Scott Murray's Blog, page 105

March 4, 2020

FA Cup fifth round: Norwich win at Spurs, Man City beat Sheff Wed - as it happened

The holders eased past Sheffield Wednesday, while Tottenham’s wait to reach a first final since 1991 goes on.

12.35am GMT

10.32pm GMT

We had to wait a while, but we were rewarded with some drama at the end. Here’s the revised quarter-final draw ...

10.29pm GMT

Krul races the length of the pitch to celebrate with the Norwich faithful. They’ll host Derby County or Manchester United in the quarter finals! And it’s Champions League or bust for Jose Mourinho as he closes out his first season at Spurs.

10.27pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Norwich City. Gedson Fernandes stutters and bumbles a dreadful penalty towards the bottom right. Krul has time to put out a cigarette and fold his newspaper before throwing his cap on it. Norwich are in the quarters!

10.25pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Norwich City. Cantwell absolutely lashes a penalty into the top left. Spurs on the brink ... and in style.

10.25pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Norwich City. Troy Parrott hits lamely towards the bottom right. Krul parries. Advantage Norwich!

10.24pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Norwich City. Stiepermann thrashes his spot kick into the bottom right. Vorm guessed well, but couldn’t get anywhere near.

10.24pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Norwich City. Lo Celso calmly passes one into the top left. Then not so calmly slips over. But it’s in!

10.23pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Norwich City. Young Adam Idah lashes a stunning penalty into the top right. Unstoppable!

10.22pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Norwich City. Erik Lamela misses, going for the top left but hitting the bar.

10.22pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Norwich City. Kenny McLean whips his to the right. Vorm guesses correctly and parries. First blood Spurs!

10.21pm GMT

Penalties: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Norwich City. Dier fires into the bottom left. Krul guesses correctly but has no chance.

10.20pm GMT

Spurs will be taking their penalties first. Eric Dier with the honour, and a huge roar of anticipation as he makes his way down the pitch. Here we go, then ...

10.17pm GMT

While the teams prep their penalties, why not catch up on events at the King Power? Peter Lansley was there to witness Leicester edge past Birmingham and set up a quarter-final tie with Chelsea.

10.15pm GMT

Some hectic end-to-end nonsense, as Oliver Skipp, then Josip Drmic attempt to break. Both lose control, and that’s the end of extra time. We’re going to penalties to find out who’ll host Derby County or Manchester United in the quarter finals!

10.13pm GMT

ET 29: Cantwell is upended by Aurier, 35 yards from goal. Cantwell floats the free kick into the Spurs box. It’s easily cleared.

10.13pm GMT

ET 28: Fernandes blazes over the bar from 20 yards. He’s not missed by much. As close as Spurs have come in extra time.

10.12pm GMT

ET 27: Lamela nearly opens Norwich up down the right. Not quite. And so much for Mourinho’s studied cool: now he’s up, effin’ and jeffin’ at his players. One last push to avoid penalty kicks!

10.11pm GMT

ET 26: The tension at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is palpable. On the touchline, Jose Mourinho strikes a carefree pose. He’s kidding nobody.

10.10pm GMT

ET 25: Lamela dribbles dangerously across the face of the Norwich box. He’s stripped of possession, but Idah’s clearance crashes into Lewis and nearly drops at the feet of the lesser-spotted Parrott. Krul snaffles on the penalty spot, just in time.

10.07pm GMT

ET 24: Lamela wafts a poor effort into the arms of Krul. Easy pickings for the keeper.

10.07pm GMT

ET 23: Erik Lamela bustles down the right and wins a free kick off a desperate Lewis. This will be a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the side of the Norwich box.

10.06pm GMT

ET 21: Gedson Fernandes scurries down the inside-left channel and attempts to find Lo Celso in the middle. Alex Tettey does extremely well to intercept and clear.

10.04pm GMT

ET 19: Giovani Lo Celso smacks a shot towards the bottom left from a tight angle. Tim Krul parries. Serge Aurier lashes the rebound over from the right-hand corner of the box.

10.02pm GMT

ET 17: Some good work by Jamal Lewis down the Norwich left. He stands one up for Adam Idah at the far post. Idah should do better with his off-target header.

9.59pm GMT

It’s half time in extra time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It’s still 1-1. We might as well join that, no? A little bonus MBM action. Before that, here’s Jamie Jackson’s verdict on Manchester City’s win over Sheffield Wednesday.

9.58pm GMT

Pep’s version of events. “We didn’t concede one shot on target. We were incredibly solid. It was tough, they had ten players there. It was a tough week for us, but the players were ready to fight. We knew if we conceded a lot of chances we would be in trouble. That means a lot. We are playing with more and more quality.”

9.54pm GMT

… made by Martin Keown and Chris Waddle.

9.46pm GMT

Elsewhere, Leicester have beaten Birmingham 1-0. The Foxes continue to hunt for their first-ever FA Cup. The Spurs-Norwich tie has ended 1-1 and is now in extra time. More on that when we have it. But in the meantime, stay with us for the quarter-final draw, which will be coming up soon.

9.42pm GMT

Pep Guardiola theatrically lectures a couple of his players as the teams head off down the tunnel. City weren’t at their best, but they were still far too good for Wednesday. Their margin of victory should have been much larger than one goal; they were uncharacteristically wasteful front. But in the FA Cup, a win’s a win’s a win, as Riyad Mahrez explains: “It was tough, we knew it was going to be tough. Sometimes you have to take the win like this, and we are happy to go through. We had to pass the ball between the lines and move a bit. But we knew we would create chances. We scored and we are happy. There is still a long way to go in the FA Cup, but we will try to win every game.”

9.36pm GMT

The holders are through, despite missing several chances, Sergio Aguero their hero yet again. Wednesday’s 85-year wait for their fourth FA Cup will go on.

9.34pm GMT

90 min +2: Mahrez, Sterling and Jesus stream towards the Wednesday goal. Someone should score, it’s three on one, but they try to walk the ball into the net. Eventually Sterling slams his shot straight at Wildsmith. This should be over. It nearly is, but not quite.

9.33pm GMT

90 min: There will be three minutes of stoppage time.

9.31pm GMT

88 min: Mahrez is booked for a saucy tug on Murphy, who was threatening to break down the right. One for the team.

9.30pm GMT

87 min: Nothing comes of City’s corner. Elsewhere, Leicester have taken the lead late on against Birmingham, Ricardo Pereira scoring on 82 minutes, while Norwich have equalised at Spurs, Josip Drmic for the Canaries on 78 minutes.

9.29pm GMT

86 min: Before the corner can be taken, Aguero is replaced by Raheem Sterling. As the striker leaves the pitch, he becomes the recipient of some industrial advice from his manager. Pep’s not happy with his team’s performance.

9.27pm GMT

85 min: Mahrez drifts down the left and chips into the mixer. The cross is too high for Jesus, allowing Lees to head out for a corner. Aguero was behind the Wednesday defender, waiting to slot home.

9.26pm GMT

84 min: On the touchline, Pep is apoplectic. His charges, perhaps wary of what awaits them should they ship an equaliser, respond accordingly, re-establishing a semblance of control.

9.25pm GMT

82 min: City are suddenly rocking a little! Bravo overplays with the ball at his feet, and is nearly stripped of possession by Da Cruz. The goalie shanks out for a corner. Bannan’s delivery is no good, but City are under a bit of pressure for the first time tonight. The cost of not putting away your chances.

9.23pm GMT

81 min: A Wednesday free kick, out on the right, is hooked to the far post. Stones misses his header ... but so does Lees behind him. Goal kick, but that was half a chance.

9.23pm GMT

80 min: Bannan sends Fox off down the left. His cross is too long. Jesus should clear, but dallies on the ball, allowing Hunt to claim and curl a fantastic low cross along the corridor of uncertainty. Fletcher, at the far stick, is inches away from poking home, but can’t stretch enough. So close to an equaliser that would, on the balance of play, be utterly absurd.

9.20pm GMT

78 min: ... David Silva shins hysterically into the stand behind. It’s City’s 19th attempt on goal tonight, and the highest flyer of them all.

9.19pm GMT

77 min: Mendy makes good down the left and looks for Jesus in the centre with a low curled cross. The excellent Iorfa slides in to hook out for a corner. From which ...

9.18pm GMT

76 min: But it’s still only 0-1, and in the FA Cup, you never know. Wednesday need to get hold of the ball first, mind you.

9.17pm GMT

75 min: Otamendi feeds Mahrez down the inside right. Mahrez glides towards the box and creams one towards the top left. Wildsmith parries well. City come again, and Mahrez has another pop, dropping a shoulder to come in from the left. Again Wildsmith saves well.

9.16pm GMT

73 min: How on earth has that second goal not arrived? Mahrez nearly turns the ball home, latching onto a lovely David Silva slide down the inside right, but his effort is turned out for a corner. From the set piece, Wildsmith claims amid a wild scramble, Stones having set it off with a slapshot from the spot. This is desperate stuff from Wednesday now.

