As It Happened: Roma 3-0 Chelsea

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


After the two clubs played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this month, the reverse fixture has been highly anticipated by both teams who still have work to do in order to progress through to the last 16 of this competition.

Chelsea are undefeated in three games in Group C, but defeat at the Stadio Olimpico could leave Antonio Conte's side just two points ahead of third-place Atletico Madrid by the end of the night.

Roma host the Premier League side while possessing the strongest defensive record in Serie A, and Eusebio Di Francesco and his players will fancy their chances of extending Chelsea's winless run in Italy to six games.

OFFICIAL LINE-UPS

ROMA: Alisson, Florenzi, Fazio, Jesus, Kolarov, Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman, El Shaarawy, Perotti, Dzeko
ROMA SUBSTITUTES: Skorupski, Moreno, Manolas, Gerson, Gonalons, Pellegrini, Cengiz

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










The full-time whistle goes in Italy and Roma have confirmed their 3-0 win over a hapless Chelsea side. The Blues had their chances but they were desperately below par at the Stadio Olimpico and Roma were full value for their win.Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!



90+2 min FULL TIME: Roma 3-0 Chelsea

90+1 min We haven't been told how much added-on time there will be but there won't be much. This game is all but over.

89 min Atletico have had Savic sent off against Qarabag. It's now 10 men apiece and still 1-1. Chelsea need that to stay as it is.

87 min SUBSTITUTION! A final change for Roma sees Pellegrini come on for Perotti.

86 min The oles are coming from the Roma fans. Their side are taking great joy in making Chelsea chase the ball. There shouldn't be much added-on time.

84 min SHOT! Drinkwater tries his luck from all of 25 yards out but despite a well-struck effort, Alisson makes an easy save.

83 min To their credit, Chelsea are still giving this a go but there's still very little urgency. It's going to be back to the drawing board ahead of the visit of Man United.

81 min LATEST! It's still 1-1 in Madrid but Qarabag are down to 10 men. The importance of that result cannot be understated. Things would be much easier for Chelsea if Atletico don't score a winner.

79 min CHANCE! He didn't have this covered. Courtois pulls off a worldie to deny Manolas's point-blank header.


78 min SHOT! Courtois has this shot from Nainggolan covered, but he is still required to tip his 20-yard strike wide of the post.

77 min In terms of action, there is very little happening. Chelsea are having the odd flurry forward but like throughout the match, the end product has been poor.

75 min SUBSTITUTIONS! More changes, this time for Chelsea. Batshuayi has replaced the disappointing Morata.

74 min SUBSTITUTIONS! It's time for some Roma changes with El Shaarawy getting a standing ovation as he is replaced by Gerson. Florenzi has also been withdrawn for Manolas.

71 min SUBSTITUTION! Conte makes a second change, with Drinkwater replacing Fabregas.

70 min With 20 minutes to go, this game is pretty much over as a contest. When Chelsea do have the ball in and around the box, they are attempting Hollywood passes.

68 min CHANCE! It should be 4-0. Chelsea are all over the place. Dzeko fends off the attention of three players before setting up Perotti, who is all on his own. However, the attacker blazes his first-time effort high over the crossbar from 14 yards out.

67 min It won't be long before Conte starts to think about the weekend. Manchester United are the visitors to Stamford Bridge. Changes won't be far away.

65 min Chelsea just don't enjoy games in Italy, do they? It's going to be five defeats in six games in the country. The Stadio Olimpico is rocking.

63 min Game over. Fabregas concedes possession and Roma take the opportunity to advance forward, with Perotti drilling an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner from more than 20 yards out. It's a class goal. Chelsea have been outclassed tonight.

63 min GOAL! Roma 3-0 Chelsea (Diego Perotti)

61 min We are an hour through this contest now and Chelsea don't really look like halving the deficit. You feel that it may take something special for the Blues to get on the scoresheet. Remember, Roma have only conceded five goals in 10 Serie A games this season.

59 min Roma have acknowledged the extra threat and started to focus more of their attention on retaining the ball. It's all about game management for the home side now.

57 min SHOT! Straightaway, Chelsea go on the offensive and Morata drags a low shot just wide of the post from 20 yards. Atletico have equalised against Qarabag, which is not the news that Chelsea wanted.

57 min Actually, we are just going to see Azpilicueta drop back into defence and Pedro operate at wing-back. Still, it's a show of intent from Conte.

56 min SUBSTITUTION! Conte has decided to act. Willian is replacing Cahill. It's a change in system.

54 min SHOT! Dzeko was quiet in the first half but he is Roma's main man now. The Bosnian receives a pass just inside the box before sending a rising effort over the bar.

53 min Roma are beginning to look dangerous on the break. Chelsea are naturally starting to leave gaps with Azpilicueta and Alonso trying to make ground down the flanks. Only a wayward pass from Dzeko stopped a chance being created.

51 min The Spaniard is now down after getting a kick from Jesus. Before that, the ball had bounced off the forward and he lost control. It has really not been his greatest game.

49 min Chelsea have to try to get Morata in the game. There is sometimes criticism of Batshuayi's general involvement but Morata has been equally ineffective outside of the box.

47 min CHANCE! It's all Roma at the start of this second half. A cross from the left finds the run of Dzeko, but the striker's flick goes wide of the far post.

