There are times when second halves are good. João Félix has only just returned to the Premier League and still has a lot to prove in a Chelsea shirt, but His re-debut with the London team is already abysmally different from the debut he had back in 2023. Enzo Maresca hoped, as he stated in a press conference, that the Portuguese had learned from his past mistakes, and João Félix went from being sent off with a straight red card two seasons ago to scoring in his first appearance for Chelsea in the 2024-2025 season.
A lot happened at the Molineux Stadium before the former Atlético de Madrid player put the finishing touch to a rout as important as it was crazy. To fight for great things again, you first have to learn to win, and Chelsea did so against Wolverhampton (2-6)But to win, you also have to know how to defend, and that was when, at times, the blues saw their first win of the league season in jeopardy. Former Atlético player Matheus Cunha and the excellent Jørgen Strand Larsen put Chelsea’s defensive reliability to the test, and destroyed itThe 2-2 scoreline with which both teams went into the locker room did not do justice to the offensive storm that the wolves during the first 45 minutes.
Then Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke appeared to rescue their people.. The English, the first with a great goal and three assists, and the second with a fleeting hat-trick, emerged as the heroes of the match for the London team. The defeat against Manchester City in the league opener generated doubts, but The victories against Servette and Wolverhampton in the Conference League and Premier League give Enzo Maresca some breathing room.
2-2 and thank you
The stars aligned in Chelsea’s favour so that, two minutes into the match, Nicolas Jackson was the one to open the scoring at Molineux Stadium and, after the first 45 minutes, Enzo Maresca’s men had only conceded one goal. Although the Senegalese opened the scoring with the first corner of the match, after a poor clearance by Matheus Cunha and a free shot from the far post, Wolverhampton were immensely superior to the London team.
The duo formed by Jørgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha, both with a past in the Spanish LaLiga, wreaked havoc on the back line blue with his runs behind the centre-backs. This led to the Brazilian striker’s first goal, which was ruled out for offside by his Norwegian counterpart, and the thousand and one chances that Gary O’Neill’s men had to equalise the score. Wolverhampton equalised thanks to a long run and virtuoso slalom from Rayan Aït-Nouri, and a perfect finish from Matheus Cunha from inside the area.but when the local team was better, with the rearguard blue without knowing where the wind was blowing and with the Brazilian crashing the possible 2-1 against the crossbar, lThe magic of Cole Palmer burst onto the scene for the first time this year.
The Englishman’s first goal of the season was in true Cole Palmer style. A long ball from Robert Sánchez, a subtle touch from Nicolas Jackson and a perfect chip from ’20’ from outside the area, in the 45th minute, to beat José Sá. Thank goodness that, sometimes, football is a little fair. In the last play of the first half, Jørgen Strand Larsen made his Premier League debut by levelling the score after finishing off Rayan Aït-Nouri’s cross into the box. Another day, Chelsea’s defence was once again a mess, but the quality of their attackers once again made the difference.
And João Félix is back!
Although Wolverhampton deserved more than a draw after the first 45 minutes, football has unpredictable narratives. Noni Madueke started the day as the protagonist of the match off the pitchbut the English winger ended up becoming the big name of the match and hero bluethis time on the grass of the Molineux Stadium.
An Instagram story posted incorrectly by Noni Madueke to all of her followers, in which she claimed about the city of Wolverhampton that “everything about this place is shit”, sparked the ire of the local parish, but Even more painful for the Molineux Stadium spectators was the sight of the Chelsea striker scoring a hat-trick in 14 minutes. Three identical plays in the 49th, 58th and 63rd minutes, in which Cole Palmer enabled and assisted Noni Madueke on the right side, certified the victory of the blues and Wolverhampton. A victory, the first of the season, which only needed the icing on the cake, and that was provided by João Félix.
The Portuguese made his Chelsea debut in style. With the former Atlético player already on the pitch, and after the referee disallowed Mario Lemina’s 3-5 for a previous offside position, The goal that did count was João Félix’s. This ended with an unstoppable shot a perfect counterattack started by Cole Palmer and in which Pedro Neto, compatriot and former player of the wolveswas the assistant. Goal, set and match of the London team with the Portuguese as the protagonist.
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Changes
Pedro Neto (45′, Mykhailo Mudryk), Daniel Podence (58′, Hwang Hee-Chan), John Felix (67′, Nicolas Jackson), Rodrigo Gomes (67′, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde), Craig Dawson (67′, Rayan Aït-Nouri), Pablo Sarabia (67′, Matheus Cunha), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (75′, Moses Caicedo), Renato Veiga (82′, Marc Cucurella), Christopher Nkunku (82′, Cole Palmer), Tommy Doyle (89′, Mario Lemina)
Goals
0-1, 1′: Nicolas Jackson1-1, 26′: Matheus Cunha1-2, 44′: Cole Palmer1-3, 48′: Nonso Madueke2-3, 50′: Jorgen Strand Larsen2-4, 57′: Nonso Madueke2-5, 62′: Nonso Madueke2-6, 79′: John Felix
Cards
Arbitro: Darren England
Arbitro VAR: John Brooks, Gary Beswick
Rayan Ait Nouri (34′,Yellow), Malo want (39′,Yellow), Cole Palmer (43′,Yellow), cucurella (70′,Yellow), Yerson Mosquera (70′,Yellow)
