Reece James and Marc Cucurella combined for a terrific goal as Chelsea beat Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Friday, boosting their top-five hopes in the process.
The Blues matched Aston Villa’s Week 37 win and are now the second of three teams on 66 points along with third-place Newcastle and fifth-place Villa, two points behind Arsenal and one ahead of Manchester City.
WATCH — Chelsea v Manchester United full match replay
Arsenal host Newcastle at 11:30am ET Sunday, while Man City won’t play its 37th game until Tuesday versus Bournemouth thanks to the FA Cup Final vs Crystal Palace.
Sixteenth-place Manchester United remain there following the loss, their 39 points one more than their Europa League Final opponents in Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea’s coming
Enzo Maresca’s men weren’t at their best, no question about it. They also never stopped grinding and played the sort of suffocating defense that allows an attack to know it likely only needs a moment or two to get the win. Reece James — gone for so much of the season — supplied it with a tremendous move that left Alejandro Garnacho looking for a clue, and Marc Cucurella delivered a picture-perfect header. Maresca’s team understand what he wants and he’s done a pretty masterful job of getting buy-in from a gigantic squad. Barely anyone will leave this summer unless Maresca wants them gone, and their ages say that this season can be their floor. Levi Colwill is 22, Malo Gusto 21, Moises Caicedo 23, Cole Palmer 23, Enzo Fernandez 24, and the list goes on from there. Now if they can just avoid a Week 38 slip-up against Forest...
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
United meet Spurs in Bilbao for Wednesday’s Europa League Final before hosting Aston Villa in Week 38.
Chelsea go to Nottingham Forest in Week 38 before heading off to Wroclaw, Poland, for the UEFA Conference League Final with Real Betis on May 28.
Chelsea vs Manchester United LIVE Updates
Kickoff time: 3:15pm ET Friday
Stream: Premier League on Peacock
Chelsea vs Manchester United final score: 1-0
Goalscorers: Marc Cucurella 71'
Full time — Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
A deserved three points for the Blues, as Man Utd were limited to five shots and 0.44 xG.
Man United subs
Two moves for Man Utd in the 81st minute.
Ayden Heaven is in for his first match since March, taking the place of Luke Shaw.
Kobbie Mainoo is also into the game for Bruno Fernandes.
Amad saved by Sanchez
Strong dribble by Amad Diallo, creating some space past Cucurella and tearing into a left-footed effort which is parried by Robert Sanchez.
About 10 minutes plus stoppage left in London.
Marc Cucurella goal — Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (71st minute)
Reece James spins with the ball outside the Man United box, sending fresh into the game Alejandro Garnacho out for snacks.
James then delivers a brilliant cross to the back post, where Marc Cucurella makes zero mistake with his header.
Wow.
What an assist.
Man United subs
Alejandro Garnacho and Manuel Ugarte enter the fray for Mason Mount and Casemiro.
Chelsea penalty overturned!
Andre Onana comes flying out to meet Tyrique George on a breakaway, and George hits the deck.
The referee calls for a penalty, but this looks like a dive as Onana might’ve gotten a piece of the ball before minimal if any contact on the player.
Still 0-0, 64'.
Halftime — Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United
Almost all Chelsea in terms of attacking moments, with shot attempts 7-1 and xG reading 0.53-0.13.
But United had the ball in the goal, denied by a super-close offside call against Harry Maguire, and have held more than half of the ball.
Reece James injury
James goes up for a 50/50 with Patrick Dorgu and lands awkwardly on the United back’s foot.
He leaves the pitch for a moment but will re-enter to finish the half.
James sends ball screaming wide
Madueke drives play and Reece James sweetly catches a side volley that just zips wide of the frame.
0-0, 25'.
VAR denies Maguire opener
Bruno Fernandes’ cross is met by a sharp Harry Maguire run, and the big man snaps the ball over the line.
But VAR finds the big English back offside by a bicep at most.
0-0, 19'.
Chelsea come close!
Moises Caicedo leads a rush and then chops it to Cole Palmer in space.
Palmer sends a beautiful diagonal toward Noni Madueke, who knifes over the far from close range.
0-0, 5'.
Mount in focus
Mason Mount has looked like a real contributor for Amorim, and this will be his first Premier League start as a visitor to Chelsea since leaving the club a couple of summers ago.
Chelsea vs Man United team news analysis
Tyrique George will get the chance up top with Nicolas Jackson suspended and Marc Guiu still not fit for the 18.
United will seemingly play Mason Mount alongside Casemiro in the midfield.
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, George
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Amad, Mazraoui, Casemiro, Dorgu, Fernandes, Mount, Hojlund
