Xabi Alonso led Chelsea to a 3–2 win over Fulham in the 2026–27 Premier League opening weekend.
The Monday fixture was played at Craven Cottage on 24 August 2026, with Chelsea winning away from home. Alonso was listed as Chelsea’s manager for the 2026–27 season, making the match part of his Premier League managerial story.
Fulham were managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, another prominent Spanish football figure, which creates an obvious potential mix-up. Arbeloa led Fulham, while Alonso led Chelsea; the answer is therefore not the manager of the home team.
The result was the weekend’s highest-scoring match, with five goals in total. Chelsea’s 3–2 victory also meant that the opening round ended with an away win, following earlier away victories by Leeds United and the other clubs that travelled successfully.