Chelsea 3-3 Roma AS IT HAPPENED: Champions League results & analysis from Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 3-3 Roma, Benfica 0-1 Manchester United: Express Sport brought you team news, line-ups, updates and analysis from all of tonight’s Champions League ties

THAT’S ALL FOLKS

22:30: Thanks for joining me tonight. I’ll be back again tomorrow as Arsenal and Everton continue their Europa league campaigns. Don’t forget, the Gunners are kicking off at 6! Night.

22:25: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho: “We were in control, David de Gea did not have one save to make. I never felt we could concede a goal and were solid defensively.

“Sometime I feel being good defensively is a crime, but that is a way of getting results. We are one point from qualifying and one victory away from winning the group with two games at home to play. A good game, solid.

"I knew how good the goalkeeper was, I told the players that. We had a little bit of a strategy, especially on set-pieces to make him uncomfortable. We put men around him on corners so he cannot come out. He risks a lot, but only top keepers do that. He was unlucky for the goal.

"We knew the Benfica pressure could not stay for 90 minutes. The amazing defensive work Liverpool did against us, Benfica could not do that for the whole game. Without any pressure, we knew the goal would arrive. We forced a little more and with quality and sharpness we could have killed the game more."

22:20: Chelsea boss Antonio Conte: "It was fair. It was a difficult game against a good team. Above all in the first half we suffered, our performance was good but for sure our football is different than today.

"We suffered possession and it wasn't easy in the first half, despite scoring two goals. The change of the system wasn't good, but when you are in a difficult situation you have to change and sometimes to improvise.

"When we changed in the second half the situation was changing. David Luiz had a little problem in his calf and in this moment I can't risk my players. we are playing always the same players."

22:15: Romelu Lukaku showed great compassion at the end of Manchester United’s slender 1-0 victory. He went over to teenage goalkeeper Svilar, who accidentally took the ball over his own goal line, and gave him some advice and a hug. Top gesture.

22:10: Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic: “We scored a goal from Marcus Rashford's free-kick and we had more chances. We played well in the second half and played well enough to take three points. It was hard for us but we managed to win.

"The manager said to us to try and shoot and get some crosses towards their goalkeeper because he is young and playing in his first game. This is football and I know he is a great goalkeeper and I wish him well for the future.

"We had control, some difficulties in the first 30 minuets but then we controlled the pitch. We used our experience. We could not find the second goal but did not make any mistakes at the back."

22:08: Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof: "Benfica is a good team and defended well with their experienced players.

"It felt good. I spent five years here and I am happy for the win. I did not feel anything, just happy to play and I wanted to help my team get the win."

GROUP A TABLE

22:00: Jose Mourinho’s side maintain their perfect start, and boast a three-point lead over Basel. Another win and they’ve pretty much guaranteed their qualification.

GROUP C TABLE

21:55: Where does that leave Chelsea? Well, it still looks pretty good for Antonio Conte’s side. They are top with a two-point lead over Roma. Atletico Madrid’s draw with Qarabag was a major help, which leaves them five points behind the Premier League champions.

21:52: Chelsea star Eden Hazard: “It is a good result for both teams but when you are 2-0 up at home you must win the game. Edin Dzeko is a fantastic striker and we stay first in the group.

"Now we have to play in Rome but we will try to win the game. After two defeats it's not easy to bounce back."

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE…

21:50: Here’s the rest of tonight’s results. Plenty of goals around, 23 to be precise. Not too many surprises. Sporting Lisbon pushed Juventus to the edge but the Italian champions nicked it late.

BENFICA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

FT: The Red Devils continue to smash things in Europe. They’ve won tonight, admittedly not at their best, thanks to a bizarre own goal from Benfica goalkeeper Svilar.

CHELSEA 3-3 ROMA

FT: Nope, Chelsea and Roma share the spoils in a ridiculously entertaining match. Full reaction on the way folks.

93: Is there one last chance left? Doesn’t look that way I’m afraid folks.

91: Danger! Chelsea have committed numbers forward for this free-kick. Cesc Fabregas steps up… Cahill heads over.

FOUR MINUTES ADDED TIME

89: The pace has dropped significantly over the last few minutes. It’s almost like both sides have exhausted themselves. I wonder why…

87: Eden Hazard's two goals tonight were more than he'd managed in his previous 14 games in all competitions for Chelsea.

86: Fazio is forced to turn Willian's low cross behind for a Chelsea corner. Fabregas delivers… wide from Rudiger.

83: Chance! You’d put the mortgage on Edin Dzeko bagging his hat-trick there, but he’s put too much on the header. Wide. Nobody wants to settle for the draw.

