Premier League – Chelsea almost assured of the podium, Everton remains

Chelsea will not move from their third place. At the end of a sometimes pleasant, sometimes boring encounter, the Blues were hooked by a Leicester saved by their early goal (1-1). But thanks to this point, the formation of Thomas Tuchel makes sure to finish on the podium, with three points more than Tottenham and a largely favorable goal difference before the last day. Marcos Alonso answered James Maddison, and the Foxes remain ninth.

Chelsea were guaranteed to qualify for the next Champions League, Leicester not to finish European. There was therefore not a huge stake Thursday evening at Stamford Bridge. But the Blues wanted to make sure of one thing: to lock in their third place to do better than last season. It is now a given, since even a defeat against Watford on the last day would not put them in danger, with a goal difference of +42, against +24 against Tottenham.

A duo of defenders to save Chelsea

Five days after their FA Cup final lost against Liverpool, the London club could still have had a very difficult evening, since James Maddison opened the entry score with a very nice strike from the right (0-1, 6th). The only frame of the evening for the Foxes who only tried their luck… twice. Faced with this minimalist and defensive tactic, Chelsea looked for the key and ended up finding it thanks to their duo of pistons, Reece James depositing a cross on the foot of Marcos Alonso, author of a beautiful volley (1 -1, 34th). But only once.

Because if the locals had their match point on the hour mark, Christian Pulisic totally missed his shot in an ideal position at six meters, on a cross from Romelu Lukaku (62nd) … who had created his best opportunity, of the head, a few seconds earlier. Antonio Rüdiger’s strike well repelled by Kasper Schmeichel (66th) put an end to the big highlight for the Blues, who had more difficulty finding space at the end of the game. Chelsea have not won two games in a row in the Premier League since March, while Leicester for their part collected the point they had come for, to sign a third game in a row without defeat.

A crazy match and maintenance for Everton

There was otherwise more at stake in the other two matches of the evening. Led 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace, Everton has long believed that it would play its survival in the elite during the 38th day, Sunday, on the lawn of Arsenal. But Keane (54th), Richarlison (75th) and Calvert-Lewin (85th) blew up Goodison Park to keep the Toffees in the Premier League. A scenario very far from doing the business of Burnley who, conversely, led on the lawn of Aston Villa before being joined on the return from the locker room (1-1).

The Clarets will therefore be neck and neck with Leeds on the final day, with a reception from Newcastle on the program while the Whites travel to Brentford. If Burnley does not do worse than the former formation of Marcelo Bielsa, it will be maintenance.