Xabi Alonso won his first Chelsea match when Chelsea defeated Fulham 3–2 during the 2026–27 Premier League opening weekend.
Chelsea began the campaign with a west London derby at Craven Cottage on Monday 24 August 2026. Alonso’s side took control through goals from João Pedro, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.
Fulham fought back through Josh King and Gonzalo García, but Chelsea held on for the victory. The result made Alonso’s competitive debut as Chelsea manager a successful one.
The fixture also marked a notable coaching meeting: Álvaro Arbeloa was in charge of Fulham. Because both managers were making prominent debuts in English football, it is easy to confuse the winning manager with the coach on the losing side.