Blues undone as Red Devils clinch 2-1 victory
Manchester United secured a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, with Bruno Fernandes opening the scoring and Casemiro adding a second before halftime. Despite United being reduced to 10 men after Casemiro’s red card, Chelsea pulled one back through Trevoh Chalobah, but the Red Devils held on for a crucial victory.
Key moments:
5’ – Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez was sent off for a reckless challenge on Bryan Mbeumo, leaving Chelsea with 10 men.
14’ – United capitalized on the numerical advantage as Bruno Fernandes scored his 100th goal for the club, turning in a header from Patrick Dorgu.
38’ – Casemiro doubled United’s lead with a header from a Luke Shaw cross.
45+5’ – Casemiro was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Andrey Santos, reducing United to 10 men.
80’ – Chelsea pulled a goal back through Trevoh Chalobah, who headed in a cross from Reece James.
Final Whistle – United held on to secure a 2–1 victory over Chelsea.
Tactical tussle :
United dominated early: Took advantage of Chelsea’s red card, controlling possession and using wide attacks to stretch the defense. The key to their win was the fast-paced counterattacks and their ability to outnumber Chelsea’s defensive shape. Casemiro was holding deep, with De Ligt coming forward from his position to outnumber Chelsea’s midfield.
Chelsea’s compact shape- Enzo Maresca made 3 changes after the red card incident in the first half only, forming a 5-3-1 formation to defend against United. After Casemiro’s red card, Maresca shifted Chelsea to a more attacking mindset, but United’s defense stood up and stopped Chelsea from scoring more than 1 goal.
X – Factors:
Bryan Mbeumo – Caused early chaos, fouled by Sánchez, leading to a red card.
Bruno Fernandes – Opened scoring, excellent link-up play in midfield.
Trevoh Chalobah – Showed attacking threat with Chelsea’s lone goal.
Reece James – Active on the right flank, involved in Chelsea’s counter-attacks.
Manager’s post-match interview:
Maresca reflects on Manchester United defeat:
After just a few minutes, the red card made everything very difficult for us, not only for Chelsea but for any team. All our plans went out the window. We tried to stay organized, adjust tactics, and defend with five when needed, but it was hard, and yes, the first goal may be offside, maybe not; it’s part of the game. The key thing was the red card. It changed everything. Still, I think we showed character, created chances, and fought until the end.
Amorim on United win:
We started aggressively, took advantage of Chelsea’s early red card, and scored two goals. However, Casemiro’s dismissal before halftime complicated things. His eagerness to win shows he cares, but we must avoid such situations. Despite Chelsea’s late goal, we held on for a crucial win. It’s vital to maintain this urgency and focus as we move forward.
| Key Stats | Manchester United | Chelsea |
| Possession | 55% | 45% |
| Shots | 14 | 11 |
| Shots on target | 6 | 4 |
| Corners | 5 | 3 |
| Yellow card | 2 | 3 |
| Red card | 1 (Casemiro) | 1 (Sanchez) |
| Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
- Manchester United’s 2–1 victory over Chelsea lifts them from 17th to 10th place in the Premier League standings, offering a much-needed boost to manager Rúben Amorim’s tenure. Chelsea remain in 6th position, trying to keep pace with the table toppers.
- Now can Amorim’s United build on the momentum for something special, or will Maresca’s Chelsea have the last laugh?.
