Chelsea1 - 0Leicester

Cole Palmer passed up the chance to send Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, with the England international seeing his effort kept out by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

It was the first time that Palmer had missed a Premier League spot kick, and Leicester were growing in confidence in London, but Cucurella's brilliant low strike on the hour saw the home side claim a vital three points.

Chelsea have moved above Manchester City into fourth spot in the Premier League table, now only two points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.

Relegation-threatened Leicester, meanwhile, remain 19th in the division, now boasting 17 points from 28 matches, and they are six points behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

This was not vintage Chelsea, far from it, but it will go down as a very important win in the context of their season.

Two defeats from their three Premier League matches ahead of this contest would have dented confidence in the camp, but it would have been a huge setback had they failed to overcome a team surely destined for a return to the Championship.

Chelsea are now fourth, three points ahead of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, and it would go down as a strong season for the Blues if they manage to secure a return to the Champions League for the 2025-26 campaign.

Palmer's form is slightly concerning, with the ex-Manchester City youngster failing to score in the Premier League since the middle of January, but Cucurella ultimately came to the rescue on Sunday afternoon.

As for Leicester, head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy will have been pleased with his side's effort and application in the English capital, but their lack of quality is there for all to see, and the Foxes are now six points from safety with 10 games left to play.

HIGHLIGHTS

22nd min: Cole Palmer missed penalty (Chelsea)

Chelsea are awarded a penalty when Jadon Sancho goes down inside the box under a challenge from Victor Kristiansen, but Palmer sees his effort saved by Leicester goalkeeper Hermansen - that is a first penalty miss by Palmer in the Premier League.

60th min: Chelsea 1-0 Leicester (Marc Cucurella)

Chelsea make the breakthrough on the hour at Stamford Bridge, and the goal comes from Cucurella, with the Spain international smashing one into the bottom corner from distance - what a strike from the full-back.

MAN OF THE MATCH - MARC CUCURELLA

Cucurella produced the standout moment in the match, with his excellent low strike finding the bottom corner, but it was the Spain international's overall performance that earns him the man-of-the-match award.

The left-back completed 37 of his 43 passes on the afternoon, while he was a constant threat to Leicester down the left, with the Foxes simply unable to deal with him when he had space to attack.

CHELSEA VS. LEICESTER MATCH STATS

Possession: Chelsea 57%-43% Leicester

Shots: Chelsea 20-3 Leicester

Shots on target: Chelsea 7-3 Leicester

Corners: Chelsea 12-2 Leicester

Fouls: Chelsea 12-13 Leicester

BEST STAT

WHAT NEXT?

Chelsea will be bidding to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the Conference League when they host Copenhagen on Thursday night for the second leg of their last-16 clash, with the Blues 2-1 ahead from the first leg.

Enzo Maresca's side will then return to league action against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium next Sunday.

Leicester, meanwhile, will be aiming to avoid a seventh straight defeat in all competitions when they continue their Premier League season at home to Manchester United next Sunday.

Written by

Matt Law