Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Burnley at Stamford Bridge, dropping points from a winning position once again. Joao Pedro gave the hosts an early lead, but Wesley Fofana's dismissal in the 72nd minute allowed Zian Flemming to equalize deep into stoppage time. The result leaves Chelsea in contention for the top four but highlights ongoing defensive vulnerabilities.
The Premier League match between Chelsea and Burnley kicked off at 3pm at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2026. Chelsea, under manager Liam Rosenior, entered the game on a strong run with four wins and one draw in their previous five league outings. Burnley, managed by Scott Parker, were desperate for points to avoid relegation, coming off a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace but a 2-1 FA Cup loss to Mansfield Town.
Chelsea took the lead in the fourth minute. Moises Caicedo played a precise pass to Pedro Neto, who squared the ball to Joao Pedro for a simple finish. Burnley struggled early but grew into the game, dominating possession toward the end of the first half. An error by Burnley's Kyle Walker gave Cole Palmer a chance to double the lead, but the England forward missed.
The second half saw Chelsea push for a second goal, with Joao Pedro having an effort blocked. In the 72nd minute, defender Wesley Fofana received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on James Ward-Prowse, reducing Chelsea to 10 men. Burnley capitalized on their numerical advantage late on. In the 93rd minute, Zian Flemming headed in the equalizer to secure a vital point for the visitors.
Chelsea's starting lineup included Robert Sánchez in goal, with Reece James as captain, alongside Trevoh Chalobah, Fofana, Malo Gusto, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Neto, Enzo Fernández, Palmer, and Joao Pedro. Burnley lined up with Martin Dúbravka in goal, Maxime Estève, Joe Worrall, Josh Laurent, Bashir Humphreys, Hannibal Mejbri, Lesley Ugochukwu, Walker, Jaidon Anthony, Marcus Edwards, and Flemming.
Both teams had notable absences: Chelsea without Marc Cucurella (hamstring), Levi Colwill (knee), and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (thigh); Burnley missing Connor Roberts (Achilles), Mike Tresor (ankle), and others. The draw extends Chelsea's unbeaten league start under Rosenior but underscores their tendency to drop points from leads at home this season.