80: Final Chelsea change in the 80th minute. Two-goal Hazard is replaced by Willian. The Belgian gets a great reception. Think I’ll be getting him in my Fantasy Football team ASAP…

77: Antonio Conte makes his second change with Zappacosta being replaced by Rudiger. Former Roma player of course.

CHELSEA 3-3 ROMA - HAZARD

75: What a game. What a bloody game.

Chelsea are level again thanks to Eden Hazard’s second of the evening. He produces a fine header to convert Pedro's right-wing cross.

Pick a winner. I dare you!

73: Gary Cahill is getting bandaged up off the pitch after taking a whack in the face. Plenty of blood but he’s made of sterner stuff. Pellegrini on for Gerson.

CHELSEA 2-3 ROMA - DZEKO

70: I don’t believe it!! Roma have turned things right around at Stamford Bridge, and it’s that man again, Eden Dzeko.

A free-kick is whipped into the area, and the striker has acres of space to guide it past the outstretched Courtois.

BENFICA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED - SVILAR OG

65: From the sublime at Stamford Bridge, to the ridiculous in Benfica. It’s an absolute howler.

Marcus Rashford punts a hopeful free-kick forward. It should be a straightforward catch for the goalkeeper, but he catches and sets backwards over his own line.

CHELSEA 2-2 ROMA - DZEKO

64: That’s just ridiculous. Edin Dzeko has just scored a goal you will never forget.

Fazio's searching long ball found Dzeko on the run and he exquisitely volleyed past Courtois first time. Absolute peach.

63: Pedro finds Morata, who times his run to perfection, but the striker can’t wrap his boot around it with Alisson flying out to meet him.

GOAL UPDATES

62: Barcelona might be down to ten men after Pique saw red for two bookable offences, but they’re now 2-0 up after a Lionel Messi free-kick.

61: Bakayoko is a little bit lucky there. The midfielder looks to play his way out of defence before being tackled, and Gerson heads the resulting cross well over.

Antonio Conte is warned by the referee for wandering outside his technical area.

60: I thought David Luiz would be thrilled to be taken off after picking up that early knock. He’s not. The Brazilian complains all the way off as Pedro replaces him.

58: Just seen the replay of that chance. It turns out a crucial touch from Courtois helped divert Kolarov's low cross away from the lurking Dzeko.

57: Close! Kolarov reaches the byline and cuts it across the face of goal, but nobody took the gamble. Pedro is warming up on the sidelines.

55: Roma just keep coming. The visitors are clearly encouraged by their dominance in possession. No clear-cut chances, but you sense it’s not far away.

GOAL UPDATES

51: Another goal at the Allianz Arena. Bayern are 3-0 up against Celtic. Hummels adds the third.

48: Roma win a corner a few minutes into the second period. Kolarov delivers… blocked! The ball alluded everyone and fell to Nainggolan, but he couldn’t guide it past a crowd of bodies.

CHELSEA 2-1 ROMA

45: OK, we’re back underway folks. Antonio Conte has hopefully addressed a few of Chelsea’s problems, because there’s simply not enough pressure on Roma. No subs at the break.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Tom: Cesc Fabregas is our weak link, Zappacosta not solid enough, Alonso out of form… And we are still playing poorly.

Kurt: Actually unbelievable. I'm seeing Chelsea fans turning on Azpilicueta... What a fanbase...

Andre: Not a fan of Luiz in midfield. Too many times he lets players run off him, doesn't foresee open spaces at the edge of the box.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE…

HT: All the half-time results are above folks.

No real surprises around other than Sporting Lisbon holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw in Turin. Manchester Unite are really toiling in Lisbon. Maybe the injury problems starting to affect his side.

CHELSEA 2-1 ROMA

HT: And that’s the break folks. The Blues have been ruthlessly clinical with their finishing, but the defending leaves a lot to be desired.

46: CHANCE! Zappacosta whips a lovely delivery into the penalty area, where Bakayoko is waiting to volley home. It’s heading for the corner but Bruno Peres is there to make the block.

44: Carlo Ancelotti’s watching from the stands. Bet he’s loving these midweek nights off. Morata wants a penalty after a robust challenge from Fazio, but he went down far too easily.

42: Perotti's cross evades everyone with Alonso doing a great job to stop Gerson from turning it in. Azpilicueta’s having a nightmare dealing with Perotti tonight.

CHELSEA 2-1 ROMA - KOLAROV

40: Game on! Chelsea’s hard work is undone within a few seconds of Eden Hazard’s goal.

