Sussex

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea and Brighton both enjoyed impressive wins in their opening fixtures of the new season.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes ahead of their meeting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (14:00 BST).

A first Premier League match at the Chelsea helm proved to be an eventful one for new manager Xabi Alonso.

Joao Pedro was awarded the number nine shirt ahead of this season and rewarded that faith by netting after just 31 seconds – the quickest goal ever scored by a team in their opening Premier League fixture.

If Chelsea's fast start promised a straightforward contest, it proved to be anything but in the visitors' 3-2 win.

Cole Palmer deservedly dominated headlines in a triumphant return to form after setting up the opener and scoring what proved to be the winner in the second half, but Alonso will be equally pleased with the performance of debutant Morgan Rogers.

The £117m summer signing from Aston Villa scored Chelsea's second goal and created five chances from open play for the first time in his Premier League career, while he was also their most effective presser.

However, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez did look vulnerable once again, with the Blues now failing to keep a clean sheet in their past 17 Premier League games.

They next face a Brighton team who opened their 2026-27 account by scoring four goals against Villa – their biggest victory on the opening day of a league season in 26 years since beating Mansfield Town 6-0 in the fourth tier.

The Seagulls recorded an expected goals tally of 3.4 from open play – their highest on record – to continue an excellent opening-game record of five wins and a draw in their past six Premier League campaigns.

Central to their success against Villa was an effective high press, long a hallmark of a Fabian Hurzeler team but one that was executed with particular aplomb last Sunday.

Brighton amassed 19 high turnovers, their second highest tally in a league match since Hurzeler joined the club two years ago, although Jack Hinshelwood, who scored a brace last weekend, is set to miss several weeks because of a training ground injury.

Four goals against Villa is followed by a fixture in which the Seagulls tend to flourish in attack. They have triumphed in the past three top-flight meetings with Chelsea, scoring three goals on each occasion.

The last team to score three or more goals in four consecutive league games against the Blues was West Ham United between 1972 and 1974.

Brighton, though, will be wary of an opposing goalscorer who so recently played for them. Danny Welbeck could face his former club for the first time since departing Amex Stadium for Stamford Bridge earlier this summer.

Welbeck is Brighton's highest goalscorer in the Premier League, with 46 goals in 176 appearances. He's also the highest scorer in this Premier League fixture, scoring six times in total – including four at Stamford Bridge.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton's draw is complete - Fabian Hurzeler's side now know the six sides they will be meeting in the Conference League's 36-club league phase.

The teams were seeded into six pots based on their results in Uefa competitions over the past five years, with pot one being the highest-ranked and pot six being the lowest-ranked.

Each club has been drawn against one team from each of the six pots, but they can only play a maximum of two teams from one country and they cannot play against a team from their domestic league.

The Albion will face: Monaco (home), Panathinaikos (away), CS Craiova (home), Getafe (away), Kauno Zalgiris (home), Jablonec (away).

The order of those fixtures will be announced by Uefa in due course.

League phase dates:

Matchday 1: 15 October 2026

Matchday 2: 22 October 2026

Matchday 3: 5 November 2026

Matchday 4: 26 November 2026

Matchday 5: 10 December 2026

Matchday 6: 17 December 2026

Knockout phase dates:

Knockout phase play-offs: 18 & 25 February 2027

Round of 16: 11 & 18 March 2027

Quarter-finals: 8 & 15 April 2027

Semi-finals: 29 April & 6 May 2027

Final: 2 June 2027, Istanbul

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Yankuba Minteh: "He is a player for Brighton and at the moment there is nothing else to say. I admire from him that when this window is closed that he is fully committed to this club. Of course there are always dreams of players and there are some wishes for players but in the end we always need to figure what is best for the club and therefore we had an exchange with him. At the moment he's definitely a Brighton player. I can't say anything more so let's see what happens."

• When asked about an update on Minteh's return: "He is in rehab now. It won't be a short-term injury, it will be a few weeks so hopefully he can heal fast and become an important player for us again."

