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

Chelsea vs Lille: Romelu Lukaku's struggles no laughing matter, says Thomas Tuchel

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 vs Lille LIVE: Latest updates

• Chelsea XI: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Pulisic, Havertz, Ziyech
• Lille XI: Jardim, Celik, Djalo, Fonte, Botman, Renato Sanches, Andre, Xeka, Bamba, David, Onana
• 8 min: Kai Havertz heads Blues in front, Chelsea 1-0 Lille
• 63 min: Christian Pulisic adds second to extend lead, Chelsea 2-0 Lille

[22 February 2022 21:06 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

48 mins: Benjamin Andre works the ball into the box from the right but Antonio Rudiger knocks it away. Lille recover the ball and send a deep cross into Jonathan Bamba on the left side of the area. He twists and turns his way around Andreas Christensen before flicking the ball over to Renato Sanches. He meets the ball in the air, heads it into the deck and watches as his effort bounces over the crossbar.

[22 February 2022 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

Kick off: Chelsea restart the match and slide the ball into Christian Pulisic. He drives through the middle and brings the ball to the front edge of the box. There’s a shove on the Chelsea forward but he manages to pass the ball across to Hakim Ziyech on the right side of the box. He shoots with his left foot but Sven Botman gets in front of the effort and makes a crucial block for Lille.

[22 February 2022 21:00 · Michael Jones]

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[22 February 2022 20:56 · Michael Jones]

Uefa set to move Champions League final in wake of Russia-Ukraine crisis

Uefa is holding talks about moving the 2022 Champions League final from St Petersburg, although it may wait to see how the knockout stages develop so any venue better suits travelling fans.

The movement of Russian troops into east Ukraine now makes it virtually certain the fixture will be moved, with the governing body having been monitoring the situation since last week.

Even before you get to the many political pressures and real-world consequences of two Uefa member countries being in conflict, there is likely to be the logistical issues of fans being banned by their countries from travelling to Russia.

[22 February 2022 20:53 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

Chelsea take a one goal lead into the break thanks to Kai Havertz’s headed effort. Can they go on to score again in the second half and put themselves in a strong position for the return leg?

(AFP via Getty Images)

(IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[22 February 2022 20:48 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

45 mins: The whistle goes for half-time with Chelsea leading 1-0. They dominated the opening 10 minutes and could easily have scored two or three goals. They got one but Lille responded nicely.

They fought hard to win possession in midfield and have created a few half-chances themselves but nothing to really challeng Edouard Mendy in Chelsea’s goal.

[22 February 2022 20:46 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

44 mins: Hakim Ziyech brings the ball down the right side then injects a bit of pace to take it around Tiago Djalo. He runs the ball to the byline and darts into the box but is met with two defenders and drags the ball out of play.

[22 February 2022 20:42 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

41 mins: Bamba makes a run in behind Alonso on Chelsea’s left side. It’s the third or fourth time Bamba has found space in behind the Chelsea wingback but his ball into the penalty area is blocked and cleared by Thiago Silva.

[22 February 2022 20:41 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

38 mins: Chance! Lille work the ball up to Renato Sanches on the left wing. He brings the ball inside and has a dart from just outside the box. The effort looks to be curling towards the far top corner but there isn’t enough swerve on the strike and it finishes wide of goal.

[22 February 2022 20:37 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

35 mins: N’Golo Kante sends Chelsea flying forward with a pass ‘round the corner to Hakim Ziyech. Ziyech lays the ball back to Kante who drives into the Lille half and passes the ball up to Kai Havertz. He attempts to play in Marcos Alonso on the left side of the box but his pass comes too close to Zeki Celik who intercepts and clears his lines.