Match report
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:
FT: Juventus 1-0 Malmö
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 |
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FT: Zenit St Petersburg 3-3 Chelsea
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.
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GOAL! Zenit 3-3 Chelsea
Apologies, Chelsea fans – Zenit are level, thanks to a brilliant strike from Magomed Ozdoev!
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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!
GOAL! Zenit 2-3 Chelsea (Werner 85')
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
GOAL! Zenit 2-2 Chelsea (Lukaku 62')
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!
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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.
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48 mins: Hudson-Odoi finds space on the right, but his low cross is cut out.
Second half
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:
Half time! Zenit 2-1 Chelsea
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!
Ever since some snipe or other said Chelsea looked likely winners, they have completely lost their way. That was a very poor goal to concede, reminiscent of Leipzig’s first against City last night as possession was lost, and a hopeful through ball cut their defence apart.
GOAL! Zenit 2-1 Chelsea (Azmoun 41')
It goes from bad to worse for Chelsea as Sardar Azmoun beats the offside trap, rounds Kepa and puts the hosts ahead!
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Chelsea gave possession back to Zenit after Hudson-Odoi kicked out at Douglas, earning a yellow card. They work the ball forward, and a poor clearance gives Douglas space to whip a ball in. With Chelsea’s back three still at sea, Claudinho nips in to flick a header beyond Kepa. One-one!
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GOAL! Zenit 1-1 Chelsea (Claudinho 38')
But now the hosts are level, Claudinho heading home Douglas Santos’ cross with nobody near him!
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36 mins: At the other end, Azmoun motors into the penalty area, pursued doggedly by Christensen, but shakes him off at the byline. Saul is in the right place to clear it away ...
34 mins: Oof, Chelsea come very close to a second! Lukaku provides an inch-perfect cross towards Mount at the far post – but Kerzhakov is off his line to block his shot!
32 mins: A spell of Zenit pressure ends when Douglas Santos is caught offside from his own throw-in. He trots back downfield with a rueful shake of the head.
28 mins: Chelsea win a corner, and could certainly do with a repeat of their early set-piece success. It’s a similar tactic, with Saul flicking on Barkley’s cross, but it ends up on the roof of the net.
26 mins: Another chance for Zenit, with Azmoun hooking a cross towards Claudinho, whose header has plenty of power but no direction. They’re finding the gap between Chelsea’s back three and midfield four with increasing regularity.
25 mins: Big save from Kepa! Zenit have come back into the game, and they really should be level here. Malcom is put clean through on goal by Claudinho, but his shot is very well saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga, who races off his line smartly and blocks with his thigh.
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23 mins: A warning for Chelsea as Zenit quickly play through them on the break – but Malcom’s shot is blocked when he had better options in front of him.
“That was a fabulous finish … by Timo Werner’s standards,” honks Justin Kavanagh.
20 mins: Zenit pass it around midfield without much urgency. Malcom and Reece James give each other a little shove off the ball, after the Brazilian is brought down by Christensen’s challenge.
Juventus 1-0 Malmö: The hosts lead in Turin through Moise Kean, but it won’t matter as long as Chelsea win here. Which looks likely, even at this early stage.
Saul at LWB, Hudson-Odoi at RWB, Reece James playing in midfield because he is ridiculously good anywhere 😂
— J. Dever (@jdever23) December 8, 2021
It’s an interesting one, given how incredibly effective James is in his preferred position. But it’s working nicely so far.
14 mins: It’s cleared, and while Zenit win it back, the move ends when Lovren is unable to keep the ball in play to the left of goal.
12 mins: Zenit attempt their first real foray forward and Claudinho seeks out Azmoun at the back post – but Azpilicueta is there to head behind. From the corner, Barrios’ hesitant shot deflects off Sarr. Another corner ...
9 mins: It looks like Saúl is playing left wing-back, with Callum Hudson-Odoi on the other side and Reece James in midfield. It’s all very fluid, though, while Zenit look static by comparison.
