Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Leeds United stunned Chelsea 3-1 in a gritty encounter at Elland Road. The hosts got off to a flying start when Jaka Bijol headed home from Anton Stach’s assist in the 6th minute, setting the tone for a defensive masterclass despite Chelsea’s dominance on the ball. Ao Tanaka doubled the lead just before half-time in the 43rd minute, thanks to a neat assist from Jayden Bogle, which came after Anton Stach picked up a yellow card in the 35th and Chelsea’s Estêvão was booked in the 39th, reflecting a feisty first half where Leeds made the most of their chances despite a run of four straight losses coming into this game.

Chelsea pulled one back early in the second half through Pedro Neto in the 50th minute, assisted by Jamie Gittens, giving them hope after making changes at the break with Malo Gusto and Neto himself coming on. But Leeds held firm, with a VAR check on Lukas Nmecha in the 54th ruling out a third, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the win in the 72nd minute after a defensive nightmare from Chelsea to make it 3-1. This result snaps Leeds’ poor recent form of defeats to teams like Manchester City and Aston Villa, while Chelsea’s unbeaten streak in their last three games came to an end, leaving them frustrated despite controlling play.

Chelsea bossed possession with 71% of the ball compared to Leeds’ 29%, showing how the visitors tried to dictate the tempo but couldn’t break down a stubborn defence often enough. Leeds were more clinical on the counter, racking up 30 successful dribbles against Chelsea’s 67, and they edged corners 4-2, which helped them create those vital scoring opportunities, including two assists that led to goals. Both sides picked up one yellow card each, keeping things fairly disciplined without any reds, and each used all five substitutions – for Leeds, changes like Noah Okafor for Lukas Nmecha and Ilia Gruev for Ao Tanaka at 67 minutes freshened things up, while Chelsea’s half-time swaps like Pedro Neto for Estêvão added spark but not enough to turn the tide.

The game burst into life early when Jaka Bijol scored for Leeds in the 6th minute from Anton Stach’s assist, giving the hosts a lead they defended fiercely. Tensions rose with yellow cards for Anton Stach in the 35th and Estêvão in the 39th, before Ao Tanaka’s goal in the 43rd, assisted by Jayden Bogle, put Leeds two up at the break. After the interval, Pedro Neto’s 50th-minute strike for Chelsea, set up by Jamie Gittens, briefly revived their hopes, but a VAR review on Lukas Nmecha in the 54th didn’t alter the flow, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 72nd-minute finish proved decisive, with late substitutions like Noah Okafor and Ilia Gruev coming on at 67 minutes helping Leeds see out the win.

Leeds United lined up in a solid 3-5-2 formation, with Jaka Bijol anchoring the backline and making his mark early, while Ao Tanaka and Jayden Bogle linked up well in midfield to create chances. Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line effectively up front, supported by partnerships like Anton Stach’s assist work, and changes such as Noah Okafor replacing Lukas Nmecha and Ilia Gruev for Ao Tanaka added fresh legs later on.

Chelsea set out in a 4-2-3-1 shape, relying on creative players like Jamie Gittens to provide assists, with Pedro Neto making an impact after coming on as a substitute to score their only goal. Estêvão started in the attacking midfield but was replaced at half-time, while swaps like Malo Gusto for Benoît Badiashile aimed to shore up the defence, though they struggled to convert dominance into goals.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Jaka Bijol, who stood out for Leeds United with his early goal in the 6th minute that set the foundation for the win. His defensive solidity and that crucial header made him the difference in a game where Leeds had to soak up pressure.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 3-1 vs Chelsea (H)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Manchester City (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Aston Villa (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Nottingham Forest (A)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Brighton & Hove Albion (A)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 1-3 vs Leeds United (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Arsenal (H)
• Win: 2-0 vs Burnley (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Leeds United have just beaten Chelsea 3-1, a much-needed boost after a tough run of four straight league losses that left them 17th on 14 points and flirting with the drop zone. They’ll look to build on this momentum in their next match against Liverpool on 2025-12-06 at 17:30, with the Reds sitting 8th on 22 points and chasing European spots, so it’s a chance for Leeds to pull further away from danger against a strong side.

Chelsea have just lost 3-1 to Leeds United, a setback after a solid patch including three wins and a draw in their last four games, keeping them 4th on 24 points in the hunt for the top spots. They’ll aim to bounce back quickly in their next fixture against AFC Bournemouth on 2025-12-06 at 15:00, with Bournemouth 14th on 19 points and scrapping for mid-table security, making it a good opportunity for Chelsea to regain their winning form.

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