Former Manchester City star Kolarov marauds down the left flank, cuts inside and sends one into the top corner via a nasty deflection off Christensen.

CHELSEA 2-0 ROMA - HAZARD

38: Did I say Chelsea were creaking? Well I meant to say cracking!

The Blues extend their advantage with a sumptuous break-away goal. Eden Hazard started the move after stealing the ball in midfield. Morata's shot is then deflected back into Hazard's path and he steered it home.

39: Over in Benfica, Manchester United are turning up the heat after a fairly sloppy opening 35 minutes. Marcus Rashford just went close, and Svilar made a great save to deny Matic.

37: Perotti misses a golden opportunity. The forward receives a pass inside left of the penally area, but he shoots straight at Courtois and it's a comfortable save.

36: Chelsea creaking a little. Roma have far too much space in midfield. The Blues need to slow things down and keep possession for a while.

35: It would have been 1-1 here at Stamford Bridge were it not for Thibaut Courtois. The goalkeeper sticks out a foot to deny Nainggolan from an acute angle.

GOAL UPDATES

33: Juventus are back on level terms. Miralem Pjanic equalises against Sporting Lisbon. Bayern Munich have doubled their advantage over Celtic. Joshua Kimmich got that one.

30: Luiz back on, and his first action is to receive his final waning from the referee after fouling Kolarov.

28: David Luiz hits the deck clutching his calf. Looks to have tweaked it. That’s the last thing Chelsea need with all their injury problems. He’s off for treatment, not sure if we’ll see him again tonight…

25: Nice stuff from Eden. The Belgian pinches the ball in midfield before embarking on a signature run and dragging his effort wide. He and Morata have already formed a good partnership.

GOAL UPDATES

22: Barcelona are also ahead. They’ve taken the lead against Olympiakos. That was a Nikolaou OG.

20: Celtic are behind at Bayern Munich. Thomas Muller gives the German champions the lead. In Benfica, Romelu Lukaku’s header thunders against the bar, but the whistle is blown for a foul on Svilar.

19: Six of David Luiz's last seven goals for Chelsea in all competitions have come from outside the box. Not really too surprising.

17: Roma haven’t been deterred by Chelsea’s opener. They’re still passing it around nicely with Edin Dzeko glancing a cross wide. Strootman, who was part of the longest transfer saga that went nowhere, smacks one wide from distance.

14: It’s been a bad couple of minutes for the Italians. First Roma concede, and now Juventus are behind against Sporting Lisbon after an Alex Sandro OG.

CHELSEA 1-0 ROMA - LUIZ

11: It’s an absolute stunner! The Chelsea fans were urging him to shoot, and David Luiz certainly obliged.

Luiz's attempted pass to Morata is cut out, but the ball bounces back to him and he curls a sumptuous finish in from 20 yards.

9: Almost a nightmare for Fazio. The defender switches off and plays a terrible backpass. Morata nearly reaches it but Alisson was off his line quickly.

8: Roma have NOT come here to make up the numbers. Perotti walks straight through Chelsea’s non-existent midfield before firing narrowly over. Not quite sure where David Luiz was…

7: Wasteful. Chelsea spring the counter-attack. Eden Hazard receives the ball through the middle and finds Alvaro Morata, who hits it straight at Alisson. He needed the finesse button…

5: David Luiz a touch over-eager to make an impression midfield. He’s bundled over Edin Dzeko outside the penalty area. Fazio gets a touch but it’s rolled out of play.

3: Cracking atmosphere inside the Bridge tonight. Roma have sold out their allocation, but you probably knew that already. No chances in the early stages.

WE’RE UNDERWAY

1: We’ve kicked off everywhere now folks. This is going to be mayhem!

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

19:43: Not long until the Champions League anthem will blare out around Europe. I intend to sing it at the top of my lungs in the office. Not even close to being in tune, but it’s never stopped me before!

TOTTI’S IN THE HOUSE

19:41: Francesco Totti’s in the house folks. The guy just oozes class in any capacity. In other, less interesting news, Gareth Southgate and Roberto Martinez are here.

BIG RESULT…

19:39: If Chelsea needed any more motivation to win tonight then they have it - Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 with Qarabag. Cracking game, actually. And the Azerbaijani side were down to ten!

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Zach: Just arrived at the Bridge. Absolutely buzzing. Come on you blues!!!

Snow: Just saw the teams. Good news that Morata is back. Bad news Gary Cahill is still the captain, and starts over rudiger.

Adam: I'm confident we can win this one. If we do win & then win a home tie & we should be good to win our group! #MUFC.

