From Stamford Bridge – Chelsea secured their first Premier League title of 2025 with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday evening.
The Blues predictably dominated their struggling visitors, taking a deserved lead through Tosin Adarabuyoyo midway through the first half.
Wolves played on the seed of doubt sown by Chelsea's poor form, with Matt Doherty capitalizing on a blunder from Robert Sanchez on the cusp of half-time.
A flurry of goals shortly after the hour mark from Mark Cucurella and Noni Madueke calmed the growing sense of tension at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues held out for three points that lifted them above Manchester City and back into the standings. Premier LeagueTop four positions.
How the game unfolded
Enzo Maresca described Chelsea's management last January as a “disaster” due to the endless spiral of… transformation Speculation. Results have not eased that pressure, with the Blues winless in five league games heading into Monday night's clash.
The bright start quickly erased the memories of this bad performance. Cole Palmer created chaos between the lines, both wingers overpowered their opposing full-backs, and Mark Cucurella moved with his trademark sense of reckless abandon. However, it was Wolves Who gave Chelsea their breakthrough.
A violent misunderstanding occurred between Matt Doherty and José Sa, whose minds were wracked by the daily pressures of a relegation-fighting club, and they almost put the ball in their own net. The visitors evaded a corner kick that led to the opener.
In the second phase of that free kick, Reece James's deflected shot rebounded gently into the middle of Tosin Adarabioyo's area. Fresh from A Two goals last weekend against MorecambeThe newly prolific centre-back kept his composure and scored the opening goal for Under SA in the 24th minute.
If Chelsea's first strike had come with an assist, Wolves' equalizer might have been wrapped with a bow. Robert Sanchez missed Matthews Cunha's corner kick in first-half stoppage time, sending the ball straight into the path of Doherty, who made up for his earlier mistake with the equaliser.
The Blues regrouped during the interval, and came back in the second half with an lopsided monopoly of possession and chances that characterized the first 45 minutes.
Eventually, Cucurella made that dominance count on the hour mark, capping off a quick squirming move with a curling shot inside the far post before Wolves fired home in the second half. Noni Madueke's cross was crossed by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and found Cucurella's stride who, like his fellow defender, Tosin, crossed the ball from the bottom corner.
Only five minutes passed before Chelsea doubled their lead. The returning Trevo Chalupa soared over a cluster of gold shirts to curl Palmer's free-kick floating into the turf. Before the ball could go into the net, completing a hat-trick of defensive goalscorers for the Blues, Madueke crept into the net to nod home. ChelseaThree o'clock in the evening across the line.
There was a collective feeling of the Blues loosening up during the closing stages, allowing Wolves to maintain the illusion of remaining in the competition. However, Chelsea eventually secured a much-needed win which piled the pressure on their rivals, who sit above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
Check out our Chelsea Wolves player ratings here.
“This place***.” This was Madueke's harsh and harsh assessment of Wolves on social media before he sparked outrage. A hat-trick against Wanderers Back in August. The England international has apologized for his hastily deleted post, but has no reason to regret his impressive contribution against the same opponent again.
Madueke had his way with Rayan Ait Nouri repeatedly and aggressively during the first 20 minutes, prompting Pereira to take an unorthodox approach of switching his full-backs. Nelson Semedo had more success parrying the ball left, but once he gave Madueke more than just space, the headband-wearing striker crossed for Cucurella's goal.
Mariska has He questioned Madueke's work rate Sometimes this season, but the striker showed great desire to steal a goal from Chalupa, heading home from close range before celebrating right in front of the away fans who now have another reason to hate the winger.
Wolves coach Pereira described Cunha as a player who can “take a rabbit and magic in an instant on the pitch and create something special.” Reece James was tasked with dealing with the Brazilian's shenanigans and he did so by turning the duel into a physical battle.
Wherever Kunya roamed, James' massive shoulder was never far away. At one point midway through the second half, the charming Wolves striker drifted into the center circle to escape his main goalkeeper, yet the Blues captain decided to (somewhat) take him to the turf.
There will be those who argue that Cunha wasn't quite himself as he spent the week recovering from illness, but James' entire career has essentially been one long injury comeback. The Stamford Bridge fans certainly showed their appreciation for their captain, treating the right-back to a standing ovation as he walked off in the final 15 minutes.
The speed of Trevo Chalupa's return to the Chelsea first team has been so rapid that the team… The lender noted I haven't even prepared a matchday program for the visit of Wolves.
Maresca insisted that Chalupa, who spent nearly two decades coming through the Blues' academy, only joined Crystal Palace this summer to adhere to the club's Financial Fair Play requirements. After a plethora of defensive injuries, “the best solution was to bring back Treve,” the Italian explained.
Cheers rang out at Chalobah's first challenge on Monday around Stamford Bridge, giving way to a spontaneous explosion of the returning defender's name. The 25-year-old made so many subsequent tackles that the shouts of approval were not only sentimental, they were completely deserved.
It was an almost surreal comeback for Chalupa, whose header bounced off Sa and over the goal line before Madueke headed the ball home.
