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Chelsea are just one win away from the Champions League knockout stages ahead of this evening’s clash away at RB Salzburg. While progression into the next round might be something the club have come to expect, the situation was far from that straightforward upon Graham Potter’s appointment last month. Tonight’s opposition were in fact the former Brighton manager’s first in charge of the club and a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge left the Blues bottom of the group.
Back-to-back wins over AC Milan, however, now have Chelsea sitting top, while Salzburg are second. Unbeaten since replacing Thomas Tuchel, another three points in Austria would seal the Blues’ spot in first place, setting up a perhaps more favorable tie in the next round while offering Potter the chance to rest key players next week amid the frantic pre-World Cup fixture schedule.
Chelsea are without Kalidou Koulibaly tonight, though Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz all come in. Follow all the action live below, with Nizaar Kinsella providing expert analysis from Red Bull Arena.
RB Salzburg vs Chelsea latest newsLive updatesShow latest updates 1666720292GOAL! RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea | Junior Adamu 48′
48 mins: Game on!
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47 mins: Early second-half drama as Salzburg scream for a penalty after a bouncing ball strikes the hand of Kovacic, who knew very little about it.
Swiss referee Sandro Schärer waves away their shouts and VAR concurs. One player in the book for protesting.
1666720183Second half underway
Back off and running at the Red Bull Arena, with no changes from either side as yet.
As it stands, Chelsea will be going through to the last 16.
They will win the group if they beat Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb don’t defeat AC Milan later on.
The Blues have been dominant, but plenty of work still to do here.
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A half-time stat attack courtesy of Opta Sports.
What a first half from Kovacic…
1666719550Nizaar Kinsella at Red Bull Arena
Chelsea played some pretty fluid one-touch football towards the end of the half which could be the blueprint for what Graham Potter is after.
It follows a run of matches where the Blues haven’t been creative in the final third and Salzburg could have been put to bed had Aubameyang had his shooting boots on.
Chelsea FC via Getty Images1666719287Half-time
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
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47 mins: The half-time whistle sounds after yet another brilliant Kohn save, this time low to his right with one hand to repel a fierce Aubameyang effort.
Dominant Chelsea would be out of sight here if it wasn’t for the Salzburg goalkeeper.
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45 mins: Another big Chelsea chance!
More tremendous football as Sterling cuts in off the left and finds Aubameyang, who returns the ball with a lovely flick.
Sterling feeds the ball inside, with an offside Havertz leaving it before Kohn makes another brave stop.
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44 mins: Chelsea struggled a bit with Salzburg’s press early on but now they are bypassing it quite easily with some sumptuous one and two-touch football.
Pavlovic earns the first yellow card of the evening for a crude body check on Gallagher.
He will be suspended for the final Group E match in Milan next week.
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42 mins: Possession changing hands quite frequently now as half-time approaches, but Chelsea are still firmly in control.
How Potter would love a second goal before the interval to show for his side’s dominance.
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