MX23RW : Monday, December 16 04:16:48| >> :120:22073:22073:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 18, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Roma logo

3-3

Luiz (11'), Hazard (37', 75')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Kolarov (40'), Dzeko (64', 70')

Live Commentary: Chelsea 3-3 Roma - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Chelsea's 3-3 draw with Roma in their Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge.
2

Chelsea and Roma have played out a 3-3 draw in this evening's Champions League clash in West London.

Antonio Conte's team were two goals to the good after 37 minutes thanks to strikes from David Luiz and Eden Hazard, but Roma pulled off a 33-minute comeback after efforts from Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko.

However, with 15 minutes left, Hazard headed in his second of the night to maintain Chelsea's unbeaten record in Group C, while the Blues remain two points ahead at the top of the group.

Find out how all of the action unfolded at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Champions League between Chelsea and Roma. Antonio Conte's men may be struggling in the Premier League but they have been excellent in Europe and have an opportunity to register a third successive win. However, Roma have also been performing well away from the domestic scene and this should be a closely-fought contest. Here comes the team news...

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; David Luiz, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Rudiger, Scott, Kenedy, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi


ROMA XI: Alisson; Peres, Fazio, Jesus, Kolarov; Nainggolan, Gonalons, Strootman; Gerson, Dzeko, Perotti

First of all, let's start with the home side with Conte handing an immediate recall to Alvaro Morata. The Spaniard has been suffering with a hamstring injury and Conte insisted that he would not risk the attacker if he hadn't fully recovered. Well, the former Real Madrid man is in from the start, with Michy Batshuayi dropping down to the bench.

In defence, Andreas Christensen will sit in the centre of a back three, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill playing either side of the Dane. It means that David Luiz has been pushed into the midfield, despite Conte saying less than a week ago that he was trying to avoid moving the Brazilian from the back.

With Luiz moving to midfield to partner Tiemoue Bakayoko, that should result in Cesc Fabregas taking a place alongside Eden Hazard in the chief-support roles behind Morata. Willian is the man who has dropped out. On the right flank, Davide Zappacosta has been included in place of the injured Victor Moses

Roma old boy Antonio Rudiger has been forced to make do with a place on the bench against his former club. It's a strong list of replacements with Willian, Pedro and Batshuayi all being included, while there is also a spot for Kyle Scott.

Let's turn our attentions to the Roma XI, which includes a number of familiar faces. Followers of Manchester City will notice the names of Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko, while former Tottenham Hotspur flop Fazio also features in Eusebio Di Francesco's starting lineup.

Di Francesco also includes Kevin Strootman, who has been missing from the Roma team since picking up an injury in the match with AC Milan on October 1. The Dutchman sat out the weekend's action to ensure that he was ready for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

The return of Strootman also means that Daniele De Rossi is only named among the replacements. The 34-year-old has started six games in Serie A and featured in both of Roma's previous Champions League fixtures but he has to be satisfied with a place on the bench. A full list to follow...

ROMA SUBSTITUTES: Pellegrini, Moreno, De Rossi, Under, Florenzi, Skorupski, El Shaarawy

Lorenzo Pellegrini is a name to look out for should be enter the action at any point. The Italian international has recently been linked with both Manchester clubs.


RESULT! The other two teams in this group have already played and it is a brilliant result for both Chelsea and Roma. Atletico Madrid have been held to a goalless draw in Azerbaijan by Qarabag. It leaves last year's semi-finalists on just two points from three games. A win for either side at Stamford Bridge would leave them with one foot in the last 16.

Chelsea sit at the top of Group C courtesy of a one-sided victory over Qarabag and the latest of late triumphs away at Atletico. Winning 6-0 against Qarabag was easy on the eye but the decisive result in the group could be coming from behind to defeat Atletico. Chelsea put in an almost perfect away-day performance and deserved their bit of luck as Batshuayi scored with the last kick of the game.

Since that game, no-one has had a good word to say about the Belgian. The forward was overlooked when Morata got injured against Manchester City and he was hauled off before the hour mark in the defeat to Crystal Palace at the weekend. Still, the 24-year-old has two goals from 98 minutes on the pitch in Europe this season. He will hope to improve on that tonight.

Chelsea have been known to put together lengthy unbeaten runs at Stamford Bridge, but it's fair to say that they have been less than impressive this season. The Blues have already dropped eight points in the Premier League, with a draw with Arsenal coming either side of defeats to Burnley and Manchester City. Their three wins have come against Everton, Qarabag and Nottingham Forest respectively.

That said, Chelsea have an excellent recent home record in this competition. Since losing to Atletico Madrid in the 2013-14 semi-finals, the West Londoners have registered five wins and two draws from eight contests - the only defeat coming when chasing the game against Paris Saint-Germain in a last-16 tie in March 2016.

