Chelsea vs Sevilla. UEFA Champions League Group E.
Stamford Bridge.
Report as Kurt Zouma, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell go close for Chelsea; Luuk De Jong, Nemanja Gudelj and Joan Jordan offer Sevilla's best efforts as hosts manage just six shots all night in Champions League opener
Wednesday 21 October 2020 08:57, UK
An unusually resolute Chelsea found chances hard to come by with Kurt Zouma providing their best effort in a 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla.
Having conceded three against Southampton on Saturday to blow a commanding lead at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea looked far more assured defensively against their talented European visitors, but still needed the restored Edouard Mendy to be at his best to palm out Nemanja Gudelj's deflected header before the break.
Chelsea managed only one shot on target in the first half but emerged resurgent from the break and could have led through Zouma's free header from a Ben Chilwell corner, but the Frenchman directed his header straight at Yassine Bounou in the Sevilla goal.
Chilwell also found the goalkeeper's gloves with a header while Timo Werner - who managed only 26 touches all night - still managed to twice sting the palms of the visiting goalkeeper, before Joan Jordan came close to netting a stunning 20-yard volley from a corner, which rustled the top of the net on its way through in the game's final chance of note.
Looking to finally address the defensive woes which have dogged them in the opening weeks of the season, Chelsea nearly shot themselves in the foot in the opening minutes when Thiago Silva's rash run forward left Lucas Ocampos in space to fire wide inside three minutes, before the offside flag went up against the Argentine.
An early yellow card for Jorginho also left the midfielder under pressure and did not help Chelsea's hopes of controlling the midfield battle; and with Sevilla winning the fight in the middle of the park, the Blues had only two half-chances for Werner to show for their efforts before the break.
The German forward fired an effort straight at Bounou midway through the opening period before scuffing a presentable effort wide with the last touch of the half - with Mendy easily the busier goalkeeper in the first 45 minutes.
He showcased his quick reflexes on his return to keep out a late Zouma deflection on Gudelj's header from a free-kick, and was alert to fall on Ocampos' curling effort after Zouma had sliced a clearance into his path.
Chelsea's first-half offensive performance had been so out of character it was little surprise they re-emerged from the dressing room looking to play on the front foot - and within three minutes, Zouma should have nodded them ahead when found by Chilwell's outswinger, but planted his header straight at Bounou.
With Christian Pulisic now operating on the left Chelsea looked instantly more dangerous but still found clear-cut chances at a premium. Werner turned in from that flank and made Bounou dive on his low curler, before Chilwell beat Jesus Navas to head Reece James' cross straight at the goalkeeper.
With Sevilla now nowhere near as dominant in possession after the break, having enjoyed 58 per cent of the ball in the opening half, their two best efforts of the second period both came from corners, with Jordan's volley whistling over the bar before De Jong's goalbound header from another was blocked by James.
Chelsea saw out the final 20 minutes without major incident to get their Group E campaign off to an unbeaten start and with a welcome shutout at the back, but hoping they improve offensively on a night where for all the Blues' attacking talent, they rarely looked like having enough to earn three points.
Against the impressive Lucas Ocampos, who showed his quality in last season's Europa League-winning run, Reece James stood strong and rarely found himself in trouble down Sevilla's left, so much so that the Argentine was moved over to the other flank after half-time.
His performance was all the more impressive for the attacking outlet the young full-back gave his side; only Sevilla winger Suso completed as many crosses (6) as James, who also made more tackles (6) and clearances (3) than anyone else on the pitch.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard to BT Sport: "Thiago showed his experience and qualities, Mendy had one good save to make and he made it. So I'm pleased with that side of it.
"We dealt with all the things they threw at us, we had a few moments ourselves in the game, but it was cagey with two pretty good teams cancelling each other in their first game - which is understandable. We take the point and move on.
"Both teams will be pretty happy. To get through that game will give us confidence. We will get better. Tonight, the clean-sheet is the big bonus."
Chelsea travel to Manchester United on Saturday live on Saturday Night Football on Sky Sports Premier League from 5pm; Kick-off at 5.30pm.
Sevilla, currently 10th in La Liga, will look to ignite their league campaign as they host 15th-placed Eibar on Saturday at 5.30pm.
