Chelsea faced off with RB Salzburg in a Champions League clash on Tuesday evening.
Ahead of the game, Chelsea sat top of Group E with seven points.
RB Salzburg were in second with six and AC Milan in third with four. As a result, a Chelsea win at the Red Bull Arena would have seen them top their group with a game to spare.
And, when all was said and done in Austria, Chelsea came away with a 2-1 win.
It was a hectic start to the match, with Chelsea very attacking due to Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling being used at wing-back. However, this did also leave gaps for Salzburg to counter.
Chelsea began to dominate the ball after 10 minutes but did little with it. However, Mateo Kovacic scored a wonder goal out of nothing. A loose ball fell to the Croatian on the edge of the box and he smashed it in.
RB Salzburg then equalised just minutes into the second half, hitting Chelsea on the counter with ease.
Wonder where he got that celebration from…? 👀
RB Salzburg evens the score against Chelsea with this brilliantly worked goal!! 💫#UCL pic.twitter.com/HBaL1ma2xi
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 25, 2022
The game opened up once more after the second goal, with both sides having a few chances.
And it was Chelsea who found the third goal via another superb strike, this time from Kai Havertz.
Graham Potter went on to see the game out and have now secured top spot in their group.
RB Salzburg player ratings
Phillip Kohn (6.5)
Max Wober (7)
Pavlovic (5.5)
Bernardo (6)
Nicolas Seiwlad (5)
Gourna-Douath (6)
Maurits Kjaergaard (6)
Luka Sucic (5.5)
Chukwubiike Adamu (7)
Noah Okafor (6.5)
Substitutes
Benjamin Sesko (5)
Dijon Kameri (N/A)
Roko Simic (N/A)
Chelsea player ratings
Kepa Arizabalaga (6) – Could not have done much about Salzburg’s goal. Made a few decent saves throughout the game.
Trevoh Chalobah (7) – Another very solid showing from the stopper, making a number of good tackles and interceptions.
Thiago Silva (4) – Stepped out of the backline and missed his tackle 48 minutes in, which in turn led to a Salzburg counter that they scored from.
Marc Cucurella (5.5) – Gave the ball away a few times but he also won 6 ground duels, made four clearances and four tackles. Perhaps could have been tighter to his man for the Salzburg goal.
Christian Pulisic (5.5) – Used at right-wing-back where he did not offer too much going forward and was not really tested defensively for much of the match. However, he did assist Havertz for his goal.
Mateo Kovacic (7) – Scored a superb goal with the outside of his foot to open the scoring.
Jorginho (6.5) – Did a good job of cutting out attacks with some crucial interceptions.
Raheem Sterling (5) – Used at wing-back where his lack of defensive ability did leave Chelsea exposed at times.
Conor Gallagher (6) – Used as a central attacking midfielder vs Salzburg. Gallagher did a good job of tracking back and winning the ball.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (4) – Missed a huge chance to make it 2-0 after 31 minutes.
Kai Havertz (7) – Linked up with Auba fairly well and should have had an assist in the first 45. Scored an excellent goal for Chelsea’s second of the day.
Substitutes
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (5)
Cesar Azpiluicutea (5)
Armando Broja (5)
Fan reaction
MATEO KOVACIC ONLY SAVES IT FOR BANGERSSSS
— Mod (@CFCMod_) October 25, 2022
Kovacic is the best midfielder in the world !!
— freddie fortunat£ 𓂀 (@freecreator666) October 25, 2022
No Buyback clause in the Aubameyang deal?
— Mr.Engineer (@Am_Creezy) October 25, 2022
That was on Silva
— x (@onextime) October 25, 2022
Expert view
Out of nowhere, certainly Chelsea haven’t been threatening but when a player can do that then who cares.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 25, 2022
Kovacic scores a lovely goal in the country of his birth. Lots of possession for Chelsea up to that point, not a great deal of threat. Hopefully this opens things up a bit #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) October 25, 2022
Kohn is having an excellent game. Three sensational saves on Auba. https://t.co/qw0mTZbe78
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 25, 2022
Conor Gallagher’s first half by numbers vs. RB Salzburg:
88% pass accuracy
6/6 ground duels won
3/3 crosses completed
2/2 dribbles completed
2 key passes
1 big chance created
1/1 long ball completedToo smooth with it. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/wNYIEYKkkp
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 25, 2022
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