Chelsea's record against Italian teams is not so impressive. In 23 matches, just eight wins have been registered, with eight defeats also being suffered. The Blues have not locked horns with a club from Serie A since losing 3-0 against Juventus in Turin in 2012.

However, Chelsea have only ever lost one group game at home to Italian opposition. That came all the way back in 2000 when Lazio scored a 2-1 win over their hosts in the second-group stage. Gus Poyet got on the scoresheet for Chelsea, but Lazio hit back through Simone Inzaghi and Sinisa Mihajlovic.

During the summer, Chelsea were in frequent contact with Roma ahead of the signing of Rudiger. The German international began the campaign on the bench, but six starts have been made in the Premier League. However, the 24-year-old has only found himself on the pitch for 16 minutes in the Champions League and he faces the prospect of limited action on the European stage tonight as well.

Roma arrive in England having won five of their seven matches in Serie A, and it is a record which leaves the club in fifth place in their domestic table. However, while they have played one game less than many of their title rivals, their match in hand is against sixth-place Sampdoria and even a win would not improve their league position. All in all, Di Francesco's team are off the pace.

The man of the moment has almost inevitably been Dzeko, who has seven goals from seven matches in domestic action and one in two in Europe. The Bosnia and Herzegovina forward has been a revelation since Manchester City let him go for just £10m in August 2015, with 56 goals being scored in 96 games in all competitions.

Chelsea will also have their work cut out with Radja Nainggolan. If reports are to be believed, Conte is a big admirer of the Belgian and has tried to sign him for the Premier League side. A move never materialised but we are going to get to see how the 29-year-old fares against English opposition.

Roma will be hoping that Nainggolan fares a lot better than the club as a whole. In 15 clashes in England, Roma have won just once. That came in 2000 when Gianni Guigou scored a 25-yard strike to get his side back into the UEFA Cup last-16 tie with Liverpool, but the Merseyside giants held on for a 2-1 aggregate win.

Roma are competing in the group stages of this competition for the 10th time and as it stands, they have only failed to progress to the next round on two occasions - in 2004-05 and 2014-15.

Di Francesco's men have started this campaign brightly, however. A goalless draw with Atletico is a credible result, and although they struggled against Qarabag, they returned from Azerbaijan with three points to hold a lead over Atletico in the race for one of the top-two spots. If they can collect four points from two matches with Chelsea over the next couple of weeks, it will be considered job done, especially with Atletico failing to defeat Qarabag earlier today.

PREDICTION! Conte will be hoping that Chelsea can get back to winning ways in front of their own supporters, but we are backing Roma to further upset the apple cart this evening. The Italians have matchwinners in their squad and they could do enough to claim a share of the spoils. Chelsea to be held to a 1-1 draw.

HEAD TO HEAD! Wednesday's fixture represents the fifth time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive contest, with Chelsea claiming two wins to Roma's one. Roma's sole success came in the most recent match between the clubs in 2008, with Mirko Vucinic scoring twice in a 3-1 triumph in Italy.

However, Chelsea have won both games in West London. The English team prevailed 4-1 in a Fairs Cup clash in 1965, before in 2008, John Terry netted 12 minutes from time to earn a 1-0 win.

It has been just over three years since Roma played a game on English soil, with the visitors claiming a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City. Sergio Aguero opened the scoring but club legend Francesco Totti netted the decisive equalising goal in the 23rd minute.

Right, the teams have made their way out in West London. A remainder of the team news...

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill; David Luiz, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata

ROMA XI: Alisson; Peres, Fazio, Jesus, Kolarov; Nainggolan, Gonalons, Strootman; Gerson, Dzeko, Perotti


KICKOFF! Chelsea get us underway at Stamford Bridge.

Stamford Bridge is rocking but it is Roma who are dominating possession in these early stages. There has been nothing in either penalty though.

There's plenty of early pressure from Roma, with Kolarov and Perotti linking up down the left and delivering a couple of testing crosses. Chelsea don't look comfortable so far.

Chelsea are trying to pass the ball about at the back but Roma are pressing high and it is already forcing mistakes. The visitors have a stranglehold of this game.

CHANCE! In a flash, Chelsea break and the Blues should be ahead. Bakayoko wins the ball, passes to Hazard who in turn tees up Morata. However, the Spaniard curls straight at Alisson from 14 yards.

The last few minutes have been better from Chelsea but Roma already look assured on the ball. That's half the battle when playing at Stamford Bridge.

SHOT! Big let-off for Chelsea. Perotti slaloms his way inside onto his right foot before drilling a great effort towards the top corner, only for it to go a few feet over the bar.

