Good evening and welcome to tonight’s coverage of Chelsea’s final Champions League group game against FK Krasnodar of the Russian Premier League.
As it stands Chelsea sit top of the group with 13 points, two ahead of Sevilla while Krasnodar have the chance to qualify for the Europa League as long as Rennes don’t win in France.
Chelsea make ten changes from their 3-1 win over Leeds on Saturday. The only player to remain is Kai Havertz. Tino Anjorin makes his first ever start for Chelsea having made an appearance off the bench in last season’s 4-0 win over Everton.
FC Krasnodar make six changes from their 5-0 win over Rotor on Saturday.
1′: Kick off at Stamford Bridge taken by the visitors and immediately Chelsea press aggressively and try and dominate this game from the first minute.
5′: Havertz plays in Billy Gilmour whose shot from distance strikes Tammy Abraham before going wide. The Scottish midfielder hasn’t lost his confidence during his rehabilitation from his long term knee injury.
7′: Krasnodar break forward through Wanderson but he was well tracked by Anjorin who pressures him off the ball just outside Chelsea’s 18-yard box. The 19-year-old tracked the run all the way from Krasnodar’s box.
11′: Neat passing before a cross is blocked by Emerson, the shot from Tonny Vilhena blasted just over the bar.
15′: Big early chance for Krasnodar, after a neat one-two Viktor Claesson’s shot flies wide of the far post.
17′: And so the German should. His manager spoke very highly of him in the press conference yesterday. He suggested Havertz is going to be a great player for Chelsea but also one of the best players in the world!
19′: Emerson feeds Havertz 20 yards out, the German lays it off to Mateo Kovačić who blazes it high and wide. A confident start from both sides, the shooting has been confident. Wayward, but confident.
21′: Anjorin is not short of confidence as he takes two players out of the game with a back heel to Gilmour who drives past another player. They are playing this like it’s a youth game. Someone remind them this is Europe’s elite competition.
24′: GOAL Chelsea 0-1 FC Krasnodar. Another neat period of passing play down the left wing, Rémy Cabella slides it in at the near post. That’s the last thing Kepa Arrizabalaga would have wanted on his return, Krasnodar’s first shot on target ends in the net. Neat finish, though.
27′: Chelsea have the chance to equalise from the spot as Tammy Abraham beats his man, only to be brought down. Jorginho will take the resultant kick.
28′: GOAL Chelsea 1-1 FC Krasnodar. Jorginho routinely rolls the ball in the right corner, sending Evgeni Gorodov the wrong way. The nonchalance of the skip in the run-up and the skill to be so clinical with it.
30′: Abraham has a chance to put Chelsea ahead just two minutes later, Havertz slides him in only to put his shot wide of the front post.
30′: Andreas Christensen leaves the field after a heavy fall competing for a header. He holds his lower back. Fikayo Tomori is warming up but the Danish defender returns to the field.
33′: The referee chests the ball down for Kovacic and, as per UEFA rules, brings it back for Chelsea to resume possession. The Blues would have liked to carry on in the attacking position they gained. Rules are rules..
36′: If it wasn’t for a poor touch by Igor Smolnikov, Krasnodar could have added a second. The touch runs the ball out of play and Chelsea get the ball back.
38′: Gilmour takes an awkward volley on but it’s tame and the Krasnodar keeper isn’t troubled by that effort.
41′: Fluid passing around the 18-yard box by the home side. Moving the ball from left to right, winning a corner. It comes to nothing though.
43′: No Kurt Zouma or Thiago Silva in the heart of the Chelsea defence tonight. It doesn’t seem as assured without one of the two there. Both Christensen and Antonio Rudiger will hope to breathe more confidence into the team with Krasnodar looking threatening on the counter.
45′: Gilmour lacking options running out towards the left hand side, cleverly invites a challenge through the back of him and wins a free kick 25 yards out.
Half time as Havertz’s free kick is over the bar. Chelsea 1-1 FC Krasnodar.
Kick off: Gilmour gets the second half underway.
46′: Worth noting Jorginho and Kovačić only need one more yellow to miss out on the first leg of their first knockout fixture. If Krasnodar qualify for the Europa League the same can be said for Cristian Ramírez and Kristoffer Olsson. Mason Mount is on the bench for Chelsea but should he get on, the same goes for him.
57′: Soon the referee might have enough touches for a touch map. Again he can’t move himself out of the way of the ball and with Chelsea breaking the line as a result, the game is brought back.
60: Chelsea have been anything but prolific in front of goal. Kovačić sends another shot high into the stands.
61′: Havertz leading the Chelsea charge but he takes too long in unleashing a shot and Krasnodar block the shot. The corner comes in but Anjorin can’t steer his effort on target. A hard job to steer it in off the top of your back.
63′: After 15 minutes of no action, Chelsea are ramping it up a bit by pressing high. The ball is intercepted by Gilmour, Havertz tries to scoop the ball into Abraham but the striker is offside.
64′: A first save for Kepa as he pushes the ball out for a corner. Chelsea’s fans’ hearts probably stopped for a second then.
65′: Replays show the shot was going wide but having waited 52 days for another start, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Nerves probably played a part.
67′: A big chance for Abraham as he dispossesses Ramirez but his near post shot is stopped by the feet of Gorodov.
70′: Abraham’s performance so far has summed up Chelsea’s as a whole. Working hard for chances but they can’t get that end product.
73′: Anjorin drives forward as Chelsea have the overload, he plays the right pass to Havertz but the German takes a heavy touch allows Gorodov to gather the ball.
73′: Double substitution for Chelsea with Havertz and Kovačić making way for Timo Werner and N-Golo Kante. Olivier Giroud to come on shortly.
76′: A direct run by Werner and it’s the instant impact Frank Lampard would want. Abraham can’t apply the finishing touch at the back post.
77′: Triple substitution for Krasnodar. Giroud also coming on for Chelsea in place of Anjorin for his 100th Chelsea appearance.
80′: First yellow card of the game goes to Cesar Azpilicueta for a raised arm in an aerial duel.
90′: Four minutes of added time for the hosts to push for a winner.
90+3′: The last 15 minutes of this half have been like the first 15 minutes, a non-event. Even with the substitutes Lampard has made, it hasn’t had the desired impact. Nothing has gone Abraham’s way since the penalty.
90+4: A frustrating time for Giroud since coming on. Aerial challenges getting called up in Krasnodar’s favour despite little contact.
Full time here at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 1-1 FK Krasnodar. No goals in the second half but a night of lessons for Anjorin and Gilmour. Done themselves no harm with tonight’s display.
Sub-edited by George Overhill
