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Chelsea 3-1 Leeds United: Blues go top after comeback win in front of fans


Patrick Bamford scores for Leeds against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Patrick Bamford’s goal is the earliest Chelsea have conceded in the Premier League since May 2017

Chelsea went top of the Premier League as they came from behind to beat Leeds United in their first game in front of fans for nine months.

Former Blues striker Patrick Bamford, who spent five years at Chelsea without making a senior appearance, gave Leeds an early lead at Stamford Bridge after getting between defender Kurt Zouma and keeper Edouard Mendy.

Timo Werner then somehow managed to miss from point-blank range after Olivier Giroud’s flicked header from a corner, the Germany forward hitting the underside of the bar before Leeds cleared.

However, Giroud marked his first league start of the season with his fifth goal of the week, the scorer of all four of Chelsea’s Champions League goals away to Sevilla in midweek poking home from five yards after Reece James’ cross.

Chelsea, who welcomed 2,000 fans back to Stamford Bridge after coronavirus restrictions were eased, went ahead as Zouma headed in from Mason Mount’s corner.

Substitute Christian Pulisic added a late third from Werner’s pass, with the United States winger becoming the 13th different player to score for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.

Chelsea, who started the day third, are one point clear at the top.

Chelsea welcome fans back in style

There were scenes of celebration after the final whistle as Blues boss Frank Lampard went over to applaud fans inside the ground, who gave the players a standing ovation while they headed for the dressing room.

One supporter held up a banner which read “It’s great to be back” and Chelsea certainly relished the occasion as they turned on the style.

When they last moved to the summit after a win at Newcastle on 21 November, Lampard said he was not going to “get excited about being top for five minutes”.

Within a few hours they had been replaced by Tottenham following a win over Manchester City later the same day.

Lampard ‘delighted’ with Chelsea victory

Lampard’s side will at least enjoy being top a while longer this time, although they could be overtaken by Tottenham and Liverpool on Sunday.

Nevertheless, this was a highly satisfactory victory.

While France’s World Cup winner Giroud made the most of his first league start of 2020-21, Werner will wonder how on earth he did not score.

After his astonishing miss, Werner was thwarted on three occasions by Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, while Kai Havertz headed another chance over.

Unbeaten in nine top-flight games, Chelsea are handling the hectic Champions League-Premier League schedule well.

After securing top spot in their European group, Lampard’s men are looking down on all the rest in England.

Bamford makes impact on return

Bamford arrived at Stamford Bridge with a point to prove – and, despite his team’s defeat, left after once again demonstrating he belongs on the Premier League stage.

The 27-year-old was overlooked during his time at Chelsea, leaving for Middlesbrough in 2017 after five years in London without playing a competitive senior game.

In an extraordinary opening, and after the hosts had twice gone close in the first two minutes, Bamford got between Zouma and Mendy to connect with Jack Harrison’s threaded pass to fire Leeds ahead.

It was another classy finish by Bamford, who is now level with Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in terms of top-flight goals in 2020-21.

Incredibly, seven of his eight league goals have come away from Elland Road, with Bamford scoring in five of Leeds’ six away games this season.

His side, however, could not capitalise.

‘Difficult’ defeat gives Leeds opportunity to learn, says Bielsa

Having beaten former leaders Everton in their previous game, they were unable to stop Chelsea from going top.

Before this weekend only Liverpool had more attempts in the Premier League than Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

They had another eight against Chelsea but could not respond once Zouma headed the hosts ahead.

‘Defeats an opportunity to learn’ – what they said

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard: “I was nervous of Leeds. They’re a threat until the end if you don’t get a cushion.

“They are pretty unique in their style and they’re well coached. We knew it was a big task. Character-wise and performance-wise, on lots of levels, I’m absolutely delighted.”

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa: “It was difficult for us to stop them playing out from the back with their centre-backs and [midfielder] N’Golo Kante.

“I never question the refereeing decisions and this game was not decided by the referee. He did not decide the game. Always defeats are an opportunity to learn something.”

Vulnerable at set-pieces – the stats

  • Leeds have conceded five goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) in the Premier League this season, only Leicester have conceded more from such situations (six).
  • Oliver Giroud has become the first Chelsea player to score in six consecutive Premier League starts since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in October 2001. At 34 years and 66 days, he is the oldest player to score in six consecutive Premier League starts.
  • Chelsea have won four of their past five Premier League games (drawn one) – indeed, no current Premier League side is on a longer unbeaten run than the Blues (nine – won five, drawn four).
  • Leeds have lost three of their past five Premier League games (won one, drawn one), conceding three or more goals in all three defeats.
  • Marcelo Bielsa’s side faced 23 shots in this match, their joint-most in a Premier League game this season (also 23 against Manchester City).