Morata is already having an impact on this match and the forward does well on the edge of the box before being fouled by Gerson. It's a chance for Fabregas to cross...

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Roma (David Luiz)

Now this is one of the benefits of being able to include Luiz in midfield. The Brazilian capitalises on a poor block by a Roma defender and uses it to curl the ball into the corner from 25 yards out. It's a stunner. Chelsea are ahead.

It's been a while since Chelsea have been leading a big match at Stamford Bridge and the fans are appreciating it. This game is warming up very nicely.

Morata adds so much to this Chelsea frontline. The Spaniard is all over the place, hustling the Roma defence. It highlights what Chelsea miss when he doesn't play.

SHOT! It's no more than a speculative effort but Stroolman volleys well over the crossbar from distance. It keeps Courtois honest, anyway.

Roma have regained the rhythm of the early stages, with Kolarov giving Zappacosta the once over down the left. The Serbian wins a corner which is played low to the edge of the box, and Chelsea clear.

SHOT! On more than one occasion, Chelsea have stole the ball on the halfway line and broke rapidly. This time, it was Hazard and it's him and Morata versus two Roma players. The Belgian goes on his own but drags a low shot wide from 20 yards.

Perotti has looked very good for Roma and is comfortably the most threatening player for the visitors. He is constantly drifting inside from the left and Zappacosta isn't going with him. Chelsea need to sort that.

Luiz has picked up a calf injury and he is limping. I'm not so sure it would be wise to keep him on. Conte has a decision to make here. The goalscorer is going to continue, for now at least.

Luiz is staying on but he is flying into tackles. This is madness! Twice in the space of about 30 seconds. The referee has had a word. Conte probably should too.

Luiz has just flown into another tackle with Nainggolan. Maybe it is a tactic to try to rile the Belgian. That said, Luiz is very close to a yellow. No more chances to speak of over the past few minutes.

SHOT! I have already mentioned about Perotti looking to get inside onto his right foot. Well, this time, we was there waiting for the pass, only to curl his shot straight at Courtois.

CHANCE! Chelsea are very much second best now. Nainggolan should score after being found on the right-hand side of the penalty area but his low shot towards the near post is superbly blocked by Courtois.

Roma are doing a Conte on Conte. They are playing the Italian way and Chelsea are getting frustrated. Chelsea are still ahead, however, but that could change if the Blues don't improve.

CHANCE! Yet another chance for Roma. Dzeko megs Morata and tees up Perotti on the left. The winger bides his time before curling a shot far too close to Courtois.

Chelsea certainly aren't playing with the same aura of last season. They look nervous, tentative and don't know how to work a way back into this match. It sounds strange to say given that the home side are leading but Roma are bossing this game.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Roma (Eden Hazard)

Just like that, Chelsea double their advantage. Hazard and Morata finds themselves up against three Roma defenders but they work it perfectly. They need a bit of luck - Morata's shot is deflected into the path of Hazard at the back post - but the Belgian makes no mistake on the half volley for his first goal of the season.

Chelsea are buzzing again now. This has been a strange old performance. I have no idea how Roma are losing this game, never mind 2-0.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Roma (Aleksandar Kolarov)

Game on. Kolarov plays the ball around Azpilicueta before sending a deflected shot into the roof of the net. Courtois had no chance. Roma have the goal they deserve.

It could, and probably should, be 2-2. Perotti whips in an inswinging cross towards the back post and Gerson should score, only for Alonso to see the ball out for a goal kick.

Chelsea are rallying during the closing seconds of this first half. There are no signs of wanting to see the game out until the break. Zappacosta is getting more space down the right.

There will be one minute of added-on time. Chelsea would have been 3-1 up had Fazio not just blocked Bakayoko's volley from a Bakayoko cross.

HALF TIME: Chelsea 2-1 Roma

The half-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and what a game we have had. Chelsea lead thanks to goals from Luiz and Hazard, but Kolarov's effort has deservedly halved the deficit. Roma have been far and away the better side at Stamford Bridge, but there is work to do for Di Francesco's men.

Chelsea took the lead thanks to a delightful effort from Luiz. His eventual shot came as a result of his own poor pass which was only half-blocked but he took his chance to curl a super strike into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards out. That's his second goal of the season.

From that moment onwards, Roma pretty much dominated, with Courtois having to make saves to deny both Perotti and Nainggolan. Perotti's all-round play has been sensational and it's left Azpilicueta looking a shadow of the player he actually is.

Chelsea's second came against the run of play. At a time when Roma looked like netting an equaliser, Chelsea raced up the other end for Morata's deflected cross to be converted by Hazard at the back post. The Belgian was only six yards out but it's a composed finish on the half-volley.

