Chelsea vs Lille LIVE: Champions League result and final score as Pulisic and Havertz goals give Blues lead
Reaction as Chelsea resumed the defence of their Champions League title at home to Lille in the last-16
Goals in each half from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic earned defending champions Chelsea a solid 2-0 last-16 first-leg victory over Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the London side will be concerned about injuries to key players.
Havertz, who had already had two attempts on goal early in the game, headed down a Hakim Ziyech corner in the eighth minute and the ball bounced high off the turf into the net.
Chelsea left struggling striker Romelu Lukaku on the bench and it was Pulisic who hit the second in the 63rd minute with a curling finish after N’Golo Kante’s surging run and pinpoint pass.
Ligue 1 champions Lille, who topped their qualifying group ahead of Salzburg, VfL Wolfsburg and Sevilla, kept Chelsea busy going forward with buzzing runs from Renato Sanches, Benjamin Andre and Jonathan Bamba.
But efforts from all three and from Canadian striker Jonathan David were either blocked, usually by defensive rock Thiago Silva, or collected easily by Edouard Mendy in the Chelsea goal.
Chelsea, who face Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday, may be satisfied with taking a two-goal lead to Lille for the second leg on March 16. But they will be concerned for the fitness of pivotal midfielder Mateo Kovacic and of in-form Ziyech who both limped off early in the second half.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Lille
6 mins: Chance! Antonio Rudiger slots a diagonal ball over to Cesar Azpilicueta on the right side for Chelsea. Azpilicueta brings the ball under control and then slots it quickly into the six-yard box. Kai Havertz makes a run inbetween the two Lille centre-backs and gets to the ball. He sticks out his left leg to try and tap the ball into the back of the net but it bounces awkwardly, hits his leg and loops over the crossbar.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Lille
3 mins: Chelsea work the ball over to Marcos Alonso over on the left wing. He whips a deep cross into the box and picks out Cesar Azpilicueta. Chelsea’s captain nods the ball back into the middle of the area but Sven Botman gets to the ball first and works it clear for the French side.
Chelsea 0 - 0 Lille
Kick off: Lille get the match underway with a long ball up the pitch towards Amadou Onana. He attempts to flick the ball on for Jonathan Bamba only manages to nod it out for a Chelsea throw in deep in the home side’s half.
Chelsea vs Lille: Here come the teams
The players make their way out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge. Cesar Azpilicueta returns to lead out the Blues. Jose Fonte captains Lille. Can the Ligue 1 champions shock the home side this evening?
Kick off is next...
Chelsea vs Lille: Tuchel on dropping Lukaku
Thomas Tuchel spoke to BT Sport before kick off and explained his reasoning for leaving Romeluk Lukaku on the bench for tonight’s game against Lille. He said:
I felt he (Romelu Lukaku) was a bit tired and exhausted, he has played a lot, extra-times, travelling and it was not the best performance (v Crystal Palace) so maybe it is easier to come off the bench and turn things around if needed.
“The two systems are not too different, we played 4-1-4-1 against Palace and now we have closer distances in passing. We have four players for the counter-attacks and if in doubt then go with what everyone is used to. We felt no need to change it.
“Perfect stage for the underdog to overperform, Lille are a physical team, disciplined team and have absolutely nothing to lose. It makes their preparation easier but we are here to give them a hard time, implement our style and intensity and take care of the result by performance and work rate.”
Chelsea vs Lille: Warm ups over
Less than 10 minutes to go until kick off at Stamford Bridge. The warm ups are over. Can Chelsea emulate Manchester City and Liverpool and get their knockout stages underway with a victory?
Chelsea vs Lille: Lille’s star man
22-year-old Jonathan David is the main threat for Lille tonight. He has 12 goals this season and has scored in each of his side’s last three Champions League games, ensuring they emerged as winners of a group also featuring Salzburg, Sevilla and Wolfsburg.
Chelsea vs Lille: Kovacic on the Champions League
A decade ago Mateo Kovacic made his debut in the Champions League and he has been speaking about the lessons he’s learned from 10 years at the peak of European competition. He said:
Ten years is a long period of time, so you learn a lot,
“I learned that you need to have a lot of patience to get to the top, and not only in football. That leads me to the Champions League games. You have to have patience and work hard in order to win the biggest trophies.
“I think that Chelsea were a great example. We started the tournament last season with a lot of patience without much pressure, and we ended up achieving what very few people expected – to win the Champions League. That’s a lesson I learned.
“Patience is the most important thing because, when you have that and when you work hard, you achieve the biggest things.”
Chelsea vs Lille: Thomas Tuchel searching for ‘freedom’ as Chelsea eye more cup success
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has backed his knock-out kings to deliver again when they host Lille in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg on Tuesday.
The Blues needed an 89th-minute winner from Hakim Ziyech to clinch all three points at Crystal Palace on Saturday following a subdued performance in which Romelu Lukaku only had seven touches of the ball.
While Chelsea have struggled for consistency in the Premier League this season and look to be out of the title race, they continue to be cup specialists.
Thomas Tuchel searching for ‘freedom’ as Chelsea eye more cup success
The Champions League holders resume the defence of their European title on Tuesday and contest the Carabao Cup final next Sunday
Chelsea vs Lille: Lille versus English teams
Lille are in the round of 16 for only the second time. Their first attempt, in 2006/07, ended in defeat against English opponents as Manchester United won 1-0 away and at home.
Their record in two-legged knockout ties against English clubs is won one, lost two. The most recent contest cam against Liverpool in the 2009/10 Europa League round of 16 (1-0 h, 0-3 a).
Their sole success came against Aston Villa in the 2002 Intertoto Cup semi-finals, a 2-0 away second-leg win completing a 3-1 aggregate triumph; that victory in Birmingham remains Lille’s only one in England (one drae, five defeats).
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