Improved defensive display earns Chelsea rare clean sheet in draw with Sevilla
Matt Law
·20-min read
Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner (R) and Sevilla's Argentine midfielder Marcos Acuna (L) go for the ball during the UEFA Champions League first round Group E football match between Chelsea and Sevilla at Stamford Bridge - Chelsea earn clean sheet in improved defensive display to draw with Sevilla - GETTY IMAGES
It may not have been the dream start to their Champions League campaign, but clean sheets are a cause for celebration at Chelsea right now and getting through an entire game without a goalkeeping nightmare can be considered a success.
Edouard Mendy has played three games since joining from Rennes for £22 million and has kept two clean sheets, with his latest shut-out earning a group-stage point against Sevilla.
The fact this was Chelsea’s first goalless draw since his appointment last summer will not disappoint head coach Frank Lampard, who had wanted to see better game management than he had witnessed in the 3-3 Premier League draw with Southampton.
He got exactly that, as the Blues dug in and clung on when needed, enjoyed a good spell at the start of the second half, when they might have scored, and then ensured there were no heart-stopping moments at the end.
Mendy may not have needed to make a string of spectacular stops, but the Senegal international did the basics right and produced an assured performance that will instill some confidence into Chelsea’s back-line.
Incredibly, Lampard is only the second English manager to take charge of a team in the Champions League for more than one campaign, having reached last season’s last-16.
Bobby Robson was the other manager to lead a team in Europe’s top competition more than once and Lampard’s Chelsea side started this season’s group stages against, on paper at least, their toughest opposition.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport on Tuesday afternoon, Mendy returned early from a thigh injury to replace error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga and give Lampard a big boost.
Chelsea's French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy kicks the ball during the UEFA Champions League first round Group E football match between Chelsea and Sevilla at Stamford Bridge - GETTY IMAGES
If that decision represented even the slightest risk on Lampard’s part then it paid off, as Mendy handled and distributed the ball comfortably, with the return of veteran defender Thiago Silva also adding a sense of calm to Chelsea’s play.
The Brazilian barely put a foot out of position all evening and was in constant contact with Kurt Zouma, trying to calm his partner down when he smashed a couple of clearances into the stands.
Other than bringing in Mendy and Silva, Lampard replaced captain Cesar Azpilicueta with Reece James at right-back and that move also worked.
James was equal to the pace and threat of Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos and he was also one of Chelsea’s most dangerous players going forward.
The 20-year-old was involved early on, when he produced a low cross from the right that was almost bundled into the net from close range by Christian Pulisic and then blocked an attempted centre by Marcos Acuna after intelligent work from Ivan Rakitic.
Matt Law's Chelsea briefing
Azpiliceuta’s absence meant that midfielder Jorginho wore the Chelsea armband for the night and he had to walk a disciplinary tightrope after being booked in only the 14th minute for pulling back Ocampos, having gifted possession to the Sevilla winger.
Jorginho was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card four minutes later for a foul on Rakitic and from Suso’s free-kick Mendy was forced into his best save of the evening as he palmed away Sergi Gomez’s header.
It was not a surprise that Lampard replaced Jorginho for his own protection with Mateo Kovacic in the second half; the change did not disrupt Chelsea’s discipline.
Sevilla enjoyed more possession in the first half, as the hosts were forced to play on the counter-attack and tried to utilise the pace of Timo Werner, who almost seized on one underhit pass, was caught offside trying to spring the offside trap and miscued a shot inside the area right at the end of the first half.
Mendy comfortably collected a cross from Suso, following a good Sevilla move involving Ocampos and Rakitic, before the visitors produced two good opportunities ahead of the break. First, Acuna did superbly to win back possession in the left corner and somehow created enough space to send a cross to the back post but Suso headed wide.
Then Mendy was required once again as Ocampos struck a well-hit volley on the turn, but the goalkeeper was equal to it to keep the score goalless.
Lampard did not make any changes of personnel for the restart, but there was a more fluid look to the three forwards behind Werner. Pulisic took up a position on the left and won a corner from which Zouma should have headed Chelsea into the lead, but the Frenchman directed the ball wide from Ben Chilwell’s precise delivery.
Kurt Zouma and Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic battle for the ball during the Champions League match at Stamford Bridge - PA
Werner then tested Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a curling shot before Chilwell had a header saved from a James cross, as Chelsea enjoyed their best spell during the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
Hakim Ziyech took over from Mason Mount for Chelsea, meaning that all of the home side's major summer signings were on the pitch for the first time for the final 28 minutes.