46 min KICKOFF! Roma get us back underway.


The half-time whistle goes in Italy and Roma lead thanks to El Shaarawy's double. Chelsea have probably been the better side, but Roma are in total control. A glaring mistake from Rudiger - who was signed from the Serie A giants in the summer - has contributed to the Blues' downfall.


45+1 min HALF TIME: Roma 2-0 Chelsea

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

44 min CHANCE! The resulting corner finds the head of Bakayoko but the midfielder sends a free header wide from no more than eight yards. He should score.

44 min SHOT! The Blues finally mount a response with Alonso curling a right-footed effort towards the far corner, only to be denied by Alisson. However, there's a bigger opening coming up...

43 min Chelsea went into this game having not won in Italy since 2003. I'd say that streak is going to continue.

41 min LATEST! Well, well, well. Qarabag lead Atletico in Madrid! Chelsea could do with the Spanish giants failing to win this evening.

40 min Azpilicueta is struggling. Zappacosta is being readied bit the right wing-back wants to give it a go. Roma are playing the ball about with ease right now. They have this game under control.

38 min Chelsea have more problems with Azpilciueta needing treatment on the sidelines. He appears to be in some distress.

36 min What was Rudiger thinking?! A pass from Nainggolan is innocuous enough but Rudiger tries to leave the ball for Courtois. However, El Shaarawy nips in and flicks the ball past the goalkeeper from inside the penalty area. It's calamitous. Chelsea are up against it now. As it stands, they are going to be dropping down to second.

36 min GOAL! Roma 2-0 Chelsea (Stephan El Shaarawy)

35 min CHANCE! As I wrote that, a mistake from Luiz gives Roma a three-on-two situation. Dzeko is patient before setting up El Shaarawy, but the winger's low shot is easily saved by Courtois.

34 min Chelsea have had to remain on the defensive for the past few minutes. It's come as a result of Hazard going off for treatment. Chelsea lost all of their momentum. They need to ensure that they don't concede a second before the break.

32 min Roma work a throw-in on the right flank to a crossing situation for Florenzi, but his delivery is abysmal and Luiz clears.

30 min I think Hazard is going to be fine to continue but Chelsea are playing with 10 men while he receives treatment. Half- hour through this game and Chelsea remain behind, but continue to be the better side.

28 min As suggested earlier, Chelsea have more joy when they take the ball to the sides and after Alonso almost finds Morata with a cross, Hazard is then stamped on by Florenzi, who puts his foot down the back of the winger's heels. Could have easily been a penalty, or a free kick. It was right on the line. The referee gave nothing.

26 min Chelsea are still having the larger percentage of possession but despite the chances, they are not doing enough with the ball. Pedro and Hazard are busy and a constant threat, but the end product just isn't there.

24 min CHANCE! Chelsea should be level. Roma gift Morata a chance from six yards out after a clearance is fired against a Chelsea player but the Spaniard fires well over from close range. It's been a while since the summer signing scored. A month to be exact in Madrid.

22 min Back come Roma who manage to earn a corner. The ball eventually ends up on the edge of the penalty area where De Rossi drills miles over the crossbar.

20 min SHOT! This is excellent from Hazard who dances around a couple of defenders before getting a shot away from 16 yards. However, the Belgian's strike is far too close to Alisson.

18 min The chances have dried up but this game is still relatively entertaining. A lot of Roma's quality is subtle and sooner rather than later, they are going to start creating openings.

16 min Chelsea have improved over the past few minutes, but they are having little joy when attempting to be intricate on the edge of the area. The little flicks aren't paying off. They need to keep sending the ball down the flanks.

14 min Much better from Chelsea who put together a few neat passes before Bakayoko tries a shot from 25 yards. A Roma defender makes the block but the Blues are soon back in possession.

12 min Roma are starting to get on top. Chelsea have a slightly strange mentality where the attackers are pressing and the midfielders and defenders are sitting deep. There's a big area in front of the Chelsea midfield when the front three lose the ball.

10 min I can't see a period of this match which won't be entertaining. Chelsea just committed three players forward to try to close down one defender and Roma tried to capitalise in the extra space.

8 min Roma are finally starting to assert some control on proceedings, which sounds strange given their lead but that is how it has been. Dare I say it but Chelsea are showing the same kind of quality on the ball as they did at Atletico. Like in Madrid, they are going to have to come from behind.

6 min Chelsea are having so much success going forward. They are throwing men forward and looking for an immediate equaliser. On this occasion, Alonso's cross is excellent but it has too much pace on it.

5 min The two teams have basically picked up from where they left off at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will have no idea how they are behind.

4 min CHANCE! Before Roma's goal, Chelsea could have scored through Pedro, and they should probably score here too. The ball is sent over the top for Hazard, but the Belgian fails to get it out of his feet and his scuffed effort is comfortably saved by Alisson.

1 min What a start. Roma score after just 38 seconds and it's a stunning strike from El Shaarawy, who finds the top corner with a half-volley from 20 yards. Dzeko's flick had gone to no-one but the winger was able to run onto the ball under little pressure.

1 min GOAL! Roma 1-0 Chelsea (Stephan El Shaarawy)

1 min KICKOFF! Chelsea get us underway.
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