As It Happened: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to Nigerianeye's live coverage of the match in the Champions League between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.


After their 6-0 victory over Qarabag FK in their opening fixture, Chelsea head to the Wanda Metropolitano looking to take full control of Group C.

Two weeks ago, Atletico were only able to claim a goalless draw against Roma but that result has put Diego Simeone's side into a position where they can leapfrog the Blues with a win in Spain.

This evening's contest takes place just 24 hours after Diego Costa left Stamford Bridge to rejoin his former club.

OFFICIAL LINE UPS

CHELSEA: Courtois, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Bakayoko, Kante, Alonso, Fabregas, Hazard, Morata
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Zappacosta, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi


ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, L Hernandez, Filipe Luis; Koke, Partey, Niguez, Carrasco; Correa, Griezmann
ATLETICO MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Moya, Savic, Gimenez, Gabi, Gaitan, Torres, Vietto






The full-time whistle goes in Madrid and Chelsea are in dreamland. They would have taken a draw but this result could be the difference between top spot and second place. Yet again, Batshuayi makes an impact in a Chelsea shirt, despite not being that in favour with Conte. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!


90+4 minFULL TIME! Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea

90+4 min UNBELIEVABLE! With the last kick of the game, Batshuayi converts from close range after a sweeping move from a free kick. Unbelievable.

90+4 min GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea (Batshuayi)

90+2 min SHOT! Chelsea are having to work hard to preserve this point. Gimenez, of all people, ends up in a shooting position on the edge of the penalty area but the defender blazes a shot over Courtois's bar.

90 min There will be three minutes of added-on time.

89 min Atletico have more confidence to build from the back now that they have seen the back of Morata. Batshuayi does not offer the same work-rate. The home side are shading it heading into the final minute of normal time.

86 min SUBSTITUTION! The final switch for Chelsea sees Christensen replace Fabregas. That may mean Luiz moving into midfield.

85 min There's an end-to-end feel to this contest now. I thought both teams would be shutting up shop but they both want the three points. There is going to be one more clear-cut chance. I'm sure of it.

82 min SUBSTITUTIONS! It's a double change for Chelsea, with Morata and Hazard being withdrawn for Batshuayi and Pedro.

81 min Maybe I was wrong with that assumption...

Back to the action and Atletico are matching Chelsea for ambition here. Courtois is having to remain alert before crosses are beginning to be delivered from all angles.

79 min Morata is starting to look exhausted on the halfway line. However, given Conte's opinion of Batshuayi's hold-up play, I'm not so sure he will be withdrawn!

77 min SUBSTITUTION! Final change for Atletico sees Gimenez replace Partey. Still nothing from Conte.

76 min SHOT! The Torres of old may have done better with this. A direct run from the halfway line ends with the veteran forward sending a poor shot straight at Courtois from distance.

74 min CHANCE! It's one-on-one at the back and Morata has the beating of Hernandez. However, despite getting ahead of the defender, he dinks his final effort wide of the post after running too close to Oblak. It's a huge opportunity.

73 min SHOT! On more than one occasion this evening, Kante has popped up down the right and the Frenchman manages to get another shot away. However, his low attempt on his weaker left foot was never going to beat Oblak.

72 min There are already signs that Atletico believe that they can exploit some tiredness in the Chelsea defence but the Blues are having none of it. They are now back on the ball and looking to create another chance.

70 min SUBSTITUTION! Here comes that influx. Moments after Torres's introduction, Gaitan comes on for Correa.

69 min SUBSTITUTION! It is Torres time. The former Chelsea forward replaces Carrasco.

68 min Still no alterations from either side. I'm not that shocked before it has been difficult to take a breath! There is probably an influx of changes to come at some stage.

66 min What Chelsea cannot afford to do is go too gung-ho. They would take a draw - probably - but Atletico want the win and the tables will turn should they sit back.

64 min People sometimes question whether Hazard is capable of reaching the level of Ronaldo and Messi but based on this performance, he is. The winger has run rings around the Atletico defence. He wins a free kick in a threatening position, but the home side survive.

62 min CHANCE! How haven't Chelsea taken the lead?! Hazard moves his feet to set up Fabregas straight in front of goal but the Spaniard cannot sort his own feet out and sends the ball wide from six yards! What a game.

59 min There is the equaliser that Chelsea deserve and it comes from an Hazard assist and Morata's head. Hazard whips in an inswinging cross and the summer signing is there to glance the ball into the far corner. Oblak had no chance.

59 min GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-1 Chelsea (Alvaro Morata)

57 min The first Chelsea change cannot be too far away. We would put money on it being either Willian or Pedro. Not sure who will be first to make way, however. Maybe Moses.

55 min We still have 35 minutes of this game to go but Atletico already look prepared to play on the break. Partey and the two full-backs have started to sit much deeper in an attempt to encourage the likes of Azpilicueta and Cahill to throw more caution to the wind.

53 min Chelsea have definitely worked on the diagonal ball through Luiz. Kante has just made a late run to try to steal a march on the Atletico defence but Luiz's effort wasn't accurate enough on his left foot.

51 min We have picked up where we left off in the first half. Chelsea are having more of the possession but Atletico are an increasing threat going forward. There should be more goals in this match...