They could not conjure a winner, but Lampard will be relieved he now has his full squad available and Silva underlined his class in the final minutes by producing a vital header from an Ocampos cross to keep Sevilla at arm’s length.
09:15 PM
Post-match stats
Chelsea have drawn five of their last eight Champions League home matches, as many as in their previous 33 games in the competition at Stamford Bridge (W23 L5). Meanwhile, this was their first goalless draw in 22 Champions League matches, last playing out a 0-0 in October 2015 (vs Dynamo Kiev).
Chelsea have won just one of their last 10 UEFA Champions League games against Spanish opposition (D6 L3).
Sevilla are unbeaten in the first match of their last five Champions League campaigns (W2 D3), drawing each of their last three.
Sevilla have failed to win any of their last five away games in the group stages of the Champions League (D4 L1) – their joint-longest such run in the competition (also five games between September 2015 and September 2016 – D1 L4).
Chelsea recorded just six shots, their fewest attempts at goal in a Champions League game since February 2015 – against Paris Saint-Germain (2).
08:54 PM
Full-time: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
One last throw of the dice for the hosts, as they launch a free-kick long up the field.
But nothing comes of it, and that is that.
A solid start for both sides. Yes, Frank Lampard would have wanted the win, but it's a clean sheet and an assured performance from his goalkeeper, which have been rarities recently.
08:51 PM
90 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
With three minutes of added time to go, Abraham and Hudson-Odoi are coming on.
Their first job is to get stuck into a defensive corner, but Havertz clears emphatically.
08:48 PM
86 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Yellow card for substitute Jordan for a little kick on Pulisic as Chelsea looked to break.
But again, most of the action is in the middle of park, with neither side looking too threatening in the final third.
08:43 PM
82 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Silva with a crucial clearing header as En-Nesyri found a pocket of space inside the Chelsea box.
Will there be a late twist? Tammy Abraham is warming up...
08:40 PM
79 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
En-Nesyri and Vazquez come on for De Jongh and Rakitic respectively for Sevilla, in the last throw of the dice.
The match has gone a little bit flat? Both managers/teams thinking that a point wouldn't be the end of the world?
08:36 PM
76 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Kante breaks nicely and finds Ziyech on the right, but he cuts back onto his left foot and his cross has too much oomph for the Chelsea attackers waiting in the box.
08:34 PM
73 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Zouma is caught in possession in a dangerous area but Chilwell tracks back wonderfully to dispossess Acuna.
The Frenchman has not had his strongest match this evening, it must be said. Not quite calamitous, but certainly unreliable.
08:31 PM
71 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
With 20 minutes remaining, more and more this has the feeling of a match that will be decided by one goal... any goal.
Acuna and Torres combine beautifully down the left for Sevilla as they construct an attack from the back. Ocampos' shot was deflected and Sevilla will have a corner.
08:27 PM
67 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Havertz takes the ball in the chops - ouch! - before brushing him down to defend a Sevilla corner.
And it's a terrific effort; a planned move. Jordan is on the edge of the box and strikes the corner on the volley. It flies over the bar by a foot only. A top hit.
08:24 PM
64 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Sevilla look to break but Chilwell is booked for pulling a man back - the third player tonight to received a yellow for such an infringement.
Kovacic comes on for Jorginho, who was also on a yellow, and Kante takes over captaincy duties for Chelsea.
08:21 PM
61 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Mount, on a yellow card, makes way for Ziyech as Chelsea search for a winner.
08:19 PM
59 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A change for Sevilla which suggest they will not be settling for a point - Torres comes on for Suso in an attacking midfield role.
But it's Chelsea who go on the offensive. James tempts a ball into the box and Chilwell climbs higher than Navas. There's a good connection on the header but he just can't steer it past Bounou.
08:15 PM
56 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Acuna finds Navas with a sumptuous diagonal ball but, once again, it comes to very little as Chelsea snuff out the attack.
Still, it was attractive!
Werner has a long-range effort down the other end, that he tries to curl into the far post, but Bounou gets down low to block the awkward shot.
08:12 PM
53 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Diego Carlos gives the ball away in sloppy fashion for Sevilla, before Silva finds Chilwell down the left with a long ball.
