Chelsea stumbled at a resurgent Everton on Saturday but now face a crucial Champions League match with Lille to decide their last 16 fate.
The Blues sit third in Group H, but will qualify with a win, as Valencia, who are currently level with Frank Lampard’s side on eight points, but ahead on the head-to-head ruling, face group leaders Ajax. The Dutch side are only two points ahead, meaning both Chelsea’s main group rivals cannot finish on 11 points.
Tammy Abraham is back from a hip injury, yet it is still causing him some discomfort, based on his showing against Everton. Follow the match live:
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
75 mins: Zouma backs himself to defend against Araujo who goes on a good run into the box. Zouma meets him stride for stride and dives in to win the ball. Great defending.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
72 mins: Maignan does go off and Leo Cesar replaces him in goal for Lille. Batshuayi comes on for Chelsea with Abraham going off.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
69 mins: Michy Batshuayi is getting ready to come on for Chelsea. Frank Lampard still wants his team to go for the third goal and I am all for this thinking.
Willian is fouled by Pied with Maignan down for Lille. The goalkeeper looks injured.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
66 mins: Bamba comes on for Maia as Lille make a change. The corner comes into the box but Tammy Abraham heads it clear.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
63 mins: Azpilicueta attempts to clear his lines and hits Rudiger. The ball then rebounds out for a corner to Lille.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
57 mins: Willian squares the ball into the middle of the box where Abraham takes possession. His back is to goal and he can’t shoot so he lays the ball off for Azpilicueta who does shoot, has it blocked, recovers the ball and shoots again, winning a corner.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
54 mins: Chelsea win a corner and Willian whips it into the box. It does too much in the air and everyone runs past it.
Chelsea are searching, hunting for another goal. By the looks of things they’re more likely to score one than Lille are.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
51 mins: Chelsea win free kick in front of goal, slightly to the left. Willian takes it and swings it around the wall. The ball is heading into the bottom corner but Maignan dives and stops it. He then spills the ball and Abraham tries to get to it before the goalkeeper responds and smothers it.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
48 mins: It looks like the latter. Chelsea start quickly working the ball down the left wing. Pulisic receives the ball in the box and shoots, Maignan saves the shot and pushes it to Willian who shoots and has his shot saved as well.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
Second half: Chelsea restart the match. Their goal for the next 45 minutes is to manage the game, whether that will be to hold onto their lead or try to score a definitive third goal only they know.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
42 mins: Willian and Gabriel both attempt to bring down a bouncing ball with Gabriel doing it a little too forcefully and fouling Willian.
Chelsea win a free kick over to the right of the box. Emerson crosses it into the box but Remy sends it out for a corner.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
39 mins: Chelsea are playing comfortable football now. Keeping possession, slowing the play, getting the ball wide before giving it back to the defenders. They just want to get to half time.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Lille
36 mins: There’s a bit of daylight between Chelsea and Lille now which will please Frank Lampard.
The ball comes up to Remy and he is crunched by Rudiger who takes no chances, wins the ball and clears it away.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Lille
33 mins: For a must win, knockout game and coming off the back of a heavy defeat at Everton, Chelsea are playing with a confidence unexpected from this young team. Pulisic runs into the box, tricks his way past two defenders and squares the ball. Abraham is the target but the ball doesn’t reach him and Lille send it out for a corner.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Lille
30 mins: Chelsea work the ball quickly from the right over to Emerson on the left via a cute pass from Pulisic. Emerson brings the ball inside and shoots but the shot is straight at Maignan who saves it.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Lille
27 mins: Valencia have taken the lead against Ajax in the other Group H game being played tonight. If the game stays that way Chelsea would need to win here at Stamford Bridge to progress.
Lille have started to keep more of the ball but they’re doing very little with it.
Match preview
When and where is the match?
The match is on Tuesday at 20:00 GMT at Stamford Bridge, London.
Prediction
The Blues were poor at Goodison Park at the weekend, weak defending set-pieces and crosses and could not match the desire of Everton, but Lille pose a different threat with the game’s tempo likely to suit the slicker passing of the hosts. We expect the Blues to bounce back here and clinch a place in the last 16. We’ll go with 2-0.
Odds
Chelsea: 2/9
Draw: 5/1
Lille 12/1
How can I watch the match?
You can watch the match on BT Sport 2 – coverage starts at 19:00 GMT.
Can I watch a live stream online?
Yes, you can catch the game on the BT Sport app on mobile devices here.
Team news
Tammy Abraham picked up another knock to his bruised hip, which has caused him aggravation in recent weeks. Antonio Rudiger is back in the squad, while Fikayo Tomori is out with a hip strain. Olivier Giroud remains out.
Predicted line-ups
Chelsea: Kepa; James, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic
Lille: Maignan; Celik, Fonte, Gabriel, Bradaric; Soumare, Andre; Sanches, Ikone, Bamba; Osimhen
