Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez suffered an unexpected blow during the match between Chelsea and Everton, which forced him to be immediately taken to the hospital. The incident occurred on Saturday at Stamford Bridge stadium, when Martínez came face to face with defender Jarrad Branthwaite in a set piece in the Chelsea area. Both players lunged hard for the ball, but the Argentine was the one who lost his balance and fell to the ground, receiving a forceful impact that caused a head injury.
The Chelsea doctor treated the goalkeeper on the pitch, placing him in a neck brace and giving him oxygen. After eight minutes of care, Martínez was taken off on a stretcher and immobilized, although he remained conscious. The match was stopped for almost ten minutes while the evacuation was carried out and the severity of the injury was assessed. With Chelsea's starter leaving, coach Xabi Alonso replaced Martínez with Belgian goalkeeper Mike Penders, who made his Premier League debut at the time.
The goal that opened the scoring for Chelsea was scored by Pedro Neto, who also scored the team's second goal. Despite the initial advantage, the match was marked by interruption and concern for Martínez's health. Club doctors have yet to reveal the exact extent of the injury, but the goalkeeper was sent to hospital for further evaluation.
Chelsea and the Premier League are closely monitoring Martínez's development. The goalkeeper is expected to receive a definitive diagnosis in the coming days, which will determine his availability for future matches. Meanwhile, Everton will continue with their campaign, although the incident has added a layer of uncertainty over Chelsea's performance without their first-choice goalkeeper. The club's next phase will depend on Martínez's speedy recovery and his replacement's ability to maintain defensive stability.