9.13pm GMT

71 min: Is sitting back a good idea? It’s moot. Mahrez finds space down the left but can’t find anyone with his pullback. City win a corner out on the right, but Palmer clears. A second goal seems just a matter of time.

9.12pm GMT

69 min: Wednesday seem quite happy to sit back. They appear to be in Damage Limitation mode.

9.10pm GMT

67 min: Fletcher, surrounded by neon City shirts, tries to escape with a cute backheel. Full marks for ambition, at least. The home crowd respond to his ineffective cheek with a brief but very heartfelt howl of despair.

9.08pm GMT

65 min: Hillsborough has fallen pretty quiet. The home side haven’t achieved anything of note since falling behind. Sequence of more than two passes have come at a premium.

9.06pm GMT

63 min: Lee has tweaked his groin. He hobbles off, to be replaced by 19-year-old Alex Hunt. Wednesday have now used up all of their substitutes.

9.05pm GMT

61 min: Mahrez drives with purpose down the right, cutting into the box before dragging a low shot wide right. That was at the end of a lovely sweeping move also involving Aguero and David Silva. City haven’t been at their very best tonight, but they’re still so easy on the eye.

9.02pm GMT

60 min: More of the passing. City have established full control of this tie, even if the scoreline doesn’t quite reflect their dominance. Yet.

9.00pm GMT

58 min: City stroke the ball around in the grand fashion. They’ve enjoyed 78% of the possession this evening.

9.00pm GMT

56 min: Wednesday respond to falling behind by replacing Forestieri with Steven Fletcher.

8.59pm GMT

54 min: There’s no VAR for this game, and I wonder whether Aguero would have been judged a millimetre or two offside had the nit-pickers at Stockley Park been rocking and rolling tonight. But even if that’s the case - and I wouldn’t be too sure - that would have been one of those absurdly pedantic decisions that are ruining football, and City deserve to be in front anyway, so here we are. No controversy here!

8.56pm GMT

Mendy slips a pass down the inside-left channel. Aguero traps, turns quickly, and lashes a low shot straight at Wildsmith. The ball’s hit so hard, all Wildsmith can do is parry the ball into the air; it lands behind him and spins into the net. Relentless City get their reward.

8.54pm GMT

52 min: Now Bernardo Silva has a go, whistling a low shot towards the bottom right. Wildsmith parries well.

8.54pm GMT

51 min: Suitably chastened, City come very close to making their manager a little happier. David Silva rolls a pass across the face of the Wednesday box, right to left. Mendy, coming in from the wing, crashes a super shot towards the top left. Wildsmith gets a fingernail to it, tipping it onto the bar. The ball twangs away. Great football all round.

8.52pm GMT

50 min: Aguero is caught offside as he receives the ball down the right. On the touchline, Pep Guardiola dances around, throwing semaphore shapes and screaming at his players in a very agitated manner. They’d better do as he says, or there’ll be trouble later.

8.51pm GMT

48 min: City have come out on the front foot. Iorfa takes a clunkish touch and is robbed by Mahrez, who sends Aguero scampering towards the Wednesday box. City are two on one, but Aguero hesitates when he should set Mahrez free on the overlap, then sends a dribbler towards the bottom right from distance. Wildsmith claimes easily.

8.49pm GMT

47 min: David Silva whips a vicious low cross in from the right. Wildsmith dives to gather, the ball sticking to his gloves. He’s not had a whole load to do this evening, despite the many chances created by City in the first half. Not a great deal on target as of yet.

8.47pm GMT

Wednesday get the second half underway. They’ve made a half-time change, replacing Borner with Lees.

8.42pm GMT

In tonight’s other fifth-round matches ... Tottenham Hotspur lead Norwich City by an early Jan Vertonghen header, while Leicester City are being held goalless at home by Birmingham City. It’s not been a banner evening in the FA Cup so far. But there’s plenty of time for things to get memorable. Also, remember to stick around after the full-time whistle for the quarter-final draw.

8.35pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Other cup competitions are available for your leisure and pleasure.

8.33pm GMT

There goes the half-time whistle. Wednesday have kept the scoreline goalless, but City have created enough chances to be ahead. Remember: if the score stays the same after 90 minutes, we’re heading into extra time and possibly towards a penalty shoot-out.

8.31pm GMT

45 min: Lee clips David Silva to the floor out on the left. Mahrez curls long for Stones, who finds space at the far post. Stones heads down, six yards out. The ball bounces up and over the bar. Goal kick, and yet another great City chance spurned from close range.

8.29pm GMT

44 min: City press hard, coming at Wednesday from all angles. But then suddenly Bannan breaks down the left and curls a long pass up the flank towards Da Cruz. Stones does exceptionally well to slide in and hook the ball away from the striker, just when he was threatening to break into the box.

8.27pm GMT

42 min: David Silva slips Mahrez into space on the right. The ball’s tugged back for Bernardo Silva, loitering on the penalty spot, but Murphy has read the danger well, and is on point to intercept and clear. That’s fine play all round.

8.26pm GMT

40 min: Stones is now getting booed for nearly breaking his back a couple of minutes ago. Soccer banter!

8.24pm GMT

38 min: Now Stones is down in distress, having winded himself, landing heavily after an aerial duel with Da Cruz. He should be fine to continue once he gets his breath.

8.23pm GMT

36 min: Mahrez tries to beat Palmer down the left. Palmer slips, accidentally handling the ball, smothering it as he falls. It’s a free kick, but never a booking. However, the yellow card is flashed in his distraught face. A poor decision. From the resulting set piece, Stones flashes a header off target.

8.21pm GMT

35 min: Something for the home fans to scream about as the excellent Iorfa nearly releases Da Cruz with a long slide down the right. Stones, the last man, does extremely well to hold his ground and deny Da Cruz a run on goal.

8.20pm GMT

34 min: Bernardo Silva whips down the right and pulls one back from the byline. Iorfa does well to block Jesus, who was preparing an effort to the left of the D.

8.19pm GMT

32 min: And to illustrate that point, Forestieri crashes into Bernardo Silva out on the right. Mahrez takes the resulting free kick, looping a pinpoint cross onto the head of Otamendi, who crashes a header off the bar from eight yards. He probably should have buried it, though it was a decent effort. City will wonder how on earth they’re not leading.

8.16pm GMT

31 min: City have been dominant from the get-go, give or take a couple of Wednesday attacks. This match has got that matter-of-time vibe.

8.15pm GMT

29 min: Otamendi hits long, and nearly finds the head of David Silva, totally free on the penalty spot, no Wednesday defender anywhere near. Fortunately for the hosts, Otamendi’s pass is overhit; put another way, Silva is about a foot too short. Either way, goal kick.

8.13pm GMT

27 min: Aguero, quarterbacking from a deep position on the left, hits a long diagonal ball towards Jesus, who springs the offside trap down the inside-right channel. The ball drops onto his foot on the edge of the six-yard box ... but it’s another fresh-air swipe. Goal kick. City have created three superb chances, all of them six yards out, but Jesus and Aguero have been weirdly blunt. So far. Plenty of time to address that.

8.11pm GMT

25 min: A poor defensive header by Borner gifts City a corner out on the right. That one leads to another on the left. Mahrez sets up a quick game of head tennis, before Wednesday slap clear. Forestieri tries to break down the right, but Mendy’s not having that at all.

8.09pm GMT

23 min: Mendy isn’t to be discouraged, and comes again down the left. This time he gets a cross away. Palmer half clears, the ball dropping to Mahrez, who whistles a shot well over the bar from the edge of the box.

8.08pm GMT

22 min: Mendy toils down the left wing. He retains possession for what seems like an age, but can’t dribble his way into space to make a cross, and is eventually forced to turn tail. Full marks for effort, though.

8.06pm GMT

20 min: Aguero prepares to receive the ball with his back to goal, 30 yards out. He’s barged over by Borner. A clear free kick. David Silva floats it down the inside-right channel. Stones dinks a cute ball towards the far post, where Jesus rises highest, only to send a poor header well wide from six yards. City have now passed up two great chances from six yards, failing to work the keeper on both occasions.

8.04pm GMT

19 min: Wednesday will be happy enough with their efforts so far, though. City haven’t warmed Wildsmith’s hands yet, and the hosts have spent a more-than-acceptable amount of time in their opponent’s final third.

8.03pm GMT

17 min: Bannan, who never quite realised my dream of his becoming Scotland’s Paul Scholes, floats a harmless free kick in the vague direction of the top left, harmlessly high, wide and out of play. Goal kick.

8.01pm GMT

16 min: Fox busies himself down the left and wins Wednesday’s first corner of the game. It’s slung towards Iorfa at the near post, but the defender can’t swivel to get a shot away. City clear. But the hosts quickly launch another attack, Murphy sashaying down the right and purchasing a cheap free kick off an immobile Otamendi. This is in a dangerous position, just to the right of the City box.

8.00pm GMT

14 min: Gundogan slips a pass down the inside left for Jesus. Iorfa once again positions himself perfectly, making sure the City striker can’t latch onto the ball and break clear into the box. Goal kick.