• Hurzeler discussed Friday's Conference League draw and Brighton's chances in the competition: "In every cup competition you have chances so of course, in certain moments you need a little bit of luck, a little bit of momentum but overall I think the success from the English teams is also the belief, the confidence to do it so we know it is a different year, a different area so let's see how it's going this season."

• When asked if he would be happy with his squad if the window closed now: "Yes. There's a minor issue with small injuries but I'm not here to complain, I'm here to find solutions together with my team and that's what we try to do since day one so yes, I'm happy with the squad."

• On Georginio Rutter and Jack Hinshelwood's fitness: "With both, we will have to be patient. There might be a chance for one of them to be in the squad [against Chelsea]. With Jack we have to be more patient. Let's see how the next weeks are going. I can't give you a clear schedule when the players will be back. We have to go day-by-day. With Gini, I see a higher chance that he might be part of the squad. Jack we'll have to be more patient. Let's see."

• When asked about the availability of new signings Jaouen Hadjam and Promise David: "I'm quite convinced they will be options for us at the weekend and that's positive. I think they are two great players. Two great personalities. They make our squad stronger."

• Hurzeler warned his side cannot defend against Cole Palmer "one-to-one" and instead must be collectively good around the forward and Chelsea's other talents.

• On Danny Welbeck: "We had a really, really good relationship and like I always said, I was really grateful working with him because he helped me a lot. He helped me on the pitch. He helped me beside the pitch. Therefore I'm really delighted to see that he scored yesterday. On Sunday he can take a break and then afterwards I wish him all the best again."

• On Diego Gomez who could make his 50th appearance v Chelsea: "From the second he arrived, he showed a great impression. From the first second he stepped more and more into his role and is becoming a very important player for us so therefore I'm really delighted with his development so far. He still has more things for us. We need to give him now this chance to develop. He shows an unbelievable motivation of improving every day and therefore I think the future can be very bright for him."

Listen to commentary of Chelsea v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Rangers remain in talks with Brighton for winger Amario Cozier-Duberry after a previous bid was rejected. (Rangers Review), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Brighton's 4-0 win against Tromso that secured the Seagulls a place in this season's Conference League.

Here are some of your comments:

Sarah: We're looking strong and decisive. The atmosphere at the Amex was electric and the players looked like they were enjoying themselves. Respect to the Tromso fans, who bounced, clapped and waved flags throughout the whole game. What a fantastic level of support for their team; so refreshing after years of seeing Premier League fans sloping off early as soon as they go two goals down!

Ed: Ridiculous depth in the squad to take it on. Probably come up short but Ajax in the final could be memorable! UTA

Fran: Excellent training match. Looked really good all over the pitch. Tromso didn't really offer anything and defensively we do look really solid. Next up, Brighton reserves on Sunday!

Mick: Brighton have a good squad and look a fair team again. They will give the big clubs problems again this season. They don't really care who they play, they just go for it and attack.

Chris: Olivier Boscagli is making himself indispensable and a key component of the first XI. Fair play to the guy after what must have been a hugely frustrating 2025-26 season.

Image source, Getty Images

Fabian Hurzeler says he is "very happy for the whole club" as Brighton confirmed their place in the Conference League league phase with a 4-0 win in their play-off second leg against Tromso.

The Seagulls' boss said: "I'm very happy for the players, for the fans – they created another good atmosphere. It was very energetic, very special."

After a 0-0 draw in the first leg despite 25 attempts on goal, Albion were ruthless on Thursday, with goals from Charalampos Kostoulas, Maxim de Cuyper, Mats Wieffer and Olivier Boscagli.

Hurzeler added: "We are very grateful for this opportunity. We know it will be a big challenge we have to face, but we seem to be ready."

"The key will be that we can maintain these standards. They key will be that we can maintain this intensity in the Premier League but also in Europe.

"Hopefully we are prepared for that. We will try to give our best, go game by game, and then we see what happens."

The draw for the league phase will take place at 12:00 BST on Friday.