Just three minutes later, Roma had the goal that they deserved. It was slightly fortuitous given that Kolarov's shot deflected off Christensen but the former Manchester City deserved his luck after skinning Azpilicueta.

KICKOFF! Roma get us back underway. There have been no changes for either side.

It takes Roma less than a minute to earn a corner and the ball eventually finds Nainggolan on the edge of the area, with a Chelsea defender being forced to make a brave block to stop the Belgian's shot getting through to Courtois.

SHOT! Luiz probably thinks he can justify taking a shot on goal from 25 yards on his left foot, but he can't here. The midfielder finds the top tier of the stand.

Roma are not taking a backwards step, even though a third Chelsea goal could prove too much to come back from. This has been a refreshing performance from Di Francesco's men, who had bee expected to place more emphasis on defending.

SHOT! It's a tad ambitious from Strootman but his long-range effort takes a deflection and earns a corner, which eventually comes to nothing.

SHOT! It's Gerson turn to try his luck but the youngster's shot from around 20 yards is always rising over Courtois's bar.

Roma continue to press, and Chelsea survive when a Kolarov cross is prevented from reaching Dzeko after a fine touch from Courtois, who managed to stick out a leg.

SUBSTITUTION! That's the end of the night for Luiz, who is being replaced by Pedro. I'm assuming there is still an issue with his calf.

This game is turning into an end-to-end encounter. Something has got to give, surely. Pedro is playing in a more advanced position, with Fabregas dropping back alongside Bakayoko.

Roma really fancy this. How are they only in fifth place in Serie A? A period of sustained possession ends with Gerson flicking a header over the bar after getting ahead of a Chelsea defender.

SHOT! Perotti has been quiet during the second half, but he takes the opportunity to curl a shot on goal when receiving a pass on the left. However, his effort goes straight at Courtois.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-2 Roma (Edin Dzeko)

Wow. This is stupendous. Even the pass from Fazio is outrageous. The former Spurs defender plays a 50-yard pass to his teammate, who volleys the ball - with his weaker left foot - past Courtois from 14 yards out. It's Van Basten-esque, to a certain extent.

Roma are favourites for this football match. They have been, by far, the better side. Chelsea will be happy with a draw from here. Conte needs to make a change.

SHOT! Alonso looks to break the tension with a right-foot curler towards the far post but his effort is always going wide.

BOOKING! Bakayoko is the first man to go into the book after hauling down Perotti on the edge of the box.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-3 Roma (Edin Dzeko)

The comeback is complete. Kolarov's free kick finds the run of his former Manchester City teammate, who glances a header into the far corner of the net. It's all so easy.

There's currently a break in play while Cahill and Jesus undergo some treatment. Chelsea need the breather. Conte needs to regroup.

SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Lorenzo Pellegrini, who replaces Gerson. Di Francesco is starting to tighten the ship.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-3 Roma (Eden Hazard)

This is turning into the most brilliant football match. Chelsea are back on level terms through Hazard, who directs the deftest of headers into the far corner after meeting Pedro's cross.

SUBSTITUTION! Conte makes a second change, with Roma old boy Rudiger replacing Zappacosta.

There is a bit of a lull in the action now. It was necessary. Even I am shattered! Both teams would take a point at this stage, but there's probably another goal in this match.

SUBSTITUTION! A third Chelsea alteration sees Hazard replaced by Willian.

CHANCE! Roma should have a fourth. Dzeko should have a hat-trick. The striker meets a cross from the right but his header from six yards goes wide.

SUBSTITUTION! Stroolman is being replaced by Di Francesco, with Florenzi being thrown into the action.

CHANCE! Fabregas finds Rudiger at the back post but the defender heads wide. It was a difficult chance, but he is certainly capable.

Four minutes to go. Both teams are still pressing. There will be fewer better adverts for the Champions League than this game. It deserves a winner, but doesn't deserve a loser. If that makes sense.

SUBSTITUTION! A third Roma changes sees El Shaarawy come on for the impressive Perotti.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! Another headed chance - this time for Cahill - but the Blues captain heads over after meeting Fabregas's free kick.

Chelsea are doing the pressing but it is Roma who have the ball. Just a minute to go.

FULL TIME: Chelsea 3-3 Roma

The full-time whistle goes at Stamford Bridge and it is a point apiece for Chelsea and Roma. Both teams will feel as though they could have won this game but in truth, neither can argue with a draw after a sensational encounter. Chelsea remain top of the group with seven points, while Roma have five ahead of the reverse fixture in Italy in two weeks time.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening, and we hope to see you again soon.

If you fancy reading our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


ID:309849: cacheID:309849:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:41186:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Edin Dzeko in action during the Coppa Italia game between Lazio and Roma on March 1, 2017
Read Next:
Dzeko expects Chelsea to be "angry"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!