7.58pm GMT

12 min: Murphy hoicks a wild cross into the City box from the right. There’s nobody in attendance, though it’s one of those for Bravo to deal with. He catches on the line with safe hands, thankful the wind didn’t start to swirl.

7.57pm GMT

11 min: Otamendi is down, rubbing his ankle after taking a clack on his ankle in a 50-50 with Forestieri. There was no malicious intent, and the big defender is back up soon enough, fit and raring to go again. Play restarts, and the reliably hapless Stones immediately passes the ball out of play with nobody anywhere near him. A look of impotent exasperation washes across Pep Guardiola’s face.

7.54pm GMT

9 min: That was a promising passage of play by the hosts, but City are quickly back on the ball. Mendy scampers into space down the left and rolls an inviting low cross towards Aguero, who should really score from six yards. But Aguero uncharacteristically flicks thin air, allowing Borner to clear Wednesday’s lines. What a fine chance that was.

7.52pm GMT

7 min: Bannan curls the free kick to the far post, where the busy Iorfa wins a header, sending the ball across the face of goal. City half clear, but Murphy is soon coming back at them down the right. He drops a shoulder to slip past Mendy, and curls a shot towards goal. It takes a big deflection off Otamendi, and should be a corner, but the referee awards a goal kick instead.

7.51pm GMT

5 min: Mahrez hoicks the corner in from the left. Wednesday clear long. Forestieri battles with Mendy, 30 yards from the City goal, right of centre. He’s clumsily brought down, and here’s a chance for the hosts to load the box.

7.50pm GMT

4 min: City continue to knock it about with velvet grace. Mahrez glides down the right and has a dig from a tight angle. The ball balloons off Iorfa and out for the first corner of the game.

7.48pm GMT

2 min: Mahrez plays a ball down the inside right for Aguero, who spins Iorfa and looks to be clear in the box. But Iorfa battles back hard, and battles back well. He manages to get his body between Aguero and the ball, shepherding both out of play. So close to an early gilt-edged chance for City, though.

7.47pm GMT

And we’re off! City get the ball rolling at a not-particularly-full Hillsborough. They stroke it around in a relaxed style befitting a side that has won the last six domestic trophies available. Wednesday will get a kick soon.

7.46pm GMT

The Big Music. The teams take to the field as Waterfront blasts out of the PA system. Wednesday wear their famous blue and white stripes, while City wear pick-your-own-70s-confectionery-brand yellow and pink. And now let’s go back to the Sixties: Hi Ho Silver Lining. That’s three decades’ worth of memories covered. We’ll be off in a minute.

7.41pm GMT

Pep Guardiola also speaks to the nation. “We have won the last six domestic trophies, and eight of the last nine. So that is the proof: every game we play, we try. It doesn’t mean you have to win, but you try. Today is another example. That is the way big teams are. The opponents have their skills, they are strong on set pieces and long balls, there is good talent in the middle with Bannan, so we have tried to learn about them.”

7.40pm GMT

Garry Monk has a word with the BBC. “There are many things we will try to get from this game. You have to believe you can get the result you want. We’ve been in a difficult patch of form. We were very good up until Christmas, that’s why we were third, but we’ve had a poor run. But if we can perform to a high level, we can take it from there. So we want to get the result, number one. But also if we give the performance we are capable of, that will give us the confidence and belief moving forward for the rest of the season.”

7.38pm GMT

7.01pm GMT

Wednesday make four changes to the team swatted aside by Derby at Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon. Joe Wildsmith, Joel Pelupessy, Dominic Iorfa and Alessio Da Cruz replace Cameron Dawson, Tom Lees, Kadeem Harris and Steven Fletcher, all of whom drop to the bench.

City make six changes to their victorious League Cup final starting XI. Kyle Walker, Fernandinho, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling make way for Cancelo, Benjamin Mendy, Nicolas Otamendi, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus. Kevin De Bruyne enjoys a good rest.

6.51pm GMT

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Iorfa, Borner, Fox, Pelupessy, Murphy, Lee, Bannan, Da Cruz, Forestieri.
Subs: Harris, Fletcher, Lees, Nuhiu, Dawson, Hunt, Urhoghide.

Manchester City: Bravo, Joao Cancelo, Stones, Otamendi, Mendy, Bernardo, Rodri, Silva, Mahrez, Aguero, Jesus.
Subs: Sterling, Gundogan, Zinchenko, Fernandinho, Ederson, Foden, Garcia.

2.51pm GMT

Sheffield Wednesday haven’t won the FA Cup since 1935, when two late goals by winger Ellis Rimmer secured a sensational 4-2 victory over West Bromwich Albion. They’ve reached the final twice since then, losing in dramatic circumstances on both occasions. They shipped a two-goal lead against Everton in 1966, Gerry Young miskicking in midfield, John Lennon and Paul McCartney watching on. Then they lost to Andy Linighan’s 119th-minute header in 1993, the ball squirming through the hands of Chris Woods in agonising fashion. Close on both occasions; no cigar.

If they want to hold onto their dream of scratching an 85-year-old itch, they’ll need to knock out the holders tonight. BREAKING NEWS: it’s a tall order. Manchester City have won their last four games in glorious fashion: a breeze past West Ham, a grind against Leicester, a humiliation of Real Madrid, and a League Cup final win over Aston Villa. Their tails are up. The Premier League is probably beyond them ... but technically the quadruple is still on, so we can’t rule anything out. If anyone can do it, Pep Guardiola’s great team can.

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Published on March 04, 2020 14:49

The Fiver | Chased across broken glass by Dejan Lovren and 10 other Dejan Lovrens

It’s never ideal being knocked out of the FA Cup, but the real worry for Liverpool’s Vincibles is the way everyone’s talking about the Premier League being a done deal. Of course they’re going to win it, the commentariat chorus. The fans have been singing the same song too – though after the last four days, good luck finding one who, secretly behind closed doors, isn’t obsessively poring over what’s left of the fixture list, searching for the likeliest source of those elusive 12 points, while at night waking up at regular intervals in a cold sweat after dreaming of being chased barefoot across broken glass by Dejan Lovren and 10 other Dejan Lovrens. And that’s before we bring any potential knock-on effects of major public health emergencies into the equation. Let’s not even go there.

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Published on March 04, 2020 07:59

February 29, 2020

Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea, West Ham 3-1 Southampton and more – as it happened

West Ham claimed three precious points in their battle against relegation, while Marcos Alonso scrambled a draw for Chelsea on the south coast

5.28pm GMT

And that, my Clockwatch cronies, is that. Thanks for staying with this goalfest, and by way of reward, here’s some breaking news to end it all: the theme from Z-Cars has just blasted from the speakers at Vicarage Road, and that means Watford v Liverpool is minutes away from kick-off. Rob Smyth is all over it. Enjoy, enjoy!

5.25pm GMT

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace. In case you missed it earlier, Palace won the M23 derby. Ed Aarons was at the Amex, and these are his conclusions.

5.23pm GMT

Newcastle United 0-0 Burnley. In retrospect, poor Louise Taylor drew the short straw today. She was there to witness Newcastle struggle up front yet again. Here’s her take on the action at St James’.

5.20pm GMT

West Ham United 3-1 Southampton. It was a huge win for the Hammers at their

beloved
London Stadium. Jacob Steinberg was on point to file this verdict.

5.17pm GMT

Bayern Munich beat Hoffenheim 6-0, incidentally. Here’s how football’s latest fiasco literally unfurled.

5.14pm GMT

Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea. It was an entertaining back-and-forth on the south coast. Ben Fisher was there to witness it, and here’s his report.

5.11pm GMT

All the updated tables, to peruse at your leisure, perchance for your pleasure. It’s been a great day for West Ham, Leeds, Fulham, Wigan and Huddersfield; not so great for Aston Villa, West Brom, Charlton, Stoke and Middlesbrough.

5.05pm GMT

Scottish League Two full-times.

5.04pm GMT

Scottish League One full-times.

5.03pm GMT

Scottish Championship full-times.

5.02pm GMT

The League Two full-times.

5.01pm GMT

The League One full-times.

5.00pm GMT

The Championship full-times.

4.59pm GMT

Preston push for an equaliser at Fulham. The home side break up the other end, Aboubakar Kamara making sure of the three points in the fourth minute of injury time. It’s 2-0, and Fulham remain on the shoulders of West Brom and Leeds, six and five points behind in third respectively.

4.56pm GMT

It’s four for Huddersfield! Juninho Bacuna has whistled one into the top corner from 25 yards: 4-0. Blackburn have scrambled a draw at home against Swansea thanks to Bradley Johnson’s 95th-minute deflected shot. It’s 2-2 at Ewood. And it’s all over at West Brom, where in-form Wigan have claimed all three points against the leaders: 0-1.

4.54pm GMT

All the Premier League full-time scores are in.

