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 20:33 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

32 mins: Amadou Onana receives the ball on the inside right and cuts inside. Thiago Silva pushes up the pitch leaving space behind him that Jonathan David runs into. Onana spots the run and attempts to slide the ball into the striker but Thiago Silva steps to his left and intercepts the ball winning it back for Chelsea.

[22 February 2022 20:31 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

29 mins: A Chelsea throw in sends the ball down the right wing and is collected by Kai Havertz. He takes on Sven Botman, cutting inside to get past the defender before a backtracking Tiago Djalo nicks the ball off him and boots it back down the pitch.

Since the first goal, the game has developed into a fairly even contest.

[22 February 2022 20:27 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

26 mins: Chelsea win another corner that Hakim Ziyech swings in towards the near post. Andreas Christensen seems to be the target but Benjamin Andre leaps in front of him and heads the ball clear. Lille threaten to break on the counter attack but Chelsea recover the ball just inside their own half.

[22 February 2022 20:25 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

23 mins: Renato Sanches slides a long through ball into the Chelsea final third for Jonathan Bamba to chase dwon by Edouard Mendy is quickly out of his box. He gets to the ball first and boots it clear. Confident goalkeeping.

[22 February 2022 20:19 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

20 mins: Save! Chelsea’s wingbacks are having a good deal of success. Azpilicueta brings the ball down the right wing before laying it off to Kante. He floats the ball over to the opposite side of the box where Alonso arrives and hits a side-footed volley straight at Jardim who drops low and clings onto the ball.

[22 February 2022 20:18 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

17 mins: Another diagonal ball comes across the pitch to Azpilicueta but he passes it inside to N’Golo Kante. Kante switches the play with another aerial ball out to Kai Havertz on the left and he whips a cross into the penalty area. Azpilicueta attempts to reach it with a header but he’s joined in the air by two defenders who manage to leap above him and nod the ball clear.

[22 February 2022 20:14 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

14 mins: Thiago Silva is called into action from the set piece after the ball drops into the centee of the box. There are a couple of quick shots that Silva blocks before Chelsea eventually scramble the ball away.

A throw in sends it into the feet of Jonathan David who brings the ball inside and hits an effort wide of the far left hand post. It’s been a good response from Lille since conceding the goal.

[22 February 2022 20:12 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille

11 mins: Almost. A decent threaded pass from Jose Fonte comes through the midfield and out to Jonathan Bamba on the right wing who’s made a good run in behind Marcos Alonso.

He collects the ball and whips it quickly into the box for Jonathan David but Thiago Silva intercepts and knocks the ball out of play before it reaches the striker.

[22 February 2022 20:08 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Chelsea 1 - 0 Lille (Havertz, 8’)⚽️

8 mins: That didn’t take long! Kai Havertz is slipped into the box by Christian Pulisic. He checks back onto his left foot and shoots but Leonardo Jardim palms the ball wide of the back post for a corner.

Hakim Ziyech swings the ball into the box from the set piece. Havertz makes a late run and meets the ball in the air. He nods the ball into the floor, it bounces up and the goalkeeper giving Chelsea the perfect start to this game.

[22 February 2022 20:07 · Michael Jones]

Chelsea 0 - 0 Lille

7 mins: Lille have their first chance to target the Chelsea goal after they win a free kick in the final third wide on the left wing. Xeka swnigs the ball into the middle of the area hoping to pick out Amadou Onana but Thiago Silva rises highest and heads the ball clear.