49 min CHANCE! Much like Luiz set up Morata in the first half, Saul has just been set up in similar circumstances, only for his header to be glanced wide of the near post from 12 yards.

47 min BOOKING! The tackles are soon flying in at the start of this second half and it takes just 64 seconds for Partey to go into the book for a late challenge on Morata.

46 min Chelsea get us back underway.


The half-time whistle goes in Spain and Atletico lead thanks to that Griezmann spot kick. They could have easily doubled their lead but at the same time, the hosts were fortunate to be on level terms when opening up an advantage. It has been a terrific game.


45+2 min HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Chelsea

45+1 min CHANCE! Atletico should be two ahead! Courtois makes a solid save from Koke but the ball falls straight to Saul, who sends the rebound from 12 yards wide of the post. What a let-off for the Blues.

45 min There will be one minute of added-on time.

44 min Luiz was also booked for his challenge which led to the penalty. He can have no complaints.

42 min CHANCE! Chelsea almost find an immediate equaliser. The ball falls fortuitously for Alonso but his half-volley is deflected marginally wide of the post with Oblak beaten.

40 min Atletico open up a lead they don't deserve but Chelsea can blame Luiz, who pulled down Hernandez at a corner. Griezmann sent the resulting spot kick straight down the centre.

40 min GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Chelsea (Antoine Griezmann)

39 min PENALTY TO ATLETICO MADRID!

39 min As we approach half time, Atletico have beginning to have more success in the final third. Carrasco gets away from a Chelsea player around 35 yards from goal but after advancung forward, his shot is deflected wide.

37 min Chelsea have got away with one here. Juanfran has plenty of time to pick out a teammate after reaching the by-line but he puts his delivery too close to both Courtois and a defender, who combine to clear the ball.

36 min The one negative of this Chelsea display is the amount of silly free kicks they are conceding. It is allowing Atletico to regroup and ease the pressure on themselves.

34 min The jeers coming from the Atletico fans will be music to Chelsea's ears. They are having all of the ball and the hosts haven't got much of an answer. We remain level, however. That's remains the important stat.

32 min Unfortunately for Chelsea, Fabregas's delivery is poor and easily cleared by a grateful backline.

31 min I'm literally dumbfound with how sharp Hazard looks. Sure, he has made a few cameos and started against Nottingham Forest, but he is on another level tonight. More wizardry earns Chelsea a free kick in a threatening position.

29 min It is still very early days but Chelsea will probably see this as points dropped if they don't win this game. They have the beating of what is normally a more solid Atletico defence.

27 min CHANCE! Atletico are scared of Hazard every time he receives the ball. On this occasion, the returning winger forced the defenders to take a step back before he drilled a low shot too close to Oblak.

25 min CHANCE! This would have been a sensational goal. Luiz's 50-yard pass picks out Morata, but the Spaniard's header is tipped over the crossbar by Oblak.

24 min Since that early flurry of chances, we are yet to have a shot on goal. That's not to say it doesn't remain an intriguing battle, because it does, but the game has started to develop into the tighter battle we anticipated.

22 min Another high boot from Kante but he has little choice but to challenge for the ball. It is a similar height to that of Luis so all things being equal, play should have been allowed to continue in the penalty area.

20 min Atletico win a free kick for the harshest of fouls against Alonso. It gives Griezmann the chance to cross from the right but his inswinging delivery is over-hit and straight out for a goal kick.

18 min Still no more chances to speak of, but Morata should have just been awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after a shove in the back. I'm not sure how the referee hasn't given it. There isn't much coming back from Atletico.

16 min Kante has just attempted his best Hulk Hogan impression on Partey but fortunately withdrew from the challenge just before making connection. It was a definite yellow had he not had the awareness to pull out.

14 min WOODWORK! Hazard hits the post with an absolute howitzer of a shot from 25 yards out. I'm not sure if it took a deflection of it was the sheer swerve on the ball but Oblak was beaten. Hazard has picked up like he has never been away.

12 min There is already a sense of frustration from the home supporters, probably due to witnessing their team start so strongly. Chelsea are in charge now, even when not having the ball.

10 min Finally, the tempo of this game calms down. It is the first time in which Chelsea are having to build from the back. They may be better equipped playing more directly and on the break.

8 min CHANCE! This has been such a strong response from Chelsea. Hazard's clever flick to Morata gives the former Real man another chance to aim for the far post with a shot but again, it is dragged wide.

6 min CHANCE! Hazard is well up for this match. The playmaker jinks inside onto his right foot before lashing an effort into the side-netting. I think Oblak had it covered.

5 min CHANCE! Much more positive from Chelsea, who break rapidly through Hazard. The Belgian takes the ball past one player before teeing up Morata, who drags a weak shot wide of the far post.

4 min Chelsea have already settled into a system where they are prepared to watch Atletico have the ball in non-threatening positions. The problem is that Atletico are able to quickly spring into gear and a cross from Carrasco needs to be claimed by Courtois.

2 min It takes just 26 seconds for Atletico to win their first corner, which Morata does excellently to clear with his head. It only leads to a second attack from the hosts who have quickly gained control of this encounter.

1 min Atletico get us underway.
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