4.53pm GMT

A third goal for Huddersfield against Charlton. Karlan Grant scores his second of the day: it’s 3-0. Also down at the bottom: Luton equalise against fellow strugglers Stoke in the first minute of injury time, thanks to a James Collins penalty. And a sickener for Ipswich at Blackpool, Joe Nuttall scoring what is surely the winner in the 93rd minute. It’s 2-1 to the Seasiders.

4.50pm GMT

West Brom are pushing hard for an equaliser against Wigan. The relegation haunted Latics refuse to bend. See also Newcastle, who are piling forward against Burnley. They’ve got a two-on-one break in injury time, but Matt Ritchie hesitates and is stripped of possession. The Clarets are refusing to buckle as well.

4.46pm GMT

An equaliser for Birmingham at QPR. Scott Hogan makes it 2-2 with eight minutes remaining. Meanwhile here’s budding playwright Bill Hargreaves: “Of course the underlying funny thing about the Bayern banner is that poor old Dietmar Hopp will be wishing it all to go away, not for it to be highlighted by the stopping of play etc. All we need now is for the post match interviews to go something like this:

Player: Well we had to stop playing because there was a banner saying the owner was the son of a whore.
Interviewer: Son of a what?
Player: A whore. Huge red letters on a white background. You couldn’t miss it. Over there.

4.43pm GMT

Marcos Alonso, goal machine. It’s three in two league games for the rampaging left back. That had been coming, with Chelsea piling on the pressure. Now the Cherries, so close to a precious win, will simply be looking to hang onto a point.

4.40pm GMT

Absolutely nothing has happened at St James’ Park in the match between Newcastle and Burnley. Nothing, nowt, zilch, nada, nix, bugger all. There: if that doesn’t guarantee some late drama, nothing will.

4.39pm GMT

Steve Mounie has scored a second for Huddersfield against Charlton. This win would catapult the Terriers up to the heady heights of 17th in the Championship table, leaving Charlton one place and two points above the relegation zone.

4.37pm GMT

The match at Hoffenheim has restarted. By all accounts, Bayern are just doing keepie-uppies, Jim Baxter style, and Hoffenheim players are merely standing around in the fag-while-waiting-for-bus style. Having a nice chat. Meanwhile the clock ticks on, and the referee doesn’t give two hoots. What is it with touchy billionaires, though? Guess it’s true what the moptops said: money can’t buy you love.

4.34pm GMT

A huge goal in the Championship. Wigan take the lead against West Brom at the Hawthorns, Sam Morsy taking advantage of a post-corner scramble to slam home. If this stays the same, Leeds will be just a point behind the Baggies at the top of the table, while Wigan will escape the dropzone at the expense of Middlesbrough.

4.33pm GMT

The teamsheets are in at Vicarage Road.

Watford: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Masina, Hughes, Capoue, Sarr, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Deeney.
Subs: Gomes, Dawson, Welbeck, Chalobah, Gray, Pussetto, Pereyra.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Adrian, Minamino, Lallana, Origi, Matip, Jones, Hoever.

4.29pm GMT

Chelsea have brought on Michy Batshuayi, in the hope of getting back into the game at Dean Court. The erratic Belgian has just slotted home ... but from a clearly offside position. VAR does its job, and Bournemouth remain 2-1 in the lead.

4.26pm GMT

Fulham are determined to stay on the tails of West Brom and Leeds in the Championship promotion places. Preston North End appear equally determined to give them a hand. David Nugent has put through his own net, giving the Cottagers a 58th-minute lead.

4.24pm GMT

Thin-skinned rich men latest. Bayern Munich are currently 6-0 up at Hoffenheim. But the game has been suspended because their fans are waving an offensive banner against Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp.

Hoffenheim-Bayern stopped for a few minutes with Bayern 6-0 up as fans in the away block unfurl a banner.

“Dietmar Hopp [TSG owner] remains a son of a whore.”

Bayern players run over telling them to stop. So does coach Hansi Flick, shouting at the fans, furiously gesticulating. pic.twitter.com/klFYgzsu4q

4.22pm GMT

Dundee United have a Liverpoolesque lead at the top of the Scottish Championship. Second-placed Inverness Caley Thistle aren’t going to catch them, 18 points behind, albeit with two games in their pocket after today. So a defeat today is unlikely to cause the Arabs too much despair. Nevertheless, the leaders are 2-0 down at Dunfermline, Jonathan Afolabi adding to Kevin Nisbet’s first-half goal.

4.20pm GMT

Freddie Sears has equalised for momentum-free Ipswich Town at Blackpool. Meanwhile QPR, who were trailing 1-0 at half time at home to Birmingham City, have staged a fine comeback, Marc Pugh and Jordan Hugill scoring the goals in a four-minute burst to snatch the lead. And down near the bottom of the Championship, out-of-form Reading are 2-0 up on Barnsley, George Puscas adding to Yakou Meite’s first-half strike.

4.16pm GMT

That cup of half-time tea must have been a tasty drop. Two goals in three minutes, the second from Josh King, has turned things around for the Cherries at Dean Court. Bournemouth, like West Ham, are fighting hard for three precious points.

4.14pm GMT

Saints have brought on Danny Ings. And he’s got a job to do, because Michail Antonio has just stretched West Ham’s lead in a must-win game for the hosts.

4.13pm GMT

A Tomas Kalas own goal has brought Millwall level against Bristol City. It’s 1-1 at the New Den. Meanwhile from og to Ng: in the old Fourth Division, Perry Ng puts Crewe 1-0 up at Morecambe. As things stand, Crewe will be going to the top of the table.

4.11pm GMT

Ryan Fraser swings a corner into the Chelsea mixer. Jefferson Lerma rises highest to bullet a header into the net. It’s his first home goal for the Cherries.

4.09pm GMT

The Championship leaders West Brom are being held at home by lowly Wigan. It’s 0-0, and it’s not exactly been a classic at the Hawthorns. Meanwhile at Ewood Park, Swansea have turned things around completely either side of the half-time break, Andre Ayew stroking home a penalty kick on 48 minutes. It’s 1-2.

4.06pm GMT

Huddersfield are playing Charlton this afternoon, you’ll have noticed. Any excuse to exhume an old Joy of Six. Why not while away the time before the second-half goals start flying in?

4.02pm GMT

Scottish League Two half-times.

4.01pm GMT

Scottish League One half-times.

3.59pm GMT

Scottish Championship half-times.

3.58pm GMT

The League Two half-times.

3.56pm GMT

The League One half-times.

3.54pm GMT

The Championship half-times.

3.51pm GMT

Rhian Brewster, on loan at Swansea from Liverpool, has just whacked one in from 20 yards against Blackburn. It’s an equaliser, right on the stroke of half-time, Sam Gallagher having given Rovers a 25th-minute lead at Ewood Park. Meanwhile Cardiff have levelled up at home against Brentford, Joe Ralls completing a comeback from two goals down just before the half-time whistle. It’s 2-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium.

3.48pm GMT

The Premier League half-times.

3.45pm GMT

As things stand, West Ham catapult themselves up to 16th, leapfrogging Bournemouth and pushing Aston Villa into the bottom three. With games against Arsenal, Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea coming up, a win today couldn’t be more precious.

3.41pm GMT

But not for long! Sebastien Haller bullies Alex McCarthy as the pair compete for a high ball, then slides home. VAR has a check, harshing West Ham’s buzz, but eventually they’re allowed to celebrate properly. The goal stands, and the Hammers deservedly lead on the balance of play.

3.39pm GMT

Could it be one of those days for West Ham? They’ve messed up a three-on-one break, conceded minutes after missing a great chance, and now another goal goes betting. From a corner, Issa Diop fails to connect a couple of yards out, and the score remains 1-1.

3.37pm GMT

Cardiff are back in it against Brentford. Junior Hoilett has halved the deficit on 34 minutes; it’s 1-2. Elsewhere in the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday are capitulating at home against Derby. Jason Knight scores a third for the Rams on the half-hour, and already plenty of Owls regulars have decided enough is enough. They’re off to the pub.

3.35pm GMT

Bournemouth had started well, but it’s Chelsea who have taken the lead at Dean Court (some habits, etc.). Olivier Giroud hits the bar, and Marcos Alonso rifles home the rebound from close range. The destroyers of Spurs last week combine again.

3.32pm GMT

The small margins between success and failure, right here. Pablo Fornals passes up a great chance to make it 2-0 at the London Stadium. Saints break up the other end, Michael Obafemi justifying Ralph Hasenhuttl’s decision to start him ahead of Danny Ings.

3.30pm GMT

Ipswich Town have only won four of their last 18 matches. Once leading the old Third Division (some habits are hard to shake) they’re now adrift of the play-off positions in ninth, and not looking likely to turn things around at Blackpool today. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has given the Seasiders a 26th-minute lead.

3.28pm GMT

Derby County are also out of the blocks quickly this afternoon. Tom Lawrence has scored twice in the first 24 minutes at Sheffield Wednesday. While there’s a mid-table flavour to that one, it’s a relegation scrap at Huddersfield Town, where the hosts have taken the lead against Charlton Athletic through Karlan Ahearne-Grant.

