Chelsea must reassert title ambitions against struggling Bournemouth | OneFootball

Chelsea travel to Bournemouth on Saturday seeking an immediate response to the damage caused by their midweek collapse at Leeds United.

The 3-1 defeat was one of their most dispiriting performances of the season and quickly erased the sense of momentum they believed they had built by holding Arsenal to a draw last weekend.

Instead of using that draw as a springboard, Chelsea delivered a performance lacking conviction or defensive security and allowed a struggling Leeds side to outplay them in every department.

The result exposed familiar vulnerabilities and left manager Enzo Maresca admitting that his side had been second best from the opening minute.

It also raised questions about whether Chelsea can sustain the consistency required to remain in the title conversation, even after periods of encouraging form.

Bournemouth offer a different kind of challenge for Chelsea – one that should be more manageable.

The Cherries have struggled to translate potential into results, drifting through a run of poor form that has stripped away their usual sense of stubborn competitiveness.

Andoni Iraola’s side have won only two of their last ten league matches. They have surrendered leads with alarming regularity, including a 3-2 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.

Their latest setback came in a 1-0 home defeat to Everton on Tuesday, which ended their unbeaten run at the Vitality Stadium this season.

Bournemouth’s lack of rhythm has surprised observers who once viewed them as one of the most awkward mid-table sides to break down.

They have historically found ways to trouble bigger clubs, even when their form has dipped, and they are likely to view this match as a chance to reset their season.

Chelsea will be mindful of that threat and conscious that their own vulnerabilities have given opponents renewed confidence.

Their away record is one of the best in the league, and they have taken more points on the road than at Stamford Bridge this season. They are unbeaten in their last four visits to Bournemouth.

Maresca will expect his side to control possession but also avoid the sterile domination that defined their defeat at Leeds.

The absence of Moises Caicedo through suspension deprives them of their best ball-winner, and Chelsea have struggled without him in previous fixtures.

Bournemouth’s urgency, Chelsea’s need for a reaction and both teams’ defensive flaws set up a match that could be more unpredictable than expected.