Chelsea Edge Brighton 4-3 as Como Stuns Napoli 2-1 in Serie A Action

Chelsea secured a 4-3 victory over Brighton despite recording a record-low 24% possession at home under new manager Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea secured a 4-3 victory over Brighton at Stamford Bridge, marking two wins from two Premier League games for new coach Xabi Alonso. Despite the result, the Blues recorded just 24% possession, the lowest ever for a Chelsea side since data tracking began in 2003-04. The match saw Brighton concede four times while scoring three, including an own goal, a strike following a defensive error, and a final header with the last kick of the game. Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, recently signed from Aston Villa, made several key saves to prevent Brighton from capitalizing on multiple scoring opportunities. The visitors, missing several regulars, failed to convert chances that could have pushed the scoreline to 7-5.

In Italy, Como and manager Cesc Fabregas earned a 2-1 win away at Napoli. The hosts took an early lead through a Rasmus Hojlund goal, which was Napoli's only shot on target in the first half. However, individual errors by Mathías Olivera and André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa led to Como’s two goals. Napoli, coached by Max Allegri, finished the match with 35% possession and a 1.39 to 1.05 expected goals (xG) advantage but managed only five shots in the opening 45 minutes. Inter Milan remains the team to beat in Serie A following a 1-0 win at Cagliari, where Hakan Calhanoglou scored the winner in the ninth minute. Inter dominated with 31 shots and 3.67 xG, though goalkeeper Joseba Martinez was forced to stop two late chances to preserve the clean sheet.

Tactical Shifts and Squad Rotations

Xabi Alonso utilized a 3-4-2-1 formation for Chelsea, starting Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto in midfield due to injuries to Reece James and Moisés Caicedo. Lavia entered the match with a record of only 15 league starts in three years. Caicedo appeared as a substitute but was forced off again with a new injury. The Chelsea lineup also featured Valentín Barco, while Enzo Fernández remains a potential departure before the Tuesday deadline. Offensively, the squad relied on João Pedro to lead the line. At Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi suffered a second straight loss, falling 2-0 to Newcastle United. Anthony Elanga scored the decisive goal at the hour mark. Spurs started Omar Marmoush as a lone striker, supported by 21-year-old Matys Tel and Pedro Porro, who moved up from his traditional right-back role.

European Performance Highlights

Real Madrid defeated Malaga 4-0 under Jose Mourinho, with the game effectively decided within the first 30 minutes. The Madrid lineup featured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Eduardo Camavinga, Marc Cucurella, and Brahim Díaz. Jude Bellingham continued his scoring form from the World Cup, while Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius contributed to the defensive work rate. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund beat Hamburg 2-0. Greek midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, 18, assisted Serhou Guirassy for the opening goal. Giannis Konstantelias, 23, added the second goal with a deflected shot before leaving the game with a non-contact injury. Dortmund’s defense did not allow a single shot in the first half, though substitute Samuele Inácio was sent off five minutes after entering.

Inter Miami and Atletico Madrid Results

Lionel Messi scored four goals to lead Inter Miami to a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal, ending a winless streak dating back to mid-May. This performance marked the ninth four-goal game of the 39-year-old’s career. In Spain, Atletico Madrid defeated Sevilla 3-1 on the road without a traditional center forward. Álex Baena scored twice, while Ademola Lookman, Kang-In Lee, and Giuliano Simeone rotated in a fluid front four. RB Leipzig opened their season with a 3-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach. Antonio Nusa scored in the victory, which featured newcomers Maxime Estève and Rocco Reitz. Leipzig currently operates with a positive net spend of €124 million following the sale of Yan Diomande to Real Madrid.