the net again on the hour mark after a superb pass from Ivan Toney and although Chelsea threw themselves forward in search of a goal back – and should have got one when Havertz rolled a shot from a one-on-one wide – sub Yoane Wissa capitalised on Rudiger’s poor clearance to fire in a fourth.

“Champions of Europe? You’re having a laugh,” sang the travelling supporters, witnessing one of the greatest days in their club’s history.

Team news

  • Chelsea made four changes from their FA Cup win at Middlesbrough, with Romelu Lukaku dropping to the bench and Kai Havertz starting up front. Marcos Alonso took Malang Sarr’s place at left-back, N’Golo Kante came in for Mateo Kovacic in midfield, while Timo Werner replaced Christian Pulisic in attack.
  • Brentford made two changes from the side which lost 2-1 at Leicester before the international break. Christian Eriksen and Mads Roerslev came into the side, with Yoane Wissa and Mathias Jensen dropped to the bench.

The short-term value of the victory is huge – Brentford are now 11 points clear of the relegation zone – and the memories of this triumph will live long in the memory for Bees fans.

The Chelsea season ticket holders – the only Blues fans allowed in due to government sanctions – will want to move on quickly, with the defence of their Champions League title on the line against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

More to follow…

What’s next?

Chelsea are in Champions League action on Tuesday as they host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final; 8pm kick-off. Then on Saturday, April 9 the Blues go to Southampton in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.

Meanwhile, Brentford host West Ham on Sunday, April 10; kick-off 2pm.





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