Joao Pedro's lightning start at Chelsea analysed

Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 4.

Player analysis: Joao Pedro (Chelsea)

Three of Chelsea’s goals so far in 2025/26 have been created by Joao Pedro’s head and Brentford must be aware of this, among the numerous threats he will pose against them on Saturday night.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion star stands at 6ft tall and boasts a tremendous leap.

This was evident when he climbed highest to nod the ball down to Trevoh Chalobah to seal a 5-1 win at West Ham United.

Joao Pedro's assist for Chalobah v West Ham

Earlier in the same match, Joao Pedro also towered above Aaron Wan-Bissaka when powering home his first league goal for Chelsea from a corner. (below)

Last time out at home in the London derby against Fulham, Joao Pedro pulled away from the keeper at the last moment, to nod home from inside the six-yard box from another corner.

Calvin Bassey, like Wan-Bissaka before him, failed to deal with the Brazilian's strength and timing.

Considering Joao Pedro only had six headed attempts on goal in the entirety of the previous campaign with Brighton, this pattern has surprisingly come to the fore.

Yet he did score three headers from 17 attempts in 2023/24, so his prowess in this department should not come as a total shock.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca loves to fill the box with players when the ball is in a crossing position, so Joao Pedro's aerial strength will reap plenty more rewards.

Across the first three matches, team-mate Enzo Fernandez is the only top-flight player to have made a greater number of runs into the box when the ball is out wide in a crossing position.

Most runs into the box MW1-3

Is Joao Pedro a better focal point than Jackson?

Liam Delap’s hamstring injury means we are likely to see Joao Pedro return to a centre forward role this weekend.

That is where he featured against Crystal Palace in Matchweek 1 but his last two starts came as a No 10 behind Delap, in the absence of Cole Palmer.

Wherever he is used, Joao Pedro is always combative and in that respect he offers a differing style to predecessor Nicolas Jackson.

Embracing physical contact, actively engaging in fiercely contested duels with opponents, Joao Pedro relishes winning the ball back or being a focal point.

When you compare some of his early season stats to Jackson’s from last season, on the ground and in the air, Joao Pedro is clearly more aggressive.

How Nicolas Jackson and Joao Pedro compare per 90

Joao Pedro ranks joint-fourth among forwards for duels won and is on his own in fourth for successful aerial duels too.

This determination has helped him win a lot of fouls already, as well as regaining possession in handy areas.

As you can see on this passes received map (below) for the season so far, he is a forward who will offer himself for passes which are both short and long,

Joao Pedro - Passes received 25/26

Key: Green: successful pass; yellow: chance created; blue: assist

Joao Pedro’s pass accuracy of 86.16 per cent is also highly impressive for a player who spends most of his time under pressure inside opposition territory.

So, while he may not offer quite as much threat in behind compared to the speedy Jackson, Joao Pedro does link play excellently, holding it for others to join in with supporting runs.

This could be great news for Palmer, who is due to return very soon from injury.

Making central runs

While Jackson was prolific at making runs for Chelsea in 2024/25, Joao Pedro is showing that he too can stretch sides in a similar way.

In terms of making off-the-ball runs into the final third, he has been one of the division’s most prolific forwards across the first three matches of the season.

Most runs into the final third MW1-3

The pattern of his movement is also interesting.

The overwhelming majority of Joao Pedro’s runs into the attacking third have been down the middle of the pitch, despite having a licence to move wide if necessary.

Lots of those movements are also made from inside his own half.

He may not head there too often, but Joao Pedro can also be impactful from wide areas.

His pinpoint cross for Pedro Neto to score against West Ham was a good example of that.

Brentford centre-backs Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg will certainly have their hands full trying to contain Joao Pedro.

He has shown he can disturb defenders with his physicality, movement and finishing in the early weeks of 2025/26.

Dropping short, but also looking to run past the final line, he is also unpredictable with his positioning.

With Delap sidelined for a few weeks, Joao Pedro now has a great opportunity to establish himself as Chelsea’s No 1 striker.

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