Chelsea defeated Fulham 3–2 in the final match of the 2026–27 Premier League opening round.
The London derby was played at Craven Cottage on Monday 24 August 2026. Chelsea’s victory completed Matchweek 1, which had begun three days earlier with Arsenal versus Coventry City.
The fixture was also notable for the two managers involved. Xabi Alonso took charge of Chelsea, while former Real Madrid player Álvaro Arbeloa led Fulham. Both were beginning new Premier League managerial chapters in the match.
Chelsea’s win was narrow rather than dominant, with five goals shared between the teams. The result gave Chelsea three points, while Fulham began the season without a victory. Because it was played on Monday, the match is sometimes excluded from casual descriptions of the weekend, although it belonged to the opening Matchweek.