6am Chelsea news LIVE: Abramovich watches Krasnodar win as Rudiger makes first start this season – The Sun
CHELSEA were 4-0 winners away to Krasnodar as Frank Lampard finally brought Antonio Rudiger in from the cold and handed him a start.
And an impressed Roman Abramovich was in attendance to see the rout in his home country.
Get all the latest updates from Stamford Bridge here…
- John Hutchinson
GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS
Chelsea enjoyed a comfortable night in Krasnodar in the Champions League yesterday as they strolled to a 4-0 win.
Callum Hudson-Odoi got the opener before Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic all netted in the final15 minutes.
The result means it's three clean sheets in a row for Edouard Mendy and five unbeaten for Chelsea in all competitions.
The game also marked the return of Antonio Rudiger, who was linked with a move away to Stamford Bridge for much of the transfer window and had not appeared all season.
Roman Abramovich also managed to attend his first Chelsea game in 18 months, with diplomatic issues and Covid-19 keeping him at bay previously.
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard may be growing concerned after Jorginho missed his second penalty of the season.
The normally peerless midfielder failed to convert against the Russian side at 0-0, following a miss against Liverpool in September.
- Kiro Evans
HOW IT STANDS
Sevilla held on to their 1-0 lead against Rennes, leaving GROUP E like this after two games:
Chelsea lead the table on goal difference with four points, followed by Sevilla on 4.
Krasnodar sit on 1 point in 3rd, with Rennes bottom on 1 point.
- Kiro Evans
IMPERFECT HATTRICK
Remember Alvaro Morata, Blues fans? Well he's scored a hattrick tonight for Juventus … only none of them have stood.
All of Morata's goals have been chalked off either by the on-field ref or the VAR. Luck does not coming easily to him, does it?
Barcelona continue to lead 1-0 thanks to Ousmane Dembele's first half strike.
Meanwhile, in the game in Chelsea's group, Sevilla lead Rennes 1-0 thanks to Luuk de Jong.
- Kiro Evans
THAT WAS FOR YOU, ROMAN
Lampard has been speaking after the victory and was happy that owner Roman Abramovich was present to watch his beloved Chelsea.
It is believed to be the first Chelsea game he has been present for around 18 months, when he became embroiled in a diplomatic dispute between Britain and Russia.
- Kiro Evans
HOT HAKIM
Hakim Ziyech was all over the place for Chelsea tonight … in a good way, that is.
- Kiro Evans
THE REPORT
Read Charlie Wyett's match report after Chelsea's fruitful voyage to Russia.
- Kiro Evans
JUST HOW ZI LIKE IT
Some performance from Hakim Ziyech, who topped off his first start with a brilliant goal.
- Kiro Evans
FULLTIME: KRASNODAR 0-4 CHELSEA
It's finished for Chelsea who romped home in the end.
It will push away memories of a pretty poor opening 60 minutes but once the second goal went in – and the subs came on – the Blues began to flourish.
It's Chelsea's biggest Champions League victory for 3 years and ends a run of three draws. It's also three consecutive clean sheets as well from the same team who not so long ago were 3-0 down against West Brom within half an hour.
Follow all the reaction and analysis to Chelsea's successful European away day HERE
- Kiro Evans
4-0
Wow, the floodgates have opened.
It's Christian Pulisic who becomes Chelsea's 13th goalscorer of the season as he scores at the near post after a barnstorming run then cross by Tammy Abraham.
The subs linking up and helping to put some gloss on the scoreline.
- Kiro Evans
HOME AND DRY
It's 3-0 and Hakim Ziyech has a goal on his first start for the club.
And what a goal it was. The Moroccan caught the ball inside the box, had to keep it tightly controlled and get an inch on a defender, and then he fired it into the bottom corner.
Tammy Abraham is on to replace him now but a wonderful way to finish the evening for him.
- Kiro Evans
2-0!
Chelsea have a second penalty and this time they score.
Jorginho was subbed off minutes before leaving the task to Timo Werner, who smashed the ball home from the spot.
Super-sub Christian Pulisic won the penalty after blasting the ball against a defender's hand from close range. Very harsh.
A pretty poor performance tonight, but the visitors look like they're home and dry. And they're only 12 minutes away from a third consecutive clean sheet.
- Kiro Evans
CHANGES
A triple sub from Frank Lampard who is trying to prevent this game from drifting.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, the goalscorer and one of those subbed off, is having ice wrapped around his thigh. Hopefully just a precaution.
- Kiro Evans
TROUBLE BREWING
Krasnodar have just hit the bar! Yuri Gazinsky struck the ball into the turf from the corner and it struck the woodwork.
Kurt Zouma was hurt in the melee in the scramble for the ball after, giving Chelsea a free kick.
They really need to wake up or they'll be in danger of not winning this.
Still 0-1
- Kiro Evans
HALFTIME: KRASNODOR 0-1 CHELSEA
The Blues lead at the break after Hudson-Odoi scored his first Champions League goal.