3.24pm GMT

It’s been a fast start by promotion-chasing Brentford at Cardiff. Luca Racic had given the Bees a fifth-minute lead; Bryan Mbeumo has just slotted away a free kick to double their advantage. As things stand, they’re in fourth spot in the Championship.

3.21pm GMT

West Ham are on the front foot now. Haller slams a header straight at Alex McCarthy in the Saints goal. Either side, and the hosts were 2-0 up and well on their way to their first win in nine matches.

3.17pm GMT

A minute after Michail Antonio mess up a three-on-one break, Jarrod Bowen scores on his full debut for West Ham! Saints had been growing into the match after West Ham’s fast start, too.

3.12pm GMT

An early goal in the Championship relegation six-pointer at Kenilworth Road. Sam Vokes has given Stoke City the lead against hosts Luton Town, finishing a move started by Joe Allen. Meanwhile up the other end of the table, play-off hopefuls Bristol City have gone a goal up at Millwall, Pedro Pereira with the opener for the Robins.

3.08pm GMT

West Ham threw down an early marker as well. Within the first minute, Aaron Cresswell clattered into Stuart Armstrong, the Saints midfielder requiring the wet sponge, smelling salts, etc. Armstrong is up and about quickly enough, though, and the game goes on. David Moyes, desperate for the three points today, has clearly told his charges to, er, charge.

3.06pm GMT

The first goal of the traditional 3pm kick-offs in any division is scored by East Fife. Daniel Denholm puts the Fifers a goal up at Forfar. They’ll be dancing on the streets of Farncombe, Surrey, and yes that is a tedious in-joke that about four people in the entire world will get. Meanwhile an early statement of intent by Bournemouth, for whom Philip Billing has wasted a couple of good early chances already. Chelsea aren’t out of the dressing room yet.

3.02pm GMT

Peep! Tootle! Parp! After some coronavirus-defying handshakes at grounds all around the country, the 3pm kick-offs get underway.

2.53pm GMT

Still here? For those of you who haven’t immediately raced straight to the butchers for a couple of pounds of mutton mince, stopping off en route only to pick up a slab of lard ... the Observer’s report of Palace’s win at arch-rivals Brighton has landed. Ed Aarons was our man down by the seaside, and here’s his verdict.

2.50pm GMT

Pre-match pie. Further proof that the BBC licence fee is worth every single penny.

2.41pm GMT

West Ham fans, having been sold a pup by their preposterous board, will be protesting before their match against Southampton. Stephen Cross, of the Hammers United supporters’ club, explains why it’s come to this. Preach on, brother.

2.34pm GMT

Bournemouth v Chelsea team news. Bournemouth welcome back Nathan Ake, Jefferson Lerma, Lewis Cook and Ryan Fraser. Fikayo Tomori replaces Antonio Rudiger in central defence for Chelsea, while Pedro displaces Ross Barkley in midfield. Kepa Arrizabalaga remains on the bench, Willy Caballero continuing in between the sticks.

2.32pm GMT

West Ham United v Southampton team news. Jarrod Bowen makes his full West Ham debut against Southampton. He lines up alongside Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio as David Moyes goes for all-out attack. Feel free to read those seven words back to yourself, ten times or more if necessary. Meanwhile Saints select Michael Obafemi up front. Danny Ings is once again on the bench, Southampton’s leading scorer perhaps understandably running on fumes after carrying the entire team for the past seven months.

2.29pm GMT

Newcastle United v Burnley team news. Five changes for Newcastle. Steve Bruce replaces Fabian Schar, Valentino Lazaro, Nabil Bentaleb, Sean Longstaff and Allan Saint-Maximin with Javier Manquillo, Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Dwight Gayle. However, Burnley boss Sean Dyche is in If It Ain’t Broke mode: he names the same XI who started the 3-0 win over Bournemouth last week. Chris Wood is among the substitutes after recovering from a hamstring problem.

2.25pm GMT

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace. It’s also all over at the Amex. Palace win the M23 derby thanks to a second-half Wilfried Zaha goal on the break. Rob Smyth has all the details, plus post-match reaction.

2.24pm GMT

FULL TIME: Hull City 0-4 Leeds United. A stunning second-half display by Leeds. Towards the end of it, they were stroking passes around to cheers of olé! from the away end. The obvious comparison would be to their famous ball-flicking, back-heeling, shoulder-dropping humiliation of Southampton back in 1972, though everyone forgets Don Revie’s side did pretty much the same thing a fortnight earlier against Manchester United.

2.15pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 0-4 Leeds United (Roberts 84). This is now a rout. A second goal for Tyler Roberts in three minutes, this one a beautiful diving header, meeting Mateusz Klich’s right-wing cross with a header back across George Long and into the top right. Picture-book. Hull will remain four points off the relegation places after this inevitable defeat. They’ve got some big six-pointers coming up against Stoke, Charlton and Middlesbrough, plus extremely tricky away fixtures at Birmingham, West Brom and Bristol City. Survival is far from guaranteed.

2.11pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 0-3 Leeds United (Roberts 81). Leeds really have cleared out their promotion-chasing pipes after that wobble. A length-of-pitch team move that ends with Jack Harrison teeing up Tyler Roberts to viciously sweep into the bottom right from 12 yards.

2.08pm GMT

Public service announcement: Five Serie A games have been called off as a result of the current Public Health Emergency of International Concern. We remind you because one of them is still showing up on our live scores, you see.

2.03pm GMT

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Smith, Ake, Stacey, Steve Cook, Billing, King, Lerma, Lewis Cook, Fraser, Callum Wilson.
Subs: Boruc, Francis, Gosling, Solanke, Stanislas, Rico, Harry Wilson.
Chelsea: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Pedro, Giroud.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, Barkley, Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Gilmour.

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Rose, Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Gayle, Joelinton.
Subs: Schar, Saint-Maximin, Lejeune, Yedlin, Darlow, Sean Longstaff, Bentaleb.
Burnley: Pope, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil, Vydra, Rodriguez.
Subs: Brownhill, Wood, Brady, Hart, Pieters, Lennon, Long.

1.59pm GMT

GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Crystal Palace (Ayew 70). An opener at the Amex, and it’s come against the run of play. Rob Smyth has the details.

1.57pm GMT

Click and enjoy.

1.49pm GMT

So having said nothing much was happening, Leeds nearly make it three in spectacular fashion. Jack Harrison takes a touch out on the right before whipping a power-curler towards the top left. He’s beaten Hull keeper George Long all ends up, but the ball twangs off the upright and away from danger. That would have been a peach. It’s still just 0-2. Hull have half-an-hour to get back into this.

1.46pm GMT

Leeds last won promotion from the second tier in 1990, the same year Liverpool last became champions of England. A good omen for both clubs? Or a tenuous coincidence crowbarred into a rolling blog while nothing much else is going on? The choice, dear reader, is yours.

1.42pm GMT

So after that rocky period, Leeds seem to have pulled themselves together as they chase that elusive return to the top flight. If they close this one out, they’ll be eight points clear of third-placed Fulham, who entertain sixth-placed Preston North End this afternoon.

1.38pm GMT

GOAL! Hull City 0-2 Leeds United (Hernandez 47). It hasn’t taken long for Leeds to double their advantage. Jack Harrison crosses long from the left. Patrick Bamford causes confusion in the middle. The ball finds Helder Costa down the inside-right channel. He slips in Pablo Hernandez, who fires a low diagonal shot into the bottom left.

1.33pm GMT

Here we go, then. It’ll be a little while before the 3pm teamsheets land, so in the meantime let’s concentrate on the lunchtime kick-offs. The M23 derby is goalless at half-time, the square root of nix having occurred so far down on the south coast. Rob Smyth is doing his best with that.

Hull City v Leeds United has been a bit more eventful, thankfully. The teams were separated at the break by Luke Ayling’s deflected long-range strike on five minutes. Pablo Hernandez has hit the Hull crossbar, while Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, making his league debut for the club at the age of 19, has been distributing the ball in an esoteric fashion. All set up for a great second half, with Leeds looking to close the gap on leaders West Brom, for a couple of hours at least, and Hull desperately looking for something that’ll put a little more distance between themselves and the relegation places.

12.06pm GMT

There aren’t too many Premier League fixtures being played this afternoon. Just the five. And yet it could prove to be quite a significant day in the 2019-20 Premier League. Brighton and Crystal Palace kicked off an hour ago, and you can follow that live, right here, right now, with our old pal Rob Smyth. Today’s other fixtures are as follows (all 3pm unless stated):

View more on Scott Murray's website »

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Published on February 29, 2020 09:28

February 25, 2020

Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich: Champions League last 16 – as it happened

Bayern have one foot in the quarters after swatting Chelsea aside with ease at Stamford Bridge

12.10am GMT

10.22pm GMT

Jacob Steinberg was at Stamford Bridge this evening. Here’s his take on a painful lesson for Chelsea, hot off the press. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

10.20pm GMT

Frank’s verdict. “They outclassed us in pretty much every department, so it was quite sobering. Am I surprised? I think we could have done more, certainly. I’m disappointed we couldn’t have done better, but it was a real reality check for everyone in the dressing room. We have to take one on the chin, look at ourselves and look at the levels we want to attain, and that we have attained in the past. Our choice of pass in the final third has to improve. Our players will look at who they were up against, and see the levels we want to attain. We’ll always play with pride, and you should never say the door is closed. I’m more concerned about the bigger picture, there’s a lot to be done.”