What’s next?

Chelsea, who have already sealed top spot, host Russian side Krasnodar in their sixth and final Champions League Group E game on Tuesday (20:00 GMT), while Leeds are back in Premier League action next Friday against West Ham at Elland Road (20:00).

Player of the match

GiroudOlivier Giroud

with an average of 7.63

Chelsea

  1. Squad number18Player nameGiroud

    Average rating

    7.63

  2. Squad number10Player namePulisic

    Average rating

    7.47

  3. Squad number24Player nameJames

    Average rating

    7.46

  4. Squad number15Player nameZouma

    Average rating

    7.38

  5. Squad number7Player nameKanté

    Average rating

    7.38

  6. Squad number19Player nameMount

    Average rating

    7.28

  7. Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva

    Average rating

    7.15

  8. Squad number21Player nameChilwell

    Average rating

    6.88

  9. Squad number17Player nameKovacic

    Average rating

    6.84

  10. Squad number11Player nameWerner

    Average rating

    6.78

  11. Squad number16Player nameMendy

    Average rating

    6.56

  12. Squad number22Player nameZiyech

    Average rating

    6.31

  13. Squad number9Player nameAbraham

    Average rating

    6.11

  14. Squad number29Player nameHavertz

    Average rating

    5.93

Leeds United

  1. Squad number1Player nameMeslier

    Average rating

    6.62

  2. Squad number9Player nameBamford

    Average rating

    6.33

  3. Squad number23Player namePhillips

    Average rating

    6.01

  4. Squad number7Player namePoveda-Ocampo

    Average rating

    5.74

  5. Squad number2Player nameAyling

    Average rating

    5.63

  6. Squad number18Player nameRaphinha

    Average rating

    5.60

  7. Squad number15Player nameDallas

    Average rating

    5.54

  8. Squad number20Player nameRodrigo

    Average rating

    5.48

  9. Squad number43Player nameKlich

    Average rating

    5.47

  10. Squad number6Player nameCooper

    Average rating

    5.46

  11. Squad number14Player nameLlorente

    Average rating

    5.41

  12. Squad number10Player nameAlioski

    Average rating

    5.36

  13. Squad number5Player nameKoch

    Average rating

    5.19

  14. Squad number22Player nameHarrison

    Average rating

    5.19

Line-ups

Chelsea

  • 16Mendy
  • 24James
  • 15Zouma
  • 6Thiago Silva
  • 21Chilwell
  • 29HavertzSubstituted forKovacicat 67′minutes
  • 7Kanté
  • 19Mount
  • 22ZiyechSubstituted forPulisicat 30′minutes
  • 18GiroudSubstituted forAbrahamat 79′minutes
  • 11Werner

Substitutes

  • 1Arrizabalaga
  • 2Rüdiger
  • 5Jorginho
  • 9Abraham
  • 10Pulisic
  • 17Kovacic
  • 28Azpilicueta

Leeds

  • 1Meslier
  • 2Ayling
  • 5KochSubstituted forLlorenteat 9′minutesBooked at 74mins
  • 6Cooper
  • 10AlioskiSubstituted forRodrigoat 69′minutes
  • 18Dias BelloliBooked at 90mins
  • 15Dallas
  • 23Phillips
  • 22HarrisonSubstituted forPoveda-Ocampoat 57′minutes
  • 43Klich
  • 9Bamford

Substitutes

  • 7Poveda-Ocampo
  • 11Roberts
  • 13Casilla
  • 14Llorente
  • 17Hélder Costa
  • 20Rodrigo
  • 21Struijk

Referee:
Kevin Friend

Attendance:
2,000

Match Stats

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.

  3. Raphinha (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Foul by Raphinha (Leeds United).

  5. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  6. Goal! Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Timo Werner following a fast break.

  7. Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).

  8. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Timo Werner.

  10. Attempt blocked. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Timo Werner.

  11. Offside, Leeds United. Stuart Dallas tries a through ball, but Ian Poveda-Ocampo is caught offside.

  12. Attempt missed. Reece James (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.

  13. Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Liam Cooper.

  14. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  15. Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).

  16. Substitution, Chelsea. Tammy Abraham replaces Olivier Giroud.

  17. Attempt saved. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  18. Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.

  19. Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Illan Meslier.

  20. Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount.

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