Chelsea vs. Swansea City head-to-head: Last five clashes (WWWDL)

Chelsea plays Swansea City for the 32nd time today as the Blues look to extend their perfect start to the season. How did Chelsea fare in the last five times these clubs met?

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 08: Nemanja Matic of Chelsea and Jack Cork of Swansea City compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on August 8, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Most of Chelsea’s matches against Swansea City came during the Blues’ periodic spells in the old Second Division. Swansea City reached the Premier League for the first time in 2011, becoming a regular part of Chelsea’s schedule since then.

Chelsea have the better of the Swans historically, with 14 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses across all competitions.

0-1, Premier League, 9/4/16

Matt Miazga remembers Chelsea’s last visit to Liberty Stadium as The Day It All Went Wrong. Interim manager Guus Hiddink gave the young American his first start at Chelsea. Rather than thank Hiddink for the opportunity, Miazga paid it forward by puffing a header straight to Gylfi Sigurdsson. Sigurdsson blasted a volley past Asmir Begovic for the game’s only goal.

Swansea had several opportunities to expand their lead through Matt Miazga’s and Baba Rahman’s clumsy defending. Chelsea’s offence offered little support for the defenders. Alexandre Pato missed several opportunities to equalize, sealing what was left of his fate with the club.

When the teams returned from halftime Matt Miazga was on the bench, wondering how this whole “loan army” thing he had been hearing about actually works.

2-2, Premier League, 8/8/15

Somewhere in the world there’s a culture that believes swans are harbingers of doom, and they watched last season’s opener with keen interest.

The Blues began their title defense with a draw at home. Not the worst thing in the world. Then you remember that Chelsea took the lead on a Swansea own goal, and Thibaut Courtois saw a straight red card. His replacement could not stop the ensuing penalty kick with his first act on the pitch. While Swansea had to settle for the draw despite the extra man for 40 minutes, the Blues’ debacle was underway.

Oh, and this was also the Eva Carneiro game.

With all the benefits of hindsight, this game prefigured much of the 2015/16 season. Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas showed off their not-quite-beach bodies. Eden Hazard was passable, but the magic was gone. Chelsea’s only goal was from a free-kick (although not from Willian, as would soon be the norm). And, again, act one of the Carneiro-Mourinho drama.

Who could have known that what happened at Stamford Bridge on this opening day would lead to a sacking, a lawsuit, a journey to within sight of the drop zone and a 10th place finish?

5-0, Premier League, 17/1/15

Happier times. Braces from Oscar and Diego Costa, with Oscar scoring in the first minute, propelled Chelsea to that rarest of all performances: one that drew no complaints from Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea dispelled any thoughts that the holiday period had dulled their momentum. After drawing against Southampton and losing to Tottenham on New Year’s Day, Chelsea outscored their next three opponents 10-0.

This was Chelsea at their most imperious, where every player set the standard against which they would be judged and their title seemed inevitable.

4-2, Premier League, 13/9/14

After a shaky start including a John Terry own goal, Diego Costa took over the game on the stroke of halftime. He nodded in a corner, and then scored twice more in the second half. His hat trick brought his tally up to seven goals in his first four games for the Blues.

Cesc Fabregas assisted on Diego Costa’s first two goals, announcing to the Premier League the partnership that would shred defenses throughout the season. Costa completed the treble by knocking in a not-quite-a-pass-not-quite-a-shot from Ramires. He scored all three of his goals within eight yards of goal, showing that he was the club’s long-overdue true striker.

Costa came off to a standing ovation in the 72nd minute. Five minutes later his replacement, Loic Remy, notched Chelsea’s fourth.

1-0, Premier League, 13/4/14

Chelsea played nearly 75 minutes of the game with a man advantage, but needed a 68th minute strike from Demba Ba to earn a crucial three points. The win put the Blues within two points of league-leaders Liverpool. Two weeks later, Chelsea and Liverpool would meet at Anfield and Demba Ba would score a much more famous goal.

What’s your favorite memory from the Blues’ matches against Swansea City? Anything going back further than these five matches? Let us know in the comments below!