10.10pm GMT

Bayern hero Serge Gnabry, formerly of Arsenal, speaks. “This result gives us loads of confidence, but we need to be prepared for the second leg. We have a good advantage. I have a lot of friends here in London, perhaps they give me a bit of power, and I always enjoy coming back. We know what happened with Liverpool and Barcelona last year, so we have to be careful, and go into the second leg with focus. We will try to win that one as well.”

10.02pm GMT

Good luck picking the star man for Bayern tonight. Serge Gnabry scored twice, while Robert Lewandowski got one and set up two. Thomas Muller looks born again. Thiago controlled the midfield. Kingsley Coman was a constant threat. But perhaps best of all was 19-year-old Ghana-born Canadian Alphonso Davies, sharp in defence, borderline unplayable in attack during that second-half rout. A young man making his first serious statement in the biggest club competition there is. As for Chelsea ... all part of the learning process, let’s put it that way.

9.53pm GMT

The referee puts Chelsea out of their misery. Frank Lampard’s side have shipped three away goals, and they’ll miss the suspended Jorginho and Marcos Alonso in the second leg. Bayern have one foot and four toes in the quarter finals.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +3: Bayern ping it around on the edge of the Chelsea box but can’t find an opening. They’ve been streets ahead of the hosts in this second half.

9.49pm GMT

90 min +2: Coutinho tries a curler from 30 yards. Nope.

9.48pm GMT

90 min +1: A Bayern corner on the right. Goretzka’s first touch is a free header from eight yards. His effort would probably have gone in, but was blocked by Lewandowski of all people.

9.47pm GMT

90 min: Thiago is replaced by Leon Goretzka. There will be four added minutes.

9.47pm GMT

88 min: Mount dribbles with purpose down the left, reaches the byline, and only just fails to find Abraham in the middle. No consolation goal.

9.45pm GMT

87 min: Davies scampers down the left yet again and finds Lewandowski on the edge of the box. Not for the first time tonight, a great chance is passed by as a Bayern striker can’t sort out his feet. They’ve earned the right to make a few mistakes, to be fair. Davies has been sensational, a star in the making.

9.43pm GMT

85 min: The two-goal hero Serge Gnabry is replaced by Corentin Tolisso. Silence at Stamford Bridge, give or take a few celebratory chirps from the Bayern section.

9.41pm GMT

84 min: Actually, not so lucky. The referee goes over to the VAR monitor, takes one look, and sends Alonso packing. This has been a disastrous second half for Chelsea.

9.41pm GMT

82 min: Alonso is booked for holding out his arm and poking it around Lewandowski’s head. That looked premeditated; Alonso’s a lucky boy.

9.39pm GMT

81 min: Abraham drives down the middle and falls just inside the box. Chelsea claim a penalty in the half-hearted style. They’re not getting one. Boateng’s block tackle was perfectly timed. “This lad Alphonso Davies looks like the next Gareth Bale,” observes the very wise Gary Naylor. “Not sure he’ll be a full-back for long.”

9.37pm GMT

79 min: Pedro zips down the inside-left, reaches the byline, and wheechs a poke-me-home ball through the six-yard box. Abraham is again millimetres away from prodding home. He’ll be cursing those nail clippers.

9.35pm GMT

77 min: In the dugout, a wry smile momentarily threatens to play across Frank Lampard’s face, but misery wins the battle and a frown takes over. Arms crossed tight.

9.34pm GMT

Davies goes on another sizzling run down the left, skipping past Christensen’s desperate lunge with ease, and he’s away. This time his cross is fantastic, rolled across the face of goal. Lewandowski isn’t going to miss from six yards, and slams into the bottom right. That’s his 39th goal of the season, and his 11th in the Champions League alone. Throw in two assists, and he’s not having a bad night!

9.32pm GMT

74 min: Chelsea make their final switch, the captain Azpilicueta making way for Pedro. From the restart, Willian drops a shoulder to make space down the right, and curls a delicious low curler along the corridor of uncertainty. All it needs is a toenail to poke home, but Abraham must have trimmed his last night and his lunge can’t quite connect. That’s as good a cross as you’ll see. Such a shame nobody could convert.

9.30pm GMT

72 min: Davies romps past Christensen, into acres down the left. He’s so fast. But with Lewandowski waiting in the middle, he crosses clumsily into the stand behind. A disappointing end to a blistering run.

9.29pm GMT

71 min: James and Willian combine neatly down the right and earn a corner. Willian takes. Bayern clear it without too much drama. Chelsea haven’t worked Neuer at all in this second half.

9.27pm GMT

69 min: It was nearly 0-3; now it’s nearly 1-2. Kimmich plays a suicidal pass across the face of his own box, allowing Mount to intercept. It’s a huge chance, but Mount blazes wildly over the bar. The small margins that could keep this tie in the balance, or put it to bed.

9.26pm GMT

68 min: Thiago loops a pass down the right for Muller, who reaches the byline, sends Rudiger sliding off to the wrong fire, and dinks long for Coutinho. The sub tries to ram home a spectacular volley, level with the left-hand post, but gets it all wrong. The ball squirts across the face of goal and Chelsea hack clear.

9.23pm GMT

66 min: Coman goes down clutching his hamstring. He won’t be able to continue. Philippe Coutinho comes on in his place.

9.22pm GMT

64 min: You have seen those given, though. Christensen’s elbow was poking out in the chicken-dance style. Proximity was probably an issue. Either way, Chelsea escape.

9.21pm GMT

63 min: From the corner, Thiago takes a snap shot from six yards. It hits Christensen’s elbow. The referee considers blowing up for a penalty, but decides against it. VAR has a check, and there’s nothing doing.

9.20pm GMT

62 min: Gnabry twists and turns down the inside-left channel. Upon entering the box he takes a whack at goal. He really wants his hat-trick. The shot’s deflected over for a corner.

9.18pm GMT

61 min: Chelsea mix it up. They have to. No choice. Something has to happen. Willian and Tammy Abraham come on for Olivier Giroud and Ross Barkley.

9.17pm GMT

59 min: Muller jigs down the right, reaches the byline, and tugs back for Gnabry, who really should complete a quickfire hat-trick by battering home from the penalty spot. But he lashes wildly over. Bayern have suddenly switched into Spurs Mode.

9.16pm GMT

58 min: Chelsea are in danger of falling to bits. Coman romps down the right and crosses for Lewandowski, who tries to score with a scorpion kick. He doesn’t connect, but he wasn’t far off. Plenty of confidence in the Bayern ranks now. Chelsea look stunned.

9.14pm GMT

56 min: Chelsea are all over the place. Davies picks up possession deep, and makes it all the way down the left wing. He hooks into the middle. Lewandowski can’t quite sort his feet out on the edge of the box, and Caballero gathers. So close to a third.

9.13pm GMT

Chelsea are in deep trouble after Bayern score a second away goal in just over three minutes. Neuer launches long down the left. Gnabry plays a simple mid-range one-two down the flank with Lewandowski, enters the box and strokes a perfect shot across Caballero and into the bottom right. Gnabry sure likes London.

9.11pm GMT

53 min: Azpilicueta slipped as Gnabry made the killer pass. Not sure whether it made any difference. But it can’t have helped.

9.09pm GMT

Bayern suddenly burst forward en masse. Gnabry plays a cute ball round the corner to release Lewandowski into the box on the left. He shapes to shoot from an angle, but then snaps a low pass across the face of goal for Gnabry, who has kept running and slams the ball home. What a lovely goal. What a costly 60 seconds for Chelsea.

9.08pm GMT

50 min: Kimmich concedes a garden variety foul in the midfield on Kovacic. Jorginho is livid, for some reason, and gets right up in the referee’s grille. He’s booked for stupidity, and will miss the second leg. Kimmich also goes in the book.

9.07pm GMT

48 min: Other than that, the start to the second half has been scrappy. Then all of a sudden, Mount breaks down the right. Davies nearly gets back to rob him of possession, but Mount gets a shot away. Neuer parries. Barkley takes a shot from the rebound. Neuer parries again. And then the flag goes up for offside, Mount having been well off at the start of the whole move.

9.04pm GMT

46 min: Nearly a perfect start to the half for Chelsea, as Jorginho’s backflick nearly sends Giroud clear down the middle. Alaba was on point to intercept and clear for Bayern.

9.02pm GMT

Chelsea get the second half underway. Neither team has made a change during the break.

8.50pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. David Hytner’s preview of Pep Guardiola’s latest run-in with Real Madrid.

