Chelsea’s seven-game unbeaten streak came to a halt on a tough night in Yorkshire, as Leeds United overpowered the Blues 3–1 at Elland Road on Tuesday.
The hosts came out flying and took the lead just six minutes in, when defender Jaka Bijol headed in a near-post corner that slipped past goalkeeper Robert Sánchez despite his touch. Chelsea struggled to find rhythm against a physically dominant Leeds side and were punished again shortly before the break. After a high press forced a turnover, Ao Tanaka drilled a low strike into the bottom corner in the 43rd minute, doubling Leeds’ advantage.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca responded with changes at half-time, introducing Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto. The switch paid off quickly when Neto met Jamie Gittens’ cross at the back post to pull one back in the 50th minute. For a brief spell, Chelsea looked capable of turning the game around, with Liam Delap and Alejandro Garnacho coming close to equalising.
But Leeds regained control and restored their two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute. A chaotic sequence in Chelsea’s box saw Sánchez make an initial save, only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to pounce on the rebound from close range.
Chelsea pushed forward late on—most notably through substitute Cole Palmer, making his long-awaited return from injury—but Leeds’ defensive organisation held firm, denying the Blues any route back into the contest.
Maresca’s side will need to regroup quickly as they turn their attention to a Premier League trip to Bournemouth this weekend, followed by a Champions League clash with Atalanta next Tuesday.