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7 mins: Chelsea win a corner after defensive dithering from Barrios, but Lukaku is caught offside.
5 mins: Chelsea keep breaking at pace, causing the Zenit backline no end of problems. This time, Dejan Lovren is on hand to cut out Werner’s attempted cross, after the German had made a surging run into the area.
3 mins: What a start for Chelsea – and they almost break through again, with Lukaku’s pass to Werner cut out smartly by Karavaev.
GOAL! Zenit 0-1 Chelsea (Werner 2')
Barkley’s corner takes a touch off Azmoun and lands in front of Timo Werner, who taps in from a couple of inches out!
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1 min: Saul breaks forward almost straight from kick-off, and his shot from a tight angle is turned behind. From the corner ...
Kick off!
Chelsea players, and a number of Zenit players, take the knee and are met with risible whistling from the crowd.
The teams are heading out of the tunnel, with Roman Abramovich up in the gods watching on. By the way, the space-age Gazprom Arena will also be the venue for May’s final.
Here are the pre-game thoughts of Thomas Tuchel: “We need fresh legs, because we want to play a high intensity game. It’s a moment to trust other players and to push them ... we don’t want to [just] manage games.
“We miss Jorginho, Kovacic, Kanté – Romelu is back, let’s see how long he can play. It’s crucial because we need everybody in shape. Rom is missing rhythm and game minutes, that’s why he starts today.”
Stat alert: If Chelsea secure top spot in Group H, it’ll be the first time since 2006-07 that all four English clubs have topped their Champions League group. In that season Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all reached the semi-finals (Arsenal went out in, er, the last 16) but it was Milan who won the trophy.
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So, Thomas Tuchel has rung the changes from the weekend defeat to West Ham – only Andreas Christensen, Reece James and Mason Mount remain in the team. Romelu Lukaku starts up front, with Saúl another notable selection. The on-loan midfielder has had a rough time of it at Chelsea so far, but could make amends tonight.
Sergei Semak goes with a line-up that’s close to his strongest, with Sardar Azmoun in as the lone striker ahead of Artem Dzyuba. Four Brazilians – Douglas Santos, Wendel, Malcom and Claudinho – plus Colombia’s Wilmar Barrios start for the hosts.
Team news
Zenit (5-4-1): Kerzhakov; Karavaev, Barrios, Lovren (c), Rakitskiy, Douglas Santos; Malcom, Kuzyaev, Wendel, Claudinho; Azmoun.
Subs: Odoevskiy, Krugovoi, Byazrov, Mostovoy, Sutormin, Erokhin, Dzyuba, Ozdoev, Kravtsov, Kuznetsov, Khotulev.
Chelsea (3-4-3): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Sarr, James, Barkley, Saúl, Hudson-Odoi; Mount, Lukaku, Werner.
Subs: Mendy, Bettinelli, Rüdiger, Alonso, Thiago Silva, Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech, Havertz.
Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk (Neth).
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Preamble
Chelsea’s European title defence got off to a slow start, before a dramatic lurch into top gear against Juventus last time out. The 4-0 victory was so emphatic, it seems strange that they could still miss out on top spot in the group to the Italians, who host Malmö this evening.
As long as they match Juventus’ result tonight, Chelsea will win the group and be seeded in Monday’s last-16 draw. Juve may be an indifferent rabble this season but Thomas Tuchel must assume they will see off Group H’s bottom side in Turin, so winning is the aim at the futuristic, snow-capped Gazprom Arena.
Tuchel is without Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté and others, with the coach keen to make amends for the league loss to West Ham. Zenit were stubborn opponents in their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge but with their Europa League ticket booked and a big game against Dinamo Moscow on Sunday, their focus may not be so sharp this evening.
Kick-off is at 5.45pm GMT, 8.45pm in Saint Petersburg. давай!
