Brentford 0-0 Chelsea Player Ratings: Uninspiring Blues Held To Goalless Draw In Rugged London Derby

Chelsea played out a cagey 0-0 draw against Brentford in the London Derby in the Premier League at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday, April 5, 2025. While both goalkeepers were tested throughout the game, neither side had that cutting edge final third and were forced to accept a draw, with Chelsea holding onto the 4th place in the table.

Enzo Maresca’s side had a big chance to score the opener in the 1st minute itself, but Christopher Nkunku could only guide Reece James’ free kick wide of the goal. The hosts started taking control after that, as Yoane Wissa hit the sidenetting in the 3rd minute after linking up with Bryan Mbeumo. Wissa then also had a shot on target blocked by Reece James in the 20th minute.

Mikkel Damsgaard had a chance to score from a close-range free-kick in the 27th minute, but guided his effort over the bar. However, seconds later, Robert Sanchez came clutch to deny Damsgaard’s effort from close range. Mbeumo got in a nice position in the 32nd minute before blasting a shot just wide of the goal. Noni Madueke managed a shot on target two minutes later, which was easily grabbed by Mark Flekken. Chelsea had another decent chance to take the lead in the stoppage time of the first half, but Tosin Adarabioyo could only guide an inviting James’ free-kick wide.

The Blues started dominating the game after the break, with Brentford letting them control possession and run at them. Nicolas Jackson was introduced at half-time and almost made an immediate impact, being sent through on goal by Enzo Fernandez in the 50th minute, only to divert his shot wide. Trevoh Chalobah diverted a header wide four minutes later, before substitute Pedro Neto tested Mark Flekken with a powerful effort in the 61st minute. Reece James came close to scoring three minutes later, but Mark Flekken’s sharp reflexes denied him.

Cole Palmer, who came on as a substitute, had a right-footed attempt go wide in the 64th minute too. Brentford started piling the pressure after that with Bryan Mbeumo’s emphatic close-range shot forcing a brilliant save from Sanchez in the 79th minute. Sepp van den Berg missed a sitter, diverting an open header over the bar a minute later. Palmer had a huge chance to score in the 94th minute, but saw his shot fly over the bar, forcing both teams to share points. Here are the Brentford vs Chelsea Player Ratings.

Brentford Player Ratings

GK – Mark Flekken – 8/10

Flekken was quite sharp in his goal, coming up with some superb reflex saves to deny the Blues. Did especially well to deny Neto and James’ efforts in the second half. Made six saves to help his side get a clean sheet.

RB – Kristoffer Ajer – 6/10

Struggled against the pace and trickery of Sancho, not being able to keep a lid on his movement. Made a few decent challenges, but had little creative threat going forward.

CB – Nathaniel Collins – 7.5/10

The Irishman neutralized Nkunku’s threat with his bullish defending, marking him tightly and cutting out a lot of Chelsea’s attacks. He won many duels and made a few key interceptions to torment the visitors.

CB – Sepp van den Berg – 5.5/10

The 23-year-old did a decent job holding together a sturdy backline, making several key clearances and regaining possession well. Missed an absolute sitter from close range in the second half.

LB – Keane Lewis-Potter – 7.5/10

The young full-back was an energetic presence on the left, dribbling past bodies to get into some promising attacking areas. He was defensively solid, neutralizing Madueke’s threat and winning eight duels!

DM – Christian Norgaard – 6.5/10

The Brentford skipper did pretty well to disrupt the flow of Chelsea’s movement through the central channels. He regained possession quite a few times and did well moving the ball forward.

CM – Mikkel Damsgaard – 5/10

Damsgaard lacked his finishing boots, scuffying a few decent chances in the Chelsea final third. He couldn’t create much and was often dispossessed in the final third.

CM – Yegor Yarmolyuk – 6/10

Yarmolyuk maintained his movement well, cutting out quite a few of Chelsea’s attacks. Not as proactive as his captain, but did a decent job to make things tougher for the visitors.

RW – Bryan Mbeumo – 5/10

Mbeumo created a few nice chances for his teammates, nailing some promising final passes into empty spaces. Couldn’t get as involved in the game as he’d like, but forced a top save from Sanchez late on.

LW – Kevin Schade – 6/10

Schade was a problem with some of his dribbles, moving into some promising areas to cause trouble. However, he failed to test the goalkeeper or set up anything big.

