Manchester United improved their possibilities of a top-five end with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, however Chelsea suffered a fourth successive defeat within the Premier League.
One other help from Bruno Fernandes gave Matheus Cunha (his 18th within the league this season) a objective late within the first half on Saturday that proved decisive.
Chelsea began effectively however did not create any good possibilities till Enzo Fernandes, who had returned from suspension, struck simply after the half-hour mark.
Then, within the dying seconds of the sport, Fernandes swung previous former United winger Alejandro Garnacho and fed an outstanding ball into the field from which Cunha scored his fifth Premier League objective in opposition to Chelsea, greater than he had scored in opposition to some other workforce.
Chelsea elevated the strain within the second half and had 15 pictures, however solely one in every of Liam Delap and Wesley Fofana went on course.
Moises Caicedo, who simply signed a brand new contract with Chelsea this week, was drilled simply broad within the closing phases, however United’s deteriorating protection held agency because the Blues continued their depressing run.
10 – Bruno Fernandes turns into the fourth participant to succeed in 10 assists in a season in a Premier League away recreation, following Mazie Izzet (10 assists) in 2003/04, Cesc Fabregas (11 assists) in 2014/15 and Mohamed Salah (11 assists) in 2024/25. journey pic.twitter.com/KwwnEnyzWT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 18, 2026
Information report: United on the verge of returning to the Champions League
United missed out on European qualification altogether final season and endured their worst Premier League marketing campaign in historical past, however they’re now near returning to the Champions League.
The Crimson Devils’ efficiency below supervisor Michael Carrick was typically wonderful, bouncing again resiliently from the shock loss to Leeds United, which was much more spectacular given the absence of all of their senior centre-backs.
Aiden Haven and makeshift centre-back Nousair Mazraoui had nice shifts, making 4 and one clearance respectively, Luke Shaw had a team-leading seven clearances and Diogo Dalot contributed 4.
United are at present 10 factors away from sixth-placed Chelsea and have a 98.4% likelihood of ending within the Champions League locations, based on Opta’s supercomputer. Chelsea’s possibilities of ending within the high 5 have now fallen to eight% after the Blues misplaced 4 league video games with out scoring for the primary time since 1998.
Liam Rosenior’s aspect completed with 21 pictures and an anticipated objectives in opposition to (xG) of 1.55 to United’s 0.29, however Senne Lamence was by no means really examined.
Nevertheless, United’s victory was largely as a result of Fernandes’ expertise. He’s simply two away from tying Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s single-season Premier League file of 20 assists.