Havertz tries to cut a pass into Werner on the edge of the box but Sevilla buffer the attack well.
08:09 PM
50 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Zouma again gets on the end of a corner, but this time it comes off his shoulder and flies out of play before Werner can reach it.
08:07 PM
47 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Pulisic with a threatening run into the Sevilla box on the left side, with Jesus Navas conceding a corner.
And there's a chance, too, as Zouma leaps unopposed, but he smashes his header straight at Bounou. With the time he had, he perhaps should have done better.
08:04 PM
Back underway at Stamford Bridge
No changes to either side at the break.
07:59 PM
Just one Chelsea shot on target in the first half
...to illustrate my previous point.
And Sevilla only managed two.
07:49 PM
Half-time: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Werner gets a half-chance on the stroke of half-time, but he scuffs his shot as the ball bounces in front of him.
A fairly entertaining half that was certainly played at high tempo, the first 40 minutes almost felt like an exhibition, with both teams comfortably knocking the ball around the middle third, and showing intent to attack from the back, but there was sparse creativity and incision in the final third.
07:47 PM
45+1: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Just one added minute this half, Sevilla will give it one more go.
Ocampos gets a shot from the edge of the box after a botched Zouma clearance, but Mendy gets well down to the (pretty tame) shot.
07:46 PM
44 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Kante pushes Gudelj over in midfield and Sevilla are able to launch an attack from the free-kick, with the first-half clock ticking.
Acuna finds Suso at the back post after the former gives Pulisic the run-around. A good header from Suso, too, but it sails narrowly wide.
07:43 PM
41 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A better, patient attack from Chelsea, but like their Spanish counterparts there is nothing by way of end product.
Acuna pulls back Pulisic and he, too, is booked.
07:40 PM
39 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Still a bit of concern surrounding Silva, who pulls up slightly after making a clearance,
But he continues, as Chelsea progress upfield. Havertz and Werner look to combine down the left but Sevilla get back to snuff out the danger.
07:38 PM
36 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Sevilla are proving themselves of being very capable of holding on to the ball, once again, but are struggling to make real inroads.
Suso gets away from Mount, however, and the Chelsea midfielder cannot help but have a tug on the shirt. Another Chelsea booking.
07:33 PM
32 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A half-chance, now, for Werner again. But this would have to have been something very special to cause Bounou problems.
James finds Werner in the box, but he's under heaps of pressure, managing a quick touch and a toe-poke towards the top-left corner. There's no power on it and Bounou scoops up with ease.
07:31 PM
30 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A massive chance for Chelsea (that turns out to be a very late offside call).
Pulisic threads a ball through for Werner, who has shot between two defenders. He takes it round Bounou but can't quite control the pace of the ball as it rolls out for a goal kick.
As I say, he was offside, but encouraging signs nonetheless.
07:29 PM
28 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
James with a fabulous, probing ball from out to in that gives Werner a chance in behind, but the German just quite control the bouncing ball with his head in his stride.
07:28 PM
25 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Sevilla play out from the back majestically, with precision and composure, but the attack seems to stall once they enter Chelsea territory.
The continue with their approach play in an attack that must have had 30 passes, before Suso puts too much on a ball down the line, giving Chelsea the goal-kick. It's very pretty from Sevilla, but they have barely fired a shot.
07:24 PM
22 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Lots of attractive football here, it's just a shame it's all being played in between the two respective penalty areas.
Even Sevilla's long balls are not really finding anyone in dangerous positions, more men in space in the wider channels.
Carlos plays a shocking ball on halfway, and Werner is a foot away from intercepting and scooting away for a one-one with Bono.
07:20 PM
18 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A good save from Mendy from an awkward free-kick, but there was a free Sevilla header in the box there, which will cause concern.
07:19 PM
16 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
A period of more sustained pressure from Chelsea, with a swift attack down the left, but Havertz gives the ball away cheaply
Jorginho dances with the devil immediately! We said he needed to be careful but there wasn't much care shown there as he gives away a free-kick with a high foot that could easily have been another yellow.
07:16 PM
13 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Jorginho gives the ball away in a dangerous area and, as Ocampos looks to break, the Brazilian pulls him back.
It was cynical and he is booked, but he might have saved a goal. Regardless, he'll have to be on his best behaviour for the rest of the match.
07:13 PM
10 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Ping-pong or pinball? Well, it's both at the minute, with both teams turning over possession on numerous occasions in quick succession.
