Chelsea marked Xabi Alonso's home debut with a 4-3 victory over Brighton on August 30, 2026. The Blues built a 3-0 lead early through Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto, and João Pedro, but a Brighton fightback, powered by Malick Yalcouyé's debut goal and Pedro's own goal, threatened a collapse. Cole Palmer restored the lead with a curling finish, though defensive frailties persisted. Despite the win, questions remain about Chelsea's title challenge given their susceptibility under pressure. Enzo Fernández was absent from the squad, with his departure for Manchester City appearing likely, while Robert Sánchez's errors post-Martinez arrival suggest further changes. Xabi Alonso praised Emiliano Martínez as a World Cup winner ready to perform, stating, "With Emi, he's a World Cup winner, 34 years old, lots of experience." Moises Caicedo sustained an injury lasting just 12 minutes after coming off the bench. Pascal Gross netted a late consolation header, but Chelsea held on to win deep in stoppage time.

Key moments saw Chelsea take control quickly. Pedro flicked on Neto's corner in the fourth minute, and Bart Verbruggen's clumsy swipe gifted Lavia the opening goal. Morgan Rogers and Jorrel Hato set up Neto's second before half-time. Brighton pulled one back via Yalcouyé, but Pedro's own goal after Gross's cross left Chelsea reeling. Palmer's decisive run and finish secured the win, though Moises Caicedo's early exit concerned the bench. Alonso remains optimistic about his new signing's impact despite the defensive concerns highlighted by the victory.