8.48pm GMT

The corner’s easily cleared. Thiago then brings down Barkley, who was threatening to break. A yellow card for the Bayern midfielder, and that’s the end of the first half. Bayern have dominated territory and possession, and hit the bar. But Chelsea have come very close to scoring on a couple of occasions. Not a classic, but poised nicely enough. Don’t go anywhere!

8.46pm GMT

45 min: Gnabry toils hard down the left, stripping Azpilicueta of possession, driving forward, and winning a corner. It’ll be taken during one added minute of time.

8.44pm GMT

43 min: Alonso slides through Coman, getting ball but also a piece of the man. A free kick out on the right. Bayern load the box. Kimmich takes, and swings in dangerously. Azpilicueta does well to win a header, and Caballero springs up to claim. Chelsea go straight up the other end, Alonso trying to repeat his heroics of the Tottenham game with a low diagonal screamer towards the bottom right. Neuer does extremely well to parry, and the corner that results leads to nothing.

8.41pm GMT

41 min: Some scrappy nonsense in the midfield.

8.39pm GMT

39 min: A free kick for Chelsea out on the left, a reward for Mount losing control of his own feet and eventually tripping himself up. Probably for the best that James’ delivery beats everyone in the box and bounces harmlessly out for a goal kick.

8.38pm GMT

37 min: James slips a ball in from the right for Barkley, who wants to spin clear on the edge of the box but can’t shake off Alaba. Chelsea have done well to work their way back into this match after being on the back foot for a while.

8.37pm GMT

35 min: And now it’s Bayern who go close, Lewandowski crossing from the left, Muller ghosting in to flick an outrageous back-header towards the top left. Caballero is beaten, but the ball crashes off the crossbar. Muller tries to do something with the rebound but he’s off balance and Chelsea are able to clear.

8.35pm GMT

34 min: A poor clearance by Neuer is pounced on by Jorginho. The ball’s slipped left to Mount, who fires a ball across the face of goal. Giroud is an inch away from poking home, shades of Gazza at Euro 96. After all that Bayern pressure, it was Chelsea who nearly took the lead.

8.34pm GMT

32 min: More last-ditch stuff as Bayern sweep forward through Lewandowski, Muller and Coman. It’s a diagonal left-to-right move that nearly puts Coman through on goal. But just as he shapes to shoot, Alonso pops up to block and usher him out for a goal kick. That’s fine defending.

8.31pm GMT

30 min: Chelsea are beginning to give up half-chances at a worrying rate. Again Lewandowski nearly gets a shot away inside the box; again Caballero is the hero with another on-point interception. Chelsea can’t keep going like this.

8.30pm GMT

29 min: Caballero took a whack making that save, so there’s a brief pause as he receives treatment. He’s good to go again. Bayern’s corner is a waste of time, but Muller is soon coming at Chelsea again down the left, and curls a fierce shot inches wide of the bottom right. Caballero, at full stretch, might have been in trouble had that been on target.

8.28pm GMT

27 min: Another great save by Cabellero, who saves again at Lewandowski’s feet, the big striker having been sent clear down the middle by a clever Muller pass. The ball clanks out for a corner on the left.

8.27pm GMT

26 min: Gnabry slips a cute pass down the inside left to release Lewandowski into the box. Caballero is wise to the plan and is quickly off his line to snaffle at the striker’s feet. That was superb goalkeeping, not least because a mistimed challenge could have led to a penalty kick.

8.26pm GMT

25 min: Muller and Gnabry combine at speed down the left. There are red shirts lurking in the penalty area, so Chelsea are very grateful to Christensen, wide awake this time, and able to hack Gnabry’s cross away from danger.

8.25pm GMT

24 min: Some space for Barkley out on the left. He enters the box and thinks about a curler towards the top right. Instead he opts for an outswinging cross that doesn’t find Giroud at the far post.

8.24pm GMT

23 min: A really poor pass by Christensen gifts Coman possession out on the right. Rudiger does very well to snuff out the sudden danger. Focus, remember, like your manager said.

8.22pm GMT

22 min: Bayern reestablish their control with a spot of keep-ball in the middle of the park. It’s not quite taken off, this match. Yet.

8.21pm GMT

20 min: Kovacic sends a big diagonal towards James on the right. James whips in low, forcing Alaba to bundle out for a corner, from which Giroud heads weakly into Neuer’s arms. An uncharacteristically powerless header by Giroud, who was looking for the top right but couldn’t get enough purchase. But this is better from Chelsea.

8.19pm GMT

18 min: Finally something for the home faithful to scream about. Kovacic slides a gorgeous pass down the inside right to release Mount. For a second, it looks as though he’ll tear clear towards the box, but Davies recovers his position with lightning speed. Mount is panicked into a miscontrol, and Davies shepherds the ball out for a goal kick. What defending by the 19-year-old wing back.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Gnabry flicks on the corner, but the ball harmlessly bounces out of play to the right of goal. The home crowd fall quiet again with worry. Bayern are finding their range now, but Chelsea have yet to get going.

8.16pm GMT

15 min: Stamford Bridge has fallen pretty quiet as Bayern dominate. Thiago sprays a long ball down the inside left. Lewandowski romps into the box and tries to power a shot past Caballero. The ball whacks the keeper in the chest and pings out for a corner. That generated a bit of much-needed noise.

8.14pm GMT

13 min: Coman and Muller combine again, this time down the right. Muller pulls a ball back for Pavard, who can’t work room for a cross and is forced to turn tail. Bayern keep hold of possession, though, patiently passing it around the back. They’ve had the lion’s share so far.

8.12pm GMT

11 min: Coman and Muller exchange a one-two in the centre circle, and suddenly Coman is away down the inside-right channel. Simple as that. Chelsea torn apart with ease. Coman should hit the target at the very least, but upon entering the box, only manages to flutter the side netting. A real chance to grab a precious away goal.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: Plenty of space for Pavard out on the right. He crosses long with the hope of finding Lewandowski at the far post. Too long. “The Bayern captain should give Azpilicueta the Bayern-Tottenham pennant to establish a marker of intent and set zee bantz rolling,” suggests Ian Copestake.

8.09pm GMT

9 min: Coman goes scampering after a long ball down the right but, with Chelsea a little light at the back, can’t keep it in. Goal kick. Chelsea go up the other end, Mount dribbling in from the right before scuffing a shot wide right. Neither team are quite on it yet.

8.07pm GMT

7 min: Azpilicueta takes a long throw from the right. The ball falls to Mount, on the edge of the Bayern box. He chests down, leans back, and sends a wild effort deep into the stand behind.

8.06pm GMT

5 min: Azpilicueta nearly shanks a simple pass out of play, then gifts the ball to Davies in the midfield. Chelsea look a little bit nervous during these opening exchanges.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: Mount stands on Davies’ foot and is slightly fortunate to escape an early booking. He’d have probably seen yellow for that later in the game. Everyone gets one.

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Bayern quickly establish a modicum of control. They probe this way and that. Chelsea keep their shape, but Bayern were moving the ball around swiftly enough to cause a couple of murmurs of anxiety in the home crowd.

8.02pm GMT

And we’re off! Bayern get the first half underway. A huge roar, with both sets of plans giving it plenty. Chelsea come straight at the visitors, Kovacic romping down the left before being forced to turn back. Then Bayern go up the other end, Muller attempting to thread a shot into the bottom left from 20 yards. Caballero is behind it all the way. Quite the eventful first 40 seconds!

7.58pm GMT

The teams are out! A fine Champions League atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. A whiff of sulphur in the air, on account of a pre-match rooftop firework display half the stadium wouldn’t have been able to see. Chelsea are in their famous blue, while Bayern sport first-choice red. We’ll be off in a minute!

7.43pm GMT

A pre-match chat with Frank Lampard. “We have to be at our best,” he tells BT Sport. “Our focus from minute one has to be spot on. Our belief in ourselves, and what we can do. And our work ethic. We have to up that level even more. We might be seen as the underdogs, but let’s try to show what we can do. People think managers want to rotate and show how clever we are, but you actually want some continuity so we go again. The players need to have huge focus.”

7.31pm GMT

Pennant watch. Here’s what Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta will be handing over to his opposite number Manuel Neuer during the pre-match niceties.

7.07pm GMT

Chelsea name the same XI sent out to beat Tottenham at the weekend. And there’s only one change on the bench, with Pedro taking Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s seat.

Bayern make four changes to the team that scraped past Paderborn 3-2 in the Bundesliga on Friday evening. Benjamin Pavard, Jerome Boateng, Kingsley Coman and Thomas Muller take the places of Alvaro Odriozola, Lucas Hernandez, Corentin Tolisso and Philippe Coutinho.

6.59pm GMT

Chelsea: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Barkley, Giroud.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Abraham, Willian, Pedro, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri, Gilmour.

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies, Kimmich, Thiago, Gnabry, Muller, Coman, Lewandowski.
Subs: Odriozola, Coutinho, Goretzka, Lucas, Tolisso, Ulreich, Zirkzee.

4.37pm GMT

Welcome to a repeat of the 2012 Champions League final. Anybody fancy reliving the greatest night in the history of Chelsea Football Club, minute by minute, as it happened? Of course you do!

