Chelsea 4-3 Brighton & Hove Albion: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Premier League Matchday 2 · Sunday 30 August 2026 · Stamford Bridge, London · referee M. Oliver · full time
Full time: Chelsea 4-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea won 4-3 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in Premier League Matchday 2 on Sunday 30 August 2026. The goals: Roméo Lavia 4', Pedro Neto 14', João Pedro 32', Malick Yalcouyé 35', Cole Palmer 74', Pascal Groß 90+6'.
How Chelsea won it
The opening goal came in the 4th minute: Roméo Lavia for Chelsea. Pedro Neto made it 2-0 to Chelsea in the 14th minute, set up by Morgan Rogers. João Pedro made it 3-0 to Chelsea in the 32nd minute, set up by Jorrel Hato. Malick Yalcouyé made it 3-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 35th minute. An own goal by João Pedro made it 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 63rd minute. Cole Palmer made it 4-2 to Chelsea in the 74th minute, set up by João Pedro. Pascal Groß made it 4-3 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 90th minute (+6).
It was 3-1 at half-time.
The referee, M. Oliver, showed 4 yellow cards: 1 to Chelsea and 3 to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chelsea: X. Alonso Olano, 3-4-2-1 · Brighton & Hove Albion: F. Hürzeler, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.26 for Chelsea and 3.36 for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chelsea scored about 2.7 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Brighton & Hove Albion created the better chances, 3.36 xG to 1.26, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Chelsea had 6 shots on target, Brighton & Hove Albion 6.
Brighton & Hove Albion had 74% of the ball, but Chelsea took the points.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Chelsea came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 2.0 and conceding 2.4 a match, with 1.55 expected goals for and 1.71 against, and had won 40% of their matches.
Brighton & Hove Albion came into it with 5 Premier League matches played, scoring 3.2 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 2.18 expected goals for and 1.74 against, and had won 60% of their matches.
Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion: the match in numbers
| Chelsea | Match statistics | Brighton & Hove Albion |
|---|---|---|
| 26% | Ball possession | 74% |
| 1.26 | Expected goals (xG) | 3.36 |
| 17 | Total shots | 15 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 6 | Big chances | 5 |
| 227 | Total passes | 647 |
| 68% | Pass accuracy | 88% |
| 4 | Corners | 7 |
| 6 | Fouls | 12 |
| 12 | Tackles | 9 |
| 4 | Saves | 1 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 3 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: João Pedro (Chelsea), rated 8.2 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Chelsea
- João Pedro 8.2 1 goal, 1 assist
- Emiliano Martínez 7.4
- Pedro Neto 7.4 1 goal
- Roméo Lavia 7.4 1 goal
- Morgan Rogers 7.3 1 assist
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Malick Yalcouyé 7.5 1 goal
- Pascal Groß 7.5 1 goal
- Mats Wieffer 7.1
- Olivier Boscagli 6.8
- Luka Vuskovic 6.6
The lowest-rated starter was Bart Verbruggen at 5.3. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Chelsea: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth Saturday 10 October 2026 · Premier League
- Brighton & Hove Albion: Sunderland vs Brighton & Hove Albion Saturday 10 October 2026 · Premier League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion
What was the score in Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion?
Chelsea 4-3 Brighton & Hove Albion (half-time 3-1), Premier League, Sunday 30 August 2026.
Who scored in Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion?
Roméo Lavia 4', Pedro Neto 14', João Pedro 32', Malick Yalcouyé 35', Cole Palmer 74', Pascal Groß 90+6'.
Did Moneyball predict Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion?
João Pedro, rated 8.2 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion?
M. Oliver.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.