Chelsea mounted a comeback to secure a crucial Premier League point against Manchester United, preventing the Red Devils from achieving their first run of three consecutive home league wins over Chelsea since January 1957.
Following a disappointing EFL Cup exit to Newcastle, Chelsea arrived at Old Trafford looking to turn the tide against United, who had gone 11 straight league games unbeaten at home against the Blues (W5, D6).
The match started slowly, with few clear scoring opportunities on either side. Chelsea’s Noni Madueke came closest to an early breakthrough, heading a corner kick onto the near post. Manchester United responded with Alejandro Garnacho curling an effort straight into Robert Sánchez’s hands, while Rasmus Højlund forced a save after the play had already been called dead.
Just before halftime, Marcus Rashford nearly put United ahead with a volley that struck the woodwork, though a lively second half failed to fully materialize.
Chelsea began to find their rhythm as Pedro Neto narrowly missed the far post with a low shot. With the hour mark approaching, another Premier League draw seemed likely—the most common result between these teams historically.
However, a momentary lapse from Chelsea’s defense proved costly in the 70th minute. A long pass from Casemiro reached Højlund, whose first touch was foiled by Sánchez’s challenge in the box, resulting in a penalty. After a VAR review, Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot.
Chelsea’s response was swift; just four minutes later, a partially cleared corner fell to Moisés Caicedo, who volleyed powerfully from the edge of the area. His shot deflected through Mykhailo Mudryk’s legs and past André Onana to level the score.
In a tense final stretch, Enzo Fernández skied a promising chance, while United’s substitute Joshua Zirkzee couldn’t sustain a late attack at the other end.
Ultimately, both teams left the field feeling they hadn’t done enough to secure all three points. A win would have marked Chelsea’s first consecutive victories over United since March 2011, but they still climbed above Arsenal to reach fourth in the Premier League standings.
For United, the draw sees them sit in 13th place, three points shy of the top half, as they prepare for a new chapter under incoming manager Rúben Amorim after the international break.
