Eden Hazard scores twice and Alvaro Morata returns to action as Chelsea share the spoils with Roma at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Manchester United claim yet another clean sheet as Jose Mourinho remains optimistic on Phil Jones’ fitness for the weekend trip to Huddersfield Town.
Here’s the notes from last night’s Champions League action…
Hazard rescues Blues
Eden Hazard picked a fine time to return to form as Chelsea came from behind to secure a draw against Roma at Stamford Bridge.
Handed a role alongside the fit-again Alvaro Morata as Antonio Conte started with a 3-5-2 formation, the Belgian scored twice and created five chances for team-mates before being replaced by Willian with 10 minutes remaining.
Owned by just 4%, Hazard – who scored 12 times at home last season, more than any FPL midfielder – is now shaping up as a major differential ahead of a visit from a Watford side that’s conceded ten goals in the last four Gameweeks.
Morata failed to score but his Fantasy owners will at least be relieved to see him back in action – he lasted the full 90 and was unlucky not to net with four efforts on goal.
His deflected pass led to Hazard’s first goal, with substitute Pedro teeing up the Belgian for his second – and Chelsea’s third – late on.
With N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater already sidelined, Conte opted to play David Luiz in central midfield last night. The Brazilian fired the opener but was subbed off before the hour-mark due to injury as the Blues reverted to 3-4-3.
Post-match, Conte conceded that the champions’ problems in the centre of the park have escalated ahead of the Hornets’ encounter:
“After the first half the doctor told me David Luiz had a pain in his calf, and the same for Bakayoko in his groin”.
Yet those problems in midfield could force Hazard onto the left wing this weekend if Conte switches back to 3-4-3.
Gary Cahill played with a wrap around his head but his manager eased any concerns over the defender’s fitness by saying it was “nothing serious, a knock on the chin”.
Last night’s draw still leaves Chelsea in the driving seat in Group C – they are two points clear at the top, with a five-point gap ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid.
Their next Champions League match – a return to Rome – arrives three days after a Gameweek 10 clash with Bournemouth and five days prior to a Gameweek 11 visit from Jose Mourinho’s Man United.
That could certainly raise some rotation concerns given Conte’s previous comments on workload.
Rashford decisive for United
Jose Mourinho’s side maintained their 100% start to Group A, thanks mainly to an error from Benfica’s young keeper Mile Svilar.
The 18-year-old carried a Marcus Rashford free-kick behind the line to earn the Red Devils a 1-0 win in Portugal and keep them three points clear at the summit.
Romelu Lukaku mirrored his weekend performance at Liverpool – 90 minutes, one shot, no goals – but a trip to Huddersfield ensures he remains one of the favourites in our Gameweek 9 Captain Poll.
As Mourinho himself made a point of mentioning, United now have nine clean sheets in 12 matches across all competitions.
And last night’s shutout came without his first-choice central defenders Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, as Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof marshaled the back-four instead.
Post-match, he issued an update on the former two and also conceded that Rashford will be monitored after being forced off on 76 minutes.
“Phil Jones was on the bench because he felt that if we really needed him, he could [play].
So if he was at that stage today, on Saturday I think he will be in a condition to play. For Eric Bailly, I think it will be difficult.
With Rashford, I thought it was cramp because he was running so much – I thought it was muscular fatigue. But no, he told me he felt something in his knee. It didn’t look to me like a big thing but we don’t know.
Hopefully some of them [can return at Huddersfield] but I don’t know. I don’t know about Paul, I don’t know about Fellaini.”
The comments on Jones will ease concerns a little after his manager had stated that the defender missed the match through injury, only to then be named as a sub.
The most transferred in (122,000+) defender in the Gameweek, Jones’ minutes continued to be managed – he has yet to play a midweek match, with Mourinho restricting his pitch time to league matches only.
But the news on Bailly seems less promising, with Smalling looking favourite to deputise for the Ivorian once again at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Further up the field, Anthony Martial and Rashford continue to alternate on the left flank, with the Frenchman favourite to return to the XI against the Terriers in light of last night’s teamsheet.
United’s next Champions League match – a home clash with the Portuguese side on October 31 – occurs three days after a Gameweek 10 visit from Spurs and five days before they travel to Stamford Bridge in Gameweek 11.
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