CHELSEA have won the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with Lille.
Kai Havertz headed the Blues in front unmarked after just eight minutes before Christian Pulisic scored a second after a brilliant run from N’Golo Kante.
But Thomas Tuchel’s men have suffered a blow with Hakim Ziyech being forced off injured, leaving a doubt for the Carabao Cup final.
There are no away goals in this season’s Champions League after the rule was scrapped.
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That’s all from the Bridge
It’s advantage Chelsea in the Champions League Round of 16 after the holders got the better of Lille on Tuesday night.
The Londoners made it three wins from three for English sides in the knockout stage so far, and attention will now turn to Manchester United tomorrow as they visit Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, these two sides will meet again for the second leg at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in three weeks time, but before then the Blues have the small matter of the League Cup final to negotiate.
Join us on Sunday to see whether Thomas Tuchel’s team can get their hands on even more silverware as they face Liverpool.
Goodnight.
Boss Tuchel regrets Kovacic injury
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel faces an anxious wait on Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech to see if they are available for Sunday’s League Cup final.
The two Chelsea players were both substituted in the second half after picking up knocks, but Tuchel has revealed that he wishes he had replaced the Croatian at half-time when an issue first became apparent.
Instead, Kovacic was given the opportunity to run the complaint off, only to pull up minutes after the restart.
However, Tuchel believes there is plenty of time between now and the final for his players to recover, and for other key tactical decisions to be made.
I should have substituted [Mateo Kovacic] at half-time so we could have saved one more change. I did not speak to the doctor yet about Hakim [Ziyech], I hope it is not too much. It is the story of the season, we only make substitutions because of injuries. Today is Tuesday, there are a lot of days to recover until Sunday.”
Kai makes role his own
Kai Havertz will surely lead the line for Chelsea in Sunday’s League Cup final against Liverpool.
In for Romelu Lukaku tonight after the Belgian’s seven-touch nightmare at Crystal Palace, the German was a menace from the off.
Havertz opened the scoring with just eight minutes on the clock, registered four attempts at goal, and touched the ball on 46 occasions.
Ed a safe pair of hands
With Edouard Mendy back between the sticks, Chelsea have tonight become the first English team in the history of either the European Cup or Champions League to win five consecutive home matches without conceding a goal.
The Senegalese international has kept as astonishing 14 clean sheets in his 18 Champions League appearances.
And to think there were some wondering if he’d reclaim his place on returning from the African Cup of Nations.
Credit: @OptaJoe Twitter Match stats from Stamford Bridge
Chelsea scored with half of their shots on target as they fought their way to a first leg lead in their Last 16 Champions League tie with Lille.
Full time – Chelsea 2-0 Lille
A professional performance, a routine win, and Chelsea will take a two-goal lead to Lille in three weeks time.
Goals in either half from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic have the European champions with one foot in the quarter-finals, and it’s now on to the League Cup final on Sunday.
The only downside to tonight’s performance were the injuries suffered by Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech with both players now in a race against time to be fit for the weekend’s Wembley encounter with Liverpool.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
90+5. Just as the home fans relax in the knowledge of a job well done, Mendy presents them with one final moment of panic.
The Chelsea goalkeeper completely slices at a free-kick out by the corner flag, and almost – almost – presents Yilmaz with an open goal.
Thankfully for Mendy and most inside Stamford Bridge, the striker fails to control and the opportunity passes. Phew.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
90+4. The short answer is no.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
90. The fourth official puts up the board to signal five minutes of stoppage time.
Is there a twist in this contest yet?
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
88. Chelsea are heading for an important first leg lead.
Tonight’s performance may not have been as impressive or spectacular as Manchester City’s in Lisbon, or Liverpool’s in Milan, but it is the kind of professional display that ended with the Blues becoming European champions last year.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Ben Arfa yellow card
86. The second corner is somewhat less successful.
Ben Arfa is slow to react as the attack breaks down, and then finds himself well off the pace as he chases back after Werner.
In the end, all there is to do is bring down the German, and the subsequent caution is an inevitability.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
85. Away goals may not count in this competition anymore, but Lille are pushing to find one in the final few minutes.
Les Dogues win a corner on the right that ends up falling nicely for Ben Arfa to strike. The substitute’s volley cannons off a Chelsea defender and goes behind.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Loftus-Cheek yellow card
83. The first yellow card of the night is shown to Chelsea substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The midfielder was late to react as he dived in on Bamba, catching the Little midfielder on the instep.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Lille substitutions
81. Another two changes, but they include an interesting introduction.
Jonathan David and Renato Sanches make way with Edon Zhegrova and former Newcastle ace Hatem Ben Arfa on in their place.
Ben Arfa, now 34-years-old, was recently picked up on a free transfer following the end of his contract with Bordeaux.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Chelsea substitutions
80. A double substitution by Thomas Tuchel brings Timo Werner and Malang Sarr into the game.
Off for a breather go Christian Pulisic and Marcos Alonso.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Lille substitution
78. Lille make a change that sees Swedish defender Gabriel Gudmundsson on in place of Tiago Djalo.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
77. Havertz is good to continue but he may not get much longer with the Chelsea bench preparing a double change.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
76. A firm but fair challenge from Botman puts Havertz knee-first into the electronic advertising hoardings. Ouch!
Another injury is definitely not what’s needed at this stage.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
74. Buoyed by his goal, Pulisic tracks all the way back to his own touchline to block Sanches’ path to goal.
The home crowd appreciate what they see, and chants of “USA! USA!” go up from the Shed End.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
72. The Blues have slipped into a 3-5-2 formation since Saul’s introduction.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
71. Christian Pulisic’s goal was the sixth goal scored in the Champions League knockout stages by an American.
The Chelsea man is responsible for three of those six, but who got the others? Answers on a postcard…
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
68. Chelsea fans are now suggesting that Thomas Tuchel should utilise more of his bench with five substitutions at his disposal tonight, and the League Cup final on the horizon.
But a two-goal lead can quickly be halved, and with 90 minutes in France still to face, this quarter of the game could yet prove crucial.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille – Lille substitution
65. The Ligue 1 side respond to that second Chelsea goal by making their first change.
Thirty-six-year-old striker Burak Yilmaz is on up front, replacing midfielder Amadou Onana.
Chelsea 2-0 Lille
62. Breathing space for the Blues!
It’s a beautifully worked goal involving two beautiful players in Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante.
The Brazilian helps to break up a move deep in the Chelsea half, and picks out the French midfielder with a crisp pass.
It’s then over to Kante to do what he does so well. Accelerating away from Xeka, he drives forward over the halfway line and towards the Lille box.
Backing off and backing off, the visiting defenders finally make a move towards Kante, who chooses that precise moment to slip a pass through for Chrisian Pulisic to slide home.
Goal! Pulisic makes it two!
Chelsea double their lead at the Bridge!
Christian Pulisic has his fourth of the season!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