CF – Yoane Wissa – 5.5/10

Wissa got at the end of a few nice chances in the first half, but his finishing skills were underwhelming. Put a nice chance into the side netting early on. He got into some promising situations, but his final product was just not there.

SUB – Vitaly Janelt – 6/10

Janelt added some more steel and sturdiness to his side’s midfield, stopping Chelsea’s flow.

SUB – Mathias Jensen – 6/10

Put in a decent shift in the midfield.

SUB – Michael Kayode – 6/10

Did well to help his side hold on for the clean sheet.

Manager – Thomas Frank – 7/10

Frank shaped up his side in a pretty sturdy shape that did its job in frustrating Chelsea and not letting them play their natural game. His side did a great job of stopping their counter-attacks and set-piece threat, forcing their chances from awkward areas. However, he couldn’t inspire his side to be prolific in the breaks.

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Chelsea Player Ratings

GK – Robert Sanchez – 7.5/10

Despite a shaky start, Sanchez showcased impressive confidence and fearlessness with his goalkeeping work. He pulled off some stunning saves to frustrate the hosts and often came away from his line to save his side from trouble. Produced a top save to deny Mbeumo in the second half.

CB – Tosin Adarabioyo – 7/10

Adarabioyo was a bit too aggressive with his challenges, being baited into losing his position and making unnecessary challenges. Improved as the game wore on, making some timely clearances.

CB – Trevoh Chalobah – 7/10

Chalobah was proactive in the defensive line, popping up in the right areas to make some key clearances and doing a good job of frustrating Wissa.

LCB – Reece James – 8/10

The Chelsea skipper was sturdy and reliable at the back, tracking the Brentford attacks perfectly and keeping a lid on Mbeumo’s threat. He made 10 possession recoveries and many key clearances. Unlucky not to get an assist despite creating some big chances with his excellent set-piece play.

DM – Malo Gusto – 6/10

Gusto put in a lot of hard work to do his best in nullifying the hosts’ movement through the left. Made a few vital challenges and regained possession quite a few times too.

DM – Moises Caicedo – 7.5/10

The 23-year-old continues his bright form with another energetic display in the midfield. He constantly disrupted Brentford’s flow with his timely tackles and by winning key duels in midfield, driving his side forward emphatically.

CM – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6.5/10

Dewsbury-Hall put in a rugged performance, winning the ball back on many occasions with his defensive contribution. Maintained a nice energy in regaining possession but failed to create much.

CM – Enzo Fernandez – 7/10

Fernandez was Chelsea’s creative outlet on the day, creating quite a few big chances by producing excellent passes into the final third. Showed a lot of energy in getting himself into the danger areas, helping his side dominate possession. Scuffed two decent late chances.

RW – Noni Madueke – 4.5/10

Only had a shot on target in the first half easily collected by the goalkeeper. Failed to do much with the ball, not creating anything noteworthy nor coming close to scoring before being taken off.

LW – Jadon Sancho – 5.5/10

Sancho made a few nice forward runs, creating a few half-chances for his side. His defensive work was admirable, but still lacks that spark in lighting up Chelsea’s attack.

CF – Christopher Nkunku – 4/10

Had a chance to score in the first minute, but scuffed his header wide. Lost more duels than he won and couldn’t get at the end of anything else. Taken off at the break.

SUB – Nicolas Jackson – 5/10

Jackson had a few nice chances soon after coming on, but his shots weren’t threatening enough for Flekken.

SUB – Cole Palmer – 5/10

Palmer helped carry the ball into more dangerous areas, but his final pass was underwhelming. Had a shot go wide after coming on, and saw a late effort go over the bar.

SUB – Pedro Neto – 6/10

Neto tested Flekken with a venomous attempt after coming on, but couldn’t create much.

SUB – Marc Cucurella – N/R

Helped his side keep the clean sheet until the end.

Manager – Enzo Maresca – 6/10

Maresca seemingly tweaked his tactics to shape his side up in a strange three centre-back system. While it ensured they were defensively sturdy and neutralized Berntford’s key attackers, it also impacted their playing style. They couldn’t play with freedom in the attack and were restricted to predictable attacking patterns. His substitutions failed to change the game either.

Sportsdunia’s Man of the Match for this game goes to Reece James.

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