Chelsea moved up to second place in the Premier League after a commanding 3-0 victory over managerless Wolves at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a flurry of second-half goals that sealed a comfortable night for Enzo Maresca’s side.
It was a slow start for the Blues, who dominated possession but lacked urgency before the break.
Despite Wolves sitting deep and offering little going forward, Chelsea struggled to convert their control into meaningful chances until after halftime.
Malo Gusto finally broke the deadlock early in the second half, heading home his first-ever career goal after Alejandro Garnacho’s teasing cross caught the Wolves defence flat-footed.
That opener sparked Chelsea into life as the floodgates opened.
João Pedro doubled the advantage with a powerful strike, his second in as many league games, after brilliant work from substitute Estêvão, who made an immediate impact following his introduction.
The points were sealed when Pedro Neto, arguably Chelsea’s standout performer this season, turned in a third goal from close range after another dynamic run and assist from Garnacho.
Maresca, who has drawn criticism for his heavy rotation this season, now up to 93 changes across all competitions, made eight alterations from the midweek draw with Qarabag.
However, the Italian could justify his decisions after a dominant display that kept Chelsea’s momentum alive following their narrow win over Tottenham.
Returning striker Liam Delap, back from a hamstring injury, had a quiet outing on his home comeback, while Wolves failed to muster a single shot on target throughout the contest.
Their only notable effort came in the 60th minute when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde fired harmlessly over the bar.
Chelsea, who had been booed off after a goalless first half despite enjoying nearly 75% possession, finally rewarded their fans’ patience with a clinical and confident second-half performance that leaves them firmly in the chase at the top of the table.