LAMPS APPROVES

19:35: Frank Lampard on Antonio Conte’s selection: “It’s great news to have Morata fit. Hamstrings you expect to out for around a month, he’s made it in two or three weeks. I think that combination we saw at Atletico is so important for Chelsea. 

“I think if they’re going to do anything this year, those two up front have to continue with that form. David Luiz, he’s been brought into midfield to thicken up and give another body. In European football it’s such a hard part of the pitch to dominate. He will give them more strength in there.”

DON’T GET ANGRY…

19:30: Jose Mourinho has been priced at 6/4 to become the new PSG boss after the Manchester United manager said that he doesn’t want to finish his career at United.

Having won three trophies in his first season, the 54-year-old looks set to lead the club on their first genuine Premier League title charge since Sir Alex Ferguson departed.

United have been crying out for a figure like Mourinho since the Scot called time on his unprecedented Old Trafford reign - but he doesn’t believe it’s possible any more.

Jose, Neymar, Mbappe, Cavan… objectively it sounds epic.

THE GRUB AIN’T BAD

19:25: Here’s a quick snap of the food being served to journalists at Stamford Bridge. Decorative aubergines? I’m not sure it’s going to catch on…

GOOD OMEN

19:20: Roma won two of their five away fixtures in last season's Europa League, but, in the Champions League, were without a victory in 10 away matches before the win in Baku.

Roma have won one of their 15 away games in England - at Liverpool in the 2000-01 UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) - losing on nine occasions.

*Swiftly puts Chelsea win into his accumulator…*

GET IN TOUCH

19:15: If you’ve got any thoughts on tonight’s matches, or simply want to tell what an average job I’m doing, let me know.

You can comment at the bottom of the page, or Tweet me using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Wade: I didn't want Cahill within a 100 mile radius of the first team tonight. Error after error. Rudiger is far more reliable.

Shubham: Champions League Night! Indeed an important match at an important time... Need to get back to winning ways. No more Excuses! #CFC

Fred: My gut feeling tells me Jose Mourinho is going to go defensive again tonight. The bus will be parked.

BAYERN MUNICH vs CELTIC

19:10: This will either go very right, or very, very wrong…

Celtic face another daunting challenge when they take on German giants Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena tonight.

Against Paris St-Germain in their Group B opener, the Scottish champions were left looking like a pub side as the big-spending French giants ran riot with a merciless 5-0 drubbing.

But last time out against Anderlecht, Celtic were much more like the classy outfit fans are used to seeing in domestic action under Brendan Rodgers. 

Whatever Celtic turn up tonight, I’m sure they’ll have bags of character… #BestJokesOf2015…

THE SESHHHH

19:05: Good to see Manchester United supporters enjoying the delights of Lisbon. It really is one of the best cities in Europe.

BARCELONA vs OLYMPIAKOS

19:03: Barcelona XI: ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Digne, Paulinho, Busquets, Iniesta, Messi, Luis Suarez, Deulofeu.

Subs: Cillessen, Nelson Semedo, Rakitic, Denis Suarez, Mascherano, Alcacer, Andre Gomes.

Olympiakos: Proto, Elabdellaoui, Botia, Nikolaou, Koutris, Gillet, Romao, Zdjelar, Carcela-Gonzalez, Odjidja-Ofoe, Androutsos. 

Subs: Kapino, Tachtsidis, Fortounis, Djurdjevic, Vukovic, Engels, Pardo.

Referee: William Collum.

ANDERLECHT vs PARIS ST-GERMAIN

19:00: Anderlecht XI: Sels, Appiah, Mbodji, Deschacht, Dendoncker, Kums, Trebel, Onyekuru, Gerkens, Teodorczyk, Hanni.

Subs: Boeckx, Josue Sa, Stanciu, Chipciu, Bruno, Beric, Obradovic.

PSG XI: Areola, Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa, Verratti, Thiago Motta, Rabiot, Mbappe-Lottin, Cavani, Neymar.

Subs: Trapp, Di Maria, Meunier, Yuri, Lo Celso, Draxler, Pastore.

Referee: Pavel Kralovec.

THE ITALIAN CONNECTION

18:55: Yep, it’s just like the French connection but more fashionable and less aloof.

Antonio Conte's third game in Europe as Chelsea boss pits him against his compatriots.

It is Chelsea's first meeting with Italian opponents since 2012-13, when Roberto di Matteo's side drew at home with Juventus and lost in Turin.

The sack followed on the way home for the Italian, whose side had come from behind to beat Napoli en route to winning the 2012 European Cup just six months previously.

