Match report
Here is Jacob Steinberg’s verdict. Thanks for joining me, it’s been fun. доброй ночи!
Both sides led in a frantic, thrilling game but Magomed Ozdoev’s superb strike in stoppage time left Chelsea second in Group H
Here is Jacob Steinberg’s verdict. Thanks for joining me, it’s been fun. доброй ночи!
Thomas Tuchel has yet to kick off his post-game press conference yet – TV coveraged moved swiftly on to the 8pm games. We’ll have Jacob Steinberg’s report online shortly. Before I sign off, a tip of the hat to Timo Werner – two goals and an assist tonight, and showing glimpses of the player who lit up the Bundesliga with Leipzig.
After all that drama, Chelsea are left in second place – not the end of the world by any means, but it could mean a tougher tie in Monday’s draw. They can’t be drawn against an English side, of course, so their possible opponents are Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Ajax and the winners of Group G.
You would imagine they would prefer the latter, and who knows – maybe Juve will land PSG. Their other possible opponents are Atlético, Sporting and whoever emerges from Groups E-G tonight.
Simon Burnton is on hand for Chelsea’s clash with Juventus in the Women’s Champions League:
You can join Scott Murray for Manchester United v Young Boys, as Ralf Rangnick rings the changes with United’s progress secured:
Moise Kean’s header proves enough for Juve, who edge Chelsea to top Group H despite their 4-0 loss at Stamford Bridge. Football remains a funny old game.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Juventus | 6 | 4 | 15 |
2 | Chelsea | 6 | 9 | 13 |
3 | Zenit St Petersburg | 6 | 0 | 5 |
4 | Malmo FF | 6 | -13 | 1 |
That’s the final whistle, and Chelsea’s second-half recovery mission fails at the last. Zenit were good value for the draw, and put up quite the fight for a team guaranteed to finish third in the group.
The midfielder, who has only been on for 15 minutes or so, was given time to shoot – but still did brilliantly from 30 yards out, smashing a half-volley into the roof of the net. Kepa got a touch, but Ozdoev’s shot simply had too much sauce.
Apologies, Chelsea fans – Zenit are level, thanks to a brilliant strike from Magomed Ozdoev!
93 mins: Or not – a couple of injury stoppages mean Chelsea have seen out half the allotted time without any trouble.
90 mins: Six minutes of added time. Hold on to your hats!
88 mins: So, without ever really getting control of the game back, Chelsea have turned this around. A couple more minutes to hold on, and they’ll escape this belter of a game still on top of the group.
As with Lukaku’s leveller, Chelsea move through the gears at a frightening pace. From a standing start, Pulisic plays a neat one-two with Ziyech and finds Werner, who is just onside. He cuts inside his marker and fires clinically into the far corner!
Nothing wrong with the finish here, though! Werner sweeps home after another fine attacking move, and after the VAR checks the necessary lines, the goal is given!
83 mins: Chelsea are still struggling for any forward momentum, although Pulisic digs out a cross that has Kerzhakov worried – but Werner’s header is awkward and devoid of power.
80 mins: Zenit win a corner, Chelsea clear it away at the second time of asking. The shots-on-target count is level at six each. Zenit made a third change – why not – with Magomed Ozdoyev replacing Kuzyayev in central midfield.
It’s still 1-0 to Juventus, so Chelsea still need a winner to top the group. Azmoun does go off, replaced by Dzyuba, and Malcom is replaced by Aleksandr Erokhin.
75 mins: Lukaku’s evening is over, his goal drought over at least, even if he looked pretty rusty at times. Kai Havertz replaces him, while Azmoun is keen to continue, wagging a finger at Semak in the dugout. Another Chelsea change, Saul’s stint at wing-back ended as Marcos Alonso comes on.
74 mins: Mostovoy brings down Douglas’ long ball brilliantly and cuts back towards Azmoun, who goes down in a heap after clattering into Sarr. Replays show he ran into the centre-back, and he has to limp off and see the physio.
73 mins: A couple more Zenit corners, the second of which is hoofed downfield by Sarr. Zenit regroup and charge forward once more ...
Don’t forget, you can join Simon Burnton for part two of Chelsea’s big European night here:
70 mins: Another great save from Kepa! Claudinho’s cross is met by a thumping header from Azmoun, low to Kepa’s left – but the keeper gets down brilliantly to keep it out. He’s had a great game tonight.
68 mins: Having paid the price for a more passive approach in the second half, Zenit push forward again, backed by their sky-blue wall of fans behind Kepa’s goal. Actually, it’s more of a “laser blue”, as made famous by third-tier Manchester City in 98-99.
66 mins: Zenit win a rare corner but Chelsea break and Werner pounces on a mistake from Krugovoi – but there are enough defensive colleagues to crowd him out and spare the substitute’s blushes.
64 mins: That superb assist to the assist is Barkley’s last action of the game. He goes off, replaced by Hakim Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic is on for Hudson-Odoi. Danil Krugovoi is on for Zenit, replacing Rakitskiy in central defence.
This is a lovely goal. Barkley and Werner play a one-two, with the former playing a perfect through ball that draws the keeper out of goal. Werner gets to it first and prods sideways to Lukaku, who is onside. He takes a touch and wallops it into the empty net!
60 mins: James’ free kick is headed away but Chelsea build up again patiently ...
59 mins: Douglas nods, or chests, the ball back to his keeper, who can’t keep the ball in play. A cheap Chelsea corner, but nothing comes of it – until Lovren oafishly hauls Werner down to hand Chelsea a dangerous free kick ...
57 mins: Chelsea are pressing higher and forcing mistakes from their opponents – but still look vulnerable when Zenit are able to spring forward. The next goal will be huge, if you’ll forgive my stating the obvious.
55 mins: Lukaku gets on the ball on the edge of the area but can’t adjust to get his shot away. The ball falls to Saul, who stings Kerzhakov’s palms with a fierce strike from a narrow angle.
52 mins: Barkley carries the ball upfield but with Werner and Lukaku standing still, he opts to shoot from distance. His effort is on target, but Kerzakov is right behind it.
50 mins: Wendel, who has impressed in central midfield, is forced off with an injury. Andrei Mostovoy comes on to replace him. He’s a winger and not a direct replacement; it looks like Malcom will tuck into midfield.
48 mins: Hudson-Odoi finds space on the right, but his low cross is cut out.
We’re back under way, with Chelsea looking to push upfield from the get-go.
A reminder that it’s still Juventus 1-0 Malmö in Turin, so Chelsea would need to win here in order to top the group. They are through regardless, but as runners-up they could only draw Bayern, Real Madrid, Ajax or the winners of Group G (Lille, Salzburg, Sevilla or Wolfsburg). If I were Tuchel, I wouldn’t like those odds.
Here come the teams. It doesn’t look like Thomas Tuchel has made any half-time changes, which is somewhat surprising.
Some half-time reading. Sadly, Timo won’t be joining this list of early winners:
Chelsea made a perfect start, going ahead after 90 seconds through Timo Werner. For the next 20 minutes there was little to worry about, but Zenit fought back in style, scoring two quickfire goals and missing chances at a third as Chelsea’s defence fell apart. More soon.
44 mins: Werner gets upfield in response, but is crowded out by a gaggle of Zenit defenders. This has been great knockabout stuff, like the halcyon days of Masters Football.
42 mins: Zenit really should be two goals clear, and when Thomas Tuchel stops being furious, he’ll be grateful to Kepa. Another diagonal sets Azmoun away, and he tries to lift the ball over the keeper – but Kepa gets a big left hand to it!