On February 25, 2025, Chelsea FC delivered an emphatic performance at Stamford Bridge, securing a 4-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League. This win allowed Chelsea to break their recent streak of defeats and build momentum as they eye the top four positions.
The match marked Southampton's continued struggles, as they are currently bottom of the league table. Chelsea, under the management of Enzo Maresca, aimed to turn around their form after losing three consecutive matches, including disappointing defeats against Brighton and Aston Villa.
From the outset, Chelsea maintained control of the ball. Southampton’s defense initially held firm, attempting to implement man-to-man marking effectively. But it was Chelsea who found the breakthrough first. At the 24th minute, Enzo Fernandez's corner reached Tosin Adarabioyo, whose flicked header fell to Christopher Nkunku. Nkunku, who has faced criticism recently, reacted quickly to bundle the ball home and open the scoring.
Feeling the pressure of the goal, Southampton attempted to respond, creating some chances of their own. Yet, their efforts were thwarted when Chelsea doubled their lead shortly thereafter. At the 36-minute mark, Marc Cucurella intercepted the ball and passed it to Nkunku, who selflessly assisted Pedro Neto, allowing the Portuguese forward to penetrate the area and slot home with precision.
Southampton tried to muster some defensive resilience, but their hopes dimmed as Chelsea netted their third goal just before halftime. Levi Colwill headed home from another corner, this time taken by Neto, leaving the score at 3-0 as the teams went for the break.
The second half saw Chelsea continue to dominate the proceedings. Despite some tactical changes from Southampton, which included substituting Onyeka for additional attacking options, Chelsea's steadfast defense kept them at bay. By the 78th minute, the game was all but secured when Marc Cucurella capped off Chelsea's scoring. He skillfully found space within the box and converted from George's cross, finalizing the scoreline at 4-0.
This decisive win halted Chelsea’s recent disappointing streak, allowing them to claim much-needed points and reaffirm their position just outside the Champions League qualifying places, sitting two points above Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Southampton's woes deepened as they suffered their third consecutive loss, remaining firmly at the foot of the league with only nine points from their first 26 matches—recording just two wins, three draws, and twenty-one losses this season.
Looking forward, Chelsea’s next challenge will be against Leicester City on March 9, which they hope will continue their resurgence. For Southampton, time is running out to escape the relegation zone, and they will need to regroup quickly if they wish to avoid the drop.