Chelsea have won five, drawn two and lost two of their home matches with Italian clubs.

BENFICA vs MANCHESTER UNITED

18:50: After going without Champions League football last season, May's Europa League triumph in Stockholm brought around a timely return to European football's top table.

Things could scarcely have got off to a better start in Group A, with a 3-0 opening-day win at home to Basel followed by a 4-1 triumph at CSKA Moscow.

Jose Mourinho said United were "almost there" in terms of reaching the knockout stages after the victory in Russia and can go closer still tonight.

CHELSEA vs ROMA

18:45: Alvaro Morata starts! The Spanish forward has been passed fit and will lead the line this evening. Elsewhere it looks like David Luiz will be playing in midfielder with Andreas Christensen at centre-back.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c), David Luiz, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso, Hazard, Morata.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Scott, Kenedy, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi.

Roma XI: Alisson, Peres, Fazio, Kolarov, Nainggolan, Gonalons, Strootman, Gerson, Dzeko, Perotti.

Subs: Skorupski, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Moreno, De Rossi, Under, Florenzi, El Shaarawy.

Referee: Damir Skomina.

BAYERN MUNICH vs CELTIC

18:40: And here’s the starting XI’s at the Allianz Arena. Jupp Heynckes isn’t messing around. Tried and tested…

Bayern Munich XI: Ulreich, Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Alaba, Robben, Rudy, Thiago, Coman, Muller, Lewandowski.

Subs: Starke, Sule, Rodriguez, Rafinha, Vidal, Tolisso, Friedl.

Celtic XI: Gordon, Gamboa, Lustig, Boyata, Tierney, Roberts, Ntcham, Brown, Sinclair, Armstrong, Griffiths.

Subs: De Vries, Bitton, Dembele, Rogic, Ajer, McGregor, Forrest.

Referee: Sergei Karasev.

BENFICA vs MANCHESTER UNITED

18:35: OK, here’s Jose Mourinho’s starting XI folks. Good chance for Victor Lindelof to impress.

Benfica XI: Svilar, Douglas, Luisao, Dias, Grimaldo, Pizzi, Fejsa, Filipe Augusto, Salvio, Jimenez, Goncalves.

Subs: Julio Cesar, Lopez, Samaris, Jonas, Seferovic, Zivkovic, Cervi.

Manchester United XI: de Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Blind, Mata, Ander Herrera, Matic, Rashford, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku.

Subs: Romero, Jones, Martial, Lingard, Young, Darmian, McTominay.

Referee: Felix Zwayer.

THE DECIDER

Updates and analysis from our reporter Lewis Winter.

18:33: Chelsea’s two games against Roma will decide which team qualifies out of Champions League Group C with Atletico Madrid, according to ESPN FC pundit and former Venezuela international Alejandro Moreno.

Chelsea have won their opening two games in the group, against Qarabag and Atletico Madrid, while Atletico drew their other match away to Roma, so only have one point from their two games.

However, Moreno still believes the La Liga giants will qualify so it is between Roma and Chelsea for the other spot.

“The importance of this match, I can’t stress it enough. They play Chelsea vs Roma and the next round is going to be Roma against Chelsea,” he said.

“Let’s not forget that in this same group you have Atletico Madrid. We expect them to make it into the next round. One of these two teams are going to be out. So this group will be defined in the next couple of games.”

TEAM NEWS KLAXON

18:25: We’ll have all those starting XI’s for you shortly folks. Alvaro Morata is expected to return from a hamstring injury, but you never know… Yep, that’s just me trying to build the suspense.

ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE…

18:20: Obviously our main focus will be on the events that unfold at Stamford Bridge, but we’re also building-up to tonight’s other games.

Manchester United will look to continue their 100 per cent start to the Champions League group stage at Benfica.

Celtic face a daunting trip to Bayern Munich, Barcelona welcome Olympiakos to the Nou Camp, and Juventus, who are in the midsts of a mini-crisis, go toe-to-toe with Sporting Lisbon in Turin.

If tonight’s fixtures were a buffet, I’d probably eat myself to death.

EVENING

18:15: Welcome to our LIVE Champions League coverage of Chelsea vs Roma from Stamford Bridge.

Well, there’s no other way of putting it. We are absolutely bloody smashing it in Europe right now.

Napoli, Sevilla, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are among the list of heavyweights currently eating our dust.

But can we keep it that way?

Antonio Conte will certainly hope so. The Premier League champions are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s shock defeat to Crystal Palace against a very resilient Roma.

It’s going to be a cracking evening. Let’s get going!