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 21:34 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 2 - 0 Lille

75 mins: Renato Sanches goes on another decent run after winning the ball in the middle of the pitch. He runs into trouble and attempts to play Zeki Celik in on the overlap but overhits his pass and puts the ball out for a goal kick.

[22 February 2022 21:30 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 2 - 0 Lille

72 mins: The corner is taken by Marcos Alonso but Lille deal with it well and send Renato Sanches flying away on a counter attack. He carries the ball down the right wing but is matched stride-for-stride by Christian Pulisic. Pulisic times his lungin tackle well and wins the ball, poking out for a throw in just inside his own half.

[22 February 2022 21:29 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 2 - 0 Lille

69 mins: Chelsea are passing the ball around nicely now. The second goal seems to have settled any nerves they had. Jardim gives the ball away to Kante whose interception knocks the ball into the box for Havertz. He can’t spin off the shoulder and is forced to retreat. The ball is given to Saul who puts another decent ball into the middle and wins a corner.

[22 February 2022 21:25 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 2 - 0 Lille

66 mins: Amadou Onana makes way for experienced Turkey international Burak Yilmaz. He was Lille’s top scorer in the league last season, can he spark a comeback for the visitors tonight?

[22 February 2022 21:19 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Chelsea 2 - 0 Lille (Pulisic, 63’)⚽️

63 mins: There’s the second! Thiago Silva sends the ball into midfield as Lille commit men up the pitch. It comes to N’Golo Kante who turns quickly and bursts through the middle of the pitch. He brings the ball to the front edge of the box before slipping it across to Christian Pulisic. He brings the ball into the box, draws out Leo Jardim and then flicks it over the goalkeeper to give Chelsea a commanding lead in this tie.

[22 February 2022 21:18 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

62 mins: Chelsea’s Saul Niguez is given 30 minutes to play as he comes on to replace Hakim Ziyech who wasn’t at his best tonight despite a lovely corner ball to set up the goal.

Jonathan Bamba is given the ball from a Lille throw in and he puts a cross into the box but Andreas Christensen heads the ball clear.

[22 February 2022 21:16 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

59 mins: Chance! Kai Havertz pinches the ball as it comes back towards the Lille defence. Jose Fonte attempts to cut off his run with a pressing tackle but Havertz dinks the ball past him and drives into the box. He’s got no options up the pitch with him so decides to go for goal and blasts his effort over the crossbar!

[22 February 2022 21:12 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

56 mins: Chance! Kante brings the ball down the inside right and slides the ball over to Azpilicueta on the wing. He threads it towards the byline as Kante continues his forward run off the ball. He keeps it alive and flicks a cross into the six yard box. Under pressure from Hakim Ziyech, Zeki Celik manages to scoop the ball away but gives it to Alonso. He drives a shot back at goal but Celik is up onto his feet quickly and blocks that effort behind for a corner.

[22 February 2022 21:09 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

53 mins: Zeki Celik provides an attacking option for Lille on the right wing and whips a cross into the box following an overlapping run. Despite having men up the pitch there’s no pressure on Cesar Azpilicueta who gets to the loose ball first and gently heads it back to his own goalkeeper.

[22 February 2022 21:08 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

51 mins: Mateo Kovacic is taken off by Thomas Tuchel. He took a little knock in the first half so it may just be a precaution ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. In his place comes Ruben Loftus-Cheek.