Match Summary
Chelsea cruised to victory with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Burnley in Conte’s most convincing display so far this season, and The Chelsea Chronicle was in Stamford Bridge to witness the action.
Goals by Hazard, Willian and Moses were the very least Chelsea deserved in a perfect match, coupled with the hosts halting a run of 13 home Premier League games without a clean sheet.
It leaves Conte delighted, and Chelsea top of the table, in a match where Chelsea had 22 shots, 10 of which were on target, compared to Burnley who did not test Courtois once.
All it took was nine minutes for Hazard to get back to his best. Matic found the Belgian who slalomed past the Burnley midfield and back-line, driving forward in full flow, cutting inside on his favoured right-foot and curling the ball past Heaton. It was predictable Hazard, but still there was no denying him and Chelsea’s first goal of the game.
Burnley were on the back foot from that moment, with Hazard nearly doubling his tally for the afternoon when his shot was somehow saved on the goal-line, before Cahill volleyed narrowly wide.
The pressure was relentless: Oscar and Terry were the next to go close as Chelsea, through Hazard, Willian and Oscar, created opportunity after opportunity.
The dominance would not translate into a second goal frustratingly, with Costa having the best chance to but for Heaton’s point-blank save.
Just before half-time though, Willian pounced with Costa the provider. The Spaniard found the Brazilian on the right, and with one shimmy onto his right-foot, the winger drove his unstoppable shot past Heaton. Like with Hazard’s opener, this was predictable Willian, but a goal no less.
Arfield’s chance on the stroke of half-time was enough to give Chelsea a warning as they headed into the break, but it proved to be short-lived as Chelsea continued to dominate in the second half.
Willian fizzed a free-kick just high, whilst Costa had a chance himself, but it was Hazard who was the shining star, nearly adding a third with a sublime volley from Willian’s corner. Heaton could only parry to Terry, who somehow missed an open goal.
The whole team were clearly enjoying proceedings on a sunny day at Stamford Bridge, with Azpilicueta and Matic combining well to start a move which flowed via Kante, Costa and Willian before landing at the feet of Hazard, whose shot was saved. Costa was unable to convert the rebound.
Moses, Pedro and Batshuayi came on in the final quarter of an hour and the former two did add the icing on the cake for Conte’s men, with Pedro’s cross finding Moses sliding in at the far post, for a convincing three goals and three points as the Blues head into the international break.
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Man of the Match
EDEN HAZARD: The Belgian was back to his best today after a poor season last season, and has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League games alone. Not only that but his ingenuity is something Chelsea, whilst cannot solely rely on, must continue to nurture and exploit because on his day this man is explosive and can break open any defence. 8/10
Manager Reaction
Conte added to the praise: “I want Hazard to be decisive at the beginning and I am pleased because I saw this today. I am pleased to see the team play well and create a lot of chances. After 13 games where we have conceded at home, we didn’t this time and that is very important.”
Dyche knew his side was outclassed: “They were far too good today. They are too strong in all areas. We want to take on the challenge and I think the lads got too sucked in with the result from last week.”