By Daily sports on October 21, 2020

Chelsea suffered a frustrating start to their Champions League campaign after being held by Sevilla, their first goalless draw under Frank Lampard.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Edouard Mendy marked his return from injury with an excellent save to claw away Nemanja Gudelj’s header after it had flicked off Kurt Zouma.

Sevilla, last season’s Europa League winners, showed off their experience on the European stage.

Former Liverpool forward Suso headed wide before Lucas Ocampos forced another save from Mendy after Zouma’s poor clearance.

Chelsea improved after the break, French defender Zouma and Ben Chilwell both heading chances straight at goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Sevilla went close to taking the lead in spectacular fashion through substitute Joan Jordan's dipping volley from a corner.

With Group E rivals Rennes held 1-1 in France, Chelsea head to Russia next Wednesday to face Krasnodar with all four teams on one point.

Chelsea have started this season with a flurry of goals at one end of the pitch – and defensive implosions at the other.

While they failed to score for only the second time in eight games this season, Lampard’s side at least managed a clean sheet after a much-improved performance at the back.

Fifty-eight days after appearing in the final for Paris St-Germain, Thiago Silva returned to the Champions League stage as Lampard shuffled his defence after conceding three against Southampton last Saturday.

Reece James also marked his return to the defence with a solid performance, while Mendy’s save to deny Gudelj proved Chelsea have at least one pair of safe hands in the squad after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s problems.

But on a night when Lampard became only the second Englishman to manage in two Champions League campaigns, after Sir Bobby Robson, Chelsea struggled to cause Sevilla enough problems going forward.

Timo Werner, with seven goals and two assists in his previous 11 games in the competition, lacked service and on the rare occasions he did get sight at goal he was unable to make an impact.

Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy makes a save during his side’s Champions League goalless stalemate with Sevilla.

Edouard Mendy produced a solid display as Chelsea recorded a first clean sheet in the Champions League since winning 1-0 at Ajax in October 2019 

Chelsea spent £250m during the summer transfer window, with five of their recent additions starting this game.

Three – Mendy, Chilwell and Silva – impressed at the back as the Blues produced their best defensive performance of the season to stop the Spanish visitors from scoring on the night 38-year-old keeper Petr Cech was named in Chelsea’s Premier League squad.

Sevilla beat Wolves and Manchester United on their way to winning the Europa League last season but they were unable to find a way past a well-drilled Chelsea backline.

Chilwell impressed going forward and it was his corner which set up a great chance for the unmarked Zouma before the former Leicester player was presented with a chance of his own but could not beat Bounou. (BBC)

•PHOTO: Sevilla players 

Source Daily sports

Posted October 21, 2020

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