Jorginho missed a penalty earlier after Timo Werner was clipped in the box.
The hosts had a good opening 10 minutes but have faded since.
Either way, Chelsea need to up their performance levels after not getting much beyond second gear in that first half.
- Kiro Evans
GOAL!
Callum Hudson-Odoi has got Chelsea ahead with the opening goal in this game after 35 minutes.
He cut in from the left and released a weak shot which the keeper spilled.
In truth Chelsea have been far from their best and should be thankful they're not facing better opponents.
1-0 with full Sunsport blog coverage of the game and half-time analysis here.
- Kiro Evans
PENALTY MISS
It doesn't happen often, but Jorginho has just missed a penalty for Chelsea after 14 minutes.
Timo Werner was clipped inside the box but Jorginho – with his classic skip taking style – hit the post before the hosts managed to scramble the ball away.
Not the first time Jorginho has missed a penalty this season either…
Remains 0-0.
- Kiro Evans
DECENT CROWD
A crowd of around 10,000 are watching Krasnador vs Chelsea inside the stadium tonight.
It's the first time the Blues have played in front of fans since March.
But it's not been the best of starts so far as Lampard's team try and find their rhythm.
FULL COVERAGE HERE
- Kiro Evans
ROM-WARD BOUND
Look who's back… Haven't seen this man for a while.
- Kiro Evans
TO RUSSIA WITH RUD
Antonio Rudiger's inclusion is one of a number of interesting subplots in Chelsea's early kick-off.
Most immediate for Lampard is whether his team can get firing again after consecutive goalless stalemates.
While the defensive improvements have been encouraging, it's difficult to remember a single clear cut chance they had against either Sevilla or Man United.
And with the wealth of talent in attack – including a start debut for Hakim Ziyech – the Blues will be hoping to knock a few goals in to get the confidence going.
Follow every kick of the ball from Russia in our live blog: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/13022001/krasnodar-chelsea-live-stream-free-tv-watch-champions-league-online/
- Kiro Evans
RUDIGER BACK
Antonio Rudiger will feature for Chelsea for the first time this season after being named in the starting line up for their Champions League clash at Krasnodar.
The centre-back appeared frozen out at the bridge with only an unused sub appearance to his name so far this campaign.
But he is back in a strong starting line-up which also sees Callum Hudson-Odoi brought back in to face the Russian side.
- Jack Figg
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Frank Lampard is not worried by Timo Werner's hit and miss start at Chelsea.
The German drew another blank during Saturday's 0-0 bore draw at Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of his side's Champions League trip to Krasnodar tomorrow, Lampard said: “I am very happy with Timo.
“If you go back to the game before, he scored two goals and Kai Havertz scores a goal.
“I am least worried about the front end of the pitch with the players that we have there.
“It is normal that it will take some time for relationships – for when we have got to put the ball in behind, the ball into feet – clearly these things are going to take time to build.”
- Jack Figg
ALL CHIL-ED OUT
Ben Chilwell hailed Chelsea's team spirit as they prepare to face Krasnodar in the Champions League.
The left-back – who signed from Leicester this summer – made his European debut for the Blues in the 0-0 draw against Sevilla.
But he will hope to leave Russia with three points tonight.
- Jack Figg
ED AND SHOULDERS ABOVE
Eduardo Mendy’s has enjoyed a fine start to life at Chelsea – with the stats showing just how much of an improvement he is on Kepa Arrizabalaga.
They show that both Kepa and Mendy have averaged two saves per game for Chelsea.
But the new signing is making stops at a much higher rate.
Mendy boasts a save percentage of 88.9 per cent, while Kepa kept out just 63.4 per cent of the shots he faced.
Although there does appear to be a trade-off in Frank Lampard's decision to swap the keepers.
Kepa's passing accuracy of 81.8 per cent was far from perfect – as witnessed when he gifted Sadio Mane a goal for Liverpool earlier in the campaign.
But Mendy has only clocked a rate of 74.3 per cent thus far, with a dodgy pass across his own goalline going out for a corner at Old Trafford on Saturday.
- Jack Figg
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will be without two players for the Champions League clash against Krasnodar tomorrow.
Marcos Alonso will serve the final game of his three-match suspension and is not available for selection.
Kepa Arrizabalaga meanwhile has not travelled with the squad to face the Russian side due to a shoulder injury.
And Thiago Silva will be rested.
- Jack Figg
WALK IN THE PARK
Chelsea took a morning stroll without veteran Thiago Silva, ahead of their Champions League clash with Krasnodar this evening.
Boss Frank Lampard has elected to leave the 36-year-old in London to rest, as he juggles his squad with games coming thick and fast.
The veteran impressed in last week's 0-0 draws with Sevilla and Manchester United, as the Blues kept back-to-back clean sheets.
But with Chelsea having made the 2,000-plus mile trip to Russia, the Brazilian has been given a well-earned night off.
Kurt Zouma is likely to be selected in central defence, with Antonio Rudiger, Fikayo Tomori and Andreas Christensen also vying for a start.
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