Neither one has been able to really grab the game by the scruff of the neck - it's all a bit haphazard and skittish.
07:10 PM
8 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Sevilla enjoy more time on the ball, winning a corner after Acuna's cross is blocked by James.
The visitors seem to have decided that getting the ball into the box early is best.
07:08 PM
5 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
Early danger for Sevilla after a slick Chelsea attack, and only some fabulous defending from Carlos prevents a goal.
Werner storms forward and picks out James down the right with customary precision. The right-back hits a first time cross into Pulisic in the area and Carlos' late clearance saves the day.
07:04 PM
2 mins: Chelsea 0 Sevilla 0
It's a fast-paced start in which Chelsea have settled quickest.
Mendy gets an early touch as the hosts look to play out from the back.
But there's a bit of a mix-up and Ocampos gets a shot away that hits the side-netting. He was offside anyway.
06:59 PM
Thiago Silva has come out to play
Hopefully he can last the duration!
06:56 PM
Big Frank!
1 - Frank Lampard is the first Englishman to manage an English side in consecutive European Cup/Champions League campaigns since Joe Fagan in 1983-84 and 1984-85 with Liverpool. Super. #CHESEVpic.twitter.com/Mc1DGLnSMk
We will bring you more as and when we get it, but Thiago Silva seems to be limping a touch in the warm-up and the Brazilian has just taken what looks to be a painkiller.
No word as yet that he is out; might just be a niggle.
06:42 PM
Lampard speaks pre-match
"Champions League should always bring fresh impetus. We worked very hard to get here.
"[The changes are] not necessarily [a direct response to Saturday's loss]. We haven't had chance to have Thiago in our team much, but it's great to have his experience and quality back in, same too with Mendy. They are changes to keep us secure, and Reece will offer us a lot on the right-hand side as well.
"You have to understand [at this level] that you don't have it all your own way. "
06:37 PM
News coming out of Chelsea...
Petr Cech is a shock inclusion in their 25-man Premier League squad as emergency cover in case of a coronavirus outbreak.
Petr Cech offers guidance to Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy - GETTY IMAGES
06:25 PM
All eyes on Mendy
The Senegal goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on his Chelsea debut, against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, before getting injured on international duty.
Mendy is a renowned shot-stopper, but he will have to adapt his distribution to make a true success of his move from Rennes, as Dan Zeqiri explains here.
06:14 PM
The calm before the storm
Mendy's shirt hangs ready in the changing room - GETTY IMAGES
06:12 PM
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Is it all Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fault? Who is Chelsea’s best defensive pair? Should the rest of the team shoulder some blame? How much is Lampard responsible?
Matt Law answers all the crucial questions surrounding Chelsea's mini-crisis at the back. You can read it here.
Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, left, Kepa Arrizabalaga, center, and Andreas Christensen - AP/REUTERS
02:55 PM
Good evening
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of the opening day of the 2020-21 Champions League, with Sevilla travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
Frank Lampard's side come into this one on the back of some very mixed performances domestically. Last Saturday's 3-3 draw with Southampton was a case in point. They attacked exquisitely on their home turf, with Timo Werner the star, but their defensive frailties and their lack of game management and awareness undid all of that attacking majesty.
Their opponents tonight, Sevilla, have hardly been setting their domestic league alight, either. The Europa League winners currently sit 10th in La Liga, having won just two of their four domestic matches, and arrive in south-west London on the back of a defeat against Granada at the weekend. Across all competitions, they have only won one of their four matches away from their home at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, too.
As revealed by Telegraph Sport on Monday, keeper Mendy returned to training earlier than expected from a thigh injury that kept him out of the 3-3 draw with Southampton.
And, barring a late setback or change of heart, Mendy has done enough to convince head coach Lampard he is fit enough to start. Lampard is also expected to restore Thiago Silva to his defence as he accepted that his shaky backline must improve.
"Of course we want to concede fewer goals, as all teams do at the moment," said Lampard.
"Teams are conceding a lot of goals in the Premier League and we're all in a similar position to a degree with that at the moment. But it will always be something we work on as much as we do our attacking play.
"I wouldn't say my DNA is to be a natural attacking manager. Every manager wants to build a balanced team and one that can be strong in both defence and attack. We're working hard defensively and we're always trying to improve on that.
"The issues are that we don't concede many shots on our goal but, when we do, we concede goals."
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