MX23RW : Friday, November 1 10:26:27| >> :60:2173:2173:
[monks data]
Red Bull Salzburg
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 25, 2022 at 5.45pm UK
Red Bull Arena
Chelsea logo

Salzburg
1 - 2
Chelsea

Adamu (48')
Sucic (47')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Kovacic (23'), Havertz (64')
Gallagher (85'), Arrizabalaga (90+2')

Kai Havertz stunner earns Chelsea win over Red Bull Salzburg in Champions League

Havertz stunner earns CL progress for Chelsea
© Reuters
A stunning long-range strike from Kai Havertz earns Chelsea a 2-1 win at Red Bull Salzburg, securing their progress to the Champions League knockout stages in the process.

Chelsea have booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with an impressive 2-1 victory at Red Bull Salzburg.

Although Mateo Kovacic's first-half strike was cancelled out by Junior Adamu, Kai Havertz netted one of the best goals of his Chelsea career to secure a spot in the last 16 for his club with a game to spare.

In producing arguably their best performance since the arrival of Graham Potter, the Premier League giants also ended Red Bull Salzburg's 40-match unbeaten record in all competitions.

With AC Milan thrashing Dinano Zagreb in the other game in Group E, Chelsea are guaranteed to advance as group winners courtesy of holding a three-point lead over the Italian giants and possessing a superior head-to-head record.

Potter made the decision to tinker with his Chelsea XI, using Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling as wing-backs while also deploying a central-midfield three.

During the opening quarter-of-an-hour, it remained questionable whether the change of strategy would pay off as Salzburg matched their more illustrious opponents, but Chelsea began a spell of first-half dominance with an outstanding finish from Kovacic.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic celebrates scoring against Red Bull Salzburg on October 25, 2022.© Reuters

While the ball was diverted into his path by a Salzburg defender, the Austrian-born midfielder scored just his fifth goal in 197 appearances for Chelsea with a wonderfully-instinctive effort with his left foot which found the top corner from 16 yards out.

Chelsea then proceeded to showcase their most attractive football since Potter's arrival, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang initially seeing a header saved from a corner before he failed to cap off a sensational team move by firing too close to goalkeeper Philipp Kohn.

Havertz was the next to go close, directing a tame header straight at Kohn when he should have scored, before the Salzburg stopper pulled off a brilliant stop to deny Aubameyang from 15 yards just before the half-time whistle.

Potter would have been concerned that Chelsea's lack of a ruthless streak would come back to haunt them, and it did just three minutes after the restart as Salzburg netted a tremendous goal on the counter.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter during game against Red Bull Salzburg on October 25, 2022.© Reuters

After Maximilian Wober got down the left flank, he proceeded to whip a pinpoint cross into the path of Junior Adamu who coolly slotted a first-time effort past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea responded immediately, almost going ahead on two occasions with Aubameyang again being denied by Kohn before Jorginho saw a header cleared off the line.

However, Chelsea got their noses in front for a second time courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Havertz, the German turning on the edge of the box before curling a shot into the top corner of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Although the home side were momentarily stunned, they soon got back on the front foot with Benjamin Sesko forcing Arrizabalaga into a sharp stop low down to his left.

Red Bull Salzburg celebrate scoring against Chelsea on October 25, 2022.© Reuters

Arrizabalaga almost went from hero to zero, mistiming a punch on the penalty spot to allow Strahinja Pavlovic's header to bounce towards goal, but Thiago Silva was able to clear off the line.

While Chelsea threatened a third goal on the odd occasion, Salzburg had the better of the closing 15 minutes, resulting in some increasingly-frantic defending from the Blues backline.

Nevertheless, Arrizabalaga was not called upon to make a better save than he had already done so from Sesko, helped by commanding performances from each of Trevoh Chalobah and Silva.

Potter's unbeaten streak as Chelsea boss has now been stretched to nine matches, and he will now prepare to return to the Amex Stadium to face former club Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.

ID:497851:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect7138:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Mateo Kovacic

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Game History

How you voted: Salzburg vs Chelsea

Red Bull Salzburg
13.7%
Draw
16.1%
Chelsea
70.3%
548
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter in his first game against Red Bull Salzburg on September 14, 2022.
Read Next:
Potter starts Chelsea reign with Red Bull Salzburg draw
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Texans
13-21
Jets
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Aston Villa33009
2Liverpool33009
3Man City32107
4B. Leverkusen32107
5Brest32107
6Inter Milan32107
7Monaco32107
8Sporting Lisbon32107
9Arsenal32107
10Real Madrid32016
11Lille32016
12Feyenoord32016
13Barcelona32016
14Dortmund32016
15Benfica32016
16Juventus32016
17Atalanta31205
18Stuttgart31114
19Sparta Prague31114
20PSG31114
21Celtic31114
22Dinamo Zagreb31114
23AC Milan31023
24Bayern31023
25Girona31023
26Brugge31023
27Atletico31023
28PSV30212
29Bologna30121
30Shakhtar30121
31RB Leipzig30030
32Sturm Graz30030
33Salzburg30030
34Red Star30030
35Young Boys30030
36Slovan Bratislava30030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!