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Published on February 25, 2020 14:22

The Fiver | Taunt rival fans with Demba Ba’s Great Ballad of Cognitive Dissonance

Chelsea’s relationship with Big Cup has often been fraught. They declined to take part in the very first competition, as English champions in 1955, cravenly succumbing to the narrow-minded worldview of Alan Hardaker, the Football League suit whose hardline attitude to foreigners would make current government policy sound comparatively reasonable and coherent. Then there was the final of 2008, when their captain, leader and legend, POJT, slipped on his big glory-hunting badonkadonk, a memory now so deeply suppressed that fans can happily taunt rival supporters with Demba Ba’s Great Ballad of Cognitive Dissonance without any subsequent need for years and years and years of primal-scream therapy.

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Published on February 25, 2020 08:56

February 22, 2020

Leicester City 0-1 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to secure three precious points in the battle for second place ... and keep distant hopes of the title alive

8.15pm GMT

That’s your lot! Thanks for reading this MBM.

8.13pm GMT

Bits of Pep. “Nice, great victory ... we played a really good game ... next time we will score a penalty ... of course it is a problem, but next penalty, when we play to win something, we will score ... the Premier League, we cannot win, but maybe we are 19 points, mm-mm, maybe we have a little chance, I dunno.” A mischievous shot across Liverpool’s bow, there. They’re not throwing in the towel quite yet!

7.59pm GMT

Bite-sized Brenny. “We’re bitterly disappointed ... everything I asked the players to do they did ... we tired towards the end ... we’re disappointed we didn’t get a penalty, it’s so clear, I thought it was the reason VAR was brought in ... it’s a clear penalty ... we were always a threat ... it’s tough on us ... but I am very proud of our team ... we’ve got 11 games to go and we’re in a great position.”

7.39pm GMT

Jonathan Wilson was our man at the King Power. His verdict has landed. Here ‘tis.

7.35pm GMT

Riyad Mahrez has been named man-of-the-match. “It was a tough game, it’s always difficult to come here. They play very deep. We tried to break them down but it was difficult. In the second half we had more space and it made the difference. We knew if we won here we would increase the gap, and we did. We showed a great reaction after the missed penalty.”

7.31pm GMT

That was a fine second-half performance from the champions. The pressure told in the end. Manchester City consolidate second place, on 57 points, moving seven points clear of Leicester (50) who are in turn six clear of fourth-placed Chelsea (44). Liverpool can restore their 22-point lead with victory over West Ham on Monday night, but the reigning champs have served notice that they’ll not be giving up anything until the chase is mathematically impossible.

7.21pm GMT

The champions cut the lead at the top to 19 points, thanks to a late strike by Gabriel Jesus.

7.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Perez comes on for Fuchs. It’s fair to say Brendan Rodgers has probably left this switch too late.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +1: De Bruyne takes the ball to the corner in the professional style.

7.18pm GMT

90 min: Leicester throw a few folk forward. But Chilwell gives the ball away a couple of times with options ahead of him, and the crowd groan, the jig nearly up. Leicester have three minutes to save themselves.

7.17pm GMT

88 min: Leicester have scored 12 goals after the 80th minute this season. But they haven’t looked like finding a lucky 13th. They’ve barely had a sniff since Manchester City took the lead. The champions are closing this game out with cold precision.

7.15pm GMT

87 min: Jesus turns Fuchs this way and that down the right. He nearly finds Mahrez with a flick inside, but Schmeichel claims. Leicester then give up possession cheaply, allowing Bernardo Silva to slash a shot across Schmeichel and wide of the right-hand post.

7.12pm GMT

85 min: Leicester replace Praet with Matty James, making his first Premier League appearance for nearly two years.

7.11pm GMT

83 min: It’s fair to say that goal had been coming. Can Leicester respond somehow? It’s going to be difficult, with Manchester City hogging the ball like only Manchester City can.

7.10pm GMT

81 min: There’s a VAR check for a marginal offside, but the goal correctly stands. Manchester City are finally allowed to celebrate. On the touchline, Pep Guardiola raises his arms and cracks a wide grin. What a substitution!

7.09pm GMT

Manchester City break upfield. Mahrez flicks delicately down the inside-right channel, releasing Jesus into the box. Jesus draws Schmeichel and fizzes a low shot into the bottom right.

7.07pm GMT

79 min: Vardy spins away from Fernandinho and makes off down the left. He reaches the box, but with Barnes in the middle, crosses way too high.

7.06pm GMT

78 min: Jesus involves himself quickly, dropping a shoulder to cut in from the right. He shoots from the edge of the box. It’s a dribbler, though, and an easy claim for Schmeichel.

7.04pm GMT

77 min: Aguero is replaced by Jesus.

7.04pm GMT

75 min: Barnes slips clear down the right, Fernandinho having over-committed to a slide tackle. He finds Ricardo in the box. Ricardo leans back, eight yards out, and ... hoicks harmlessly over the bar. Not a gilt-edged chance, but decent enough against the champions with time running out. Accordingly, he holds his head in his hands.

7.02pm GMT

74 min: ... De Bruyne loops straight into the arms of Schmeichel. An uncharacteristically poor delivery by the brilliant Belgian.

7.01pm GMT

73 min: Bernardo Silva latches onto a loose ball and bursts down the left, winning a corner off Soyuncu. From which ...

7.00pm GMT

71 min: Mendy bustles down the inside left and into the Leicester box. Things nearly open up for him ... but he loses control at the last minute, and the chance to shoot is gone.

6.59pm GMT

70 min: Chilwell breezes down the left and wins a corner off Walker. The corner’s half cleared. Ricardo traps, sizes up the situation, and dinks a ball down the inside left for Vardy, who lashes a languid Le Tissieresque volley wide left. He had more time than he thought.

6.57pm GMT

68 min: Ricardo is clipped out on the right touchline, and here’s a chance for Leicester to load the box and make the Manchester City defence do some work. Maddison’s delivery isn’t much cop, though. Leicester’s fast start to the second half seems a long time ago.

6.55pm GMT

67 min: Vardy has the chance to set Barnes clear down the inside-right channel, though the situation requires a well-struck precision pass. It doesn’t get one. But that’s a rare sortie upfield from the hosts, who have been under the cosh for a while now.

6.53pm GMT

65 min: Despite the penalty miss, Manchester City continue to pile on the pressure. Mahrez sashays down the right and stands one up for Aguero, but Soyuncu rises to flick a header clear.

6.52pm GMT

63 min: Almost immediately, it’s Aguero v Schmeichel II. And once again, the keeper wins, as Aguero nips down the inside-right channel, sending a snapshot towards the bottom right from six yards. Schmeichel sticks out a foot to kick out for a corner, and the resulting set piece comes to nought.

6.51pm GMT

62 min: AGUERO MISSES! Or, more to the point, Schmeichel saves. Aguero smashes it towards the bottom left. Schmeichel guesses correctly and parries the ball away from goal!

6.50pm GMT

61 min: PENALTY FOR MAN CITY! Praet had his back turned, but his arm was well away from his body. It’s the correct decision, though Leicester will feel aggrieved after the De Bruyne incident in the first half.

6.48pm GMT

60 min: Bernardo Silva burns down the right and wins a corner. From the set piece, Gundogan has a batter. The ball deflects off Praet’s elbow and out for a corner. Manchester City surround the referee. They want a penalty kick. They may well get one.

6.47pm GMT

58 min: Laporte is replaced by Otamendi. On the touchline, Pep is fuming about something or other, screaming at his players, having made some sort of tactical observation. He’s animated.

6.45pm GMT

57 min: More Manchester City passing. Metronomic.

6.44pm GMT

55 min: Leicester can’t get out of their final third. Manchester City doing an awful lot of probing. Evans and Soyuncu win a couple of last-ditch headers, Mendy and Mahrez swinging balls in from either flank.

6.41pm GMT

53 min: Rodri latches onto a loose Tielemans pass in the middle and wheechs upfield. He slips a ball left for De Bruyne, who sends a low heatseeker towards the bottom left. Schmeichel claims confidently. A fine save and even better handling. De Bruyne really creamed that.

6.39pm GMT

51 min: Manchester City get their foot on the ball properly for the first time since the restart. They don’t really do much with it, but re-establishing a modicum of control is their main goal.

6.37pm GMT

49 min: Ricardo scampers down the right and fires a low cross towards Vardy. The ball’s a bit behind the striker, who attempts to backflick it towards Chilwell, coming in from the other side. Not quite. This is an impressive start to the second half from the hosts.

6.36pm GMT

48 min: Barnes busies himself in the centre circle and is upended by a slightly panicked Rodri. Just a garden-variety foul, but another sign that the Leicester sub could pose the visitors a few problems.

6.35pm GMT

46 min: Barnes is immediately in the thick of the action, tearing into a huge gap vacated by Mendy out on the Leicester right. He’s got Vardy waiting in the middle, poised to tap in, but can’t find him. Manchester City are still in the changing room.

6.34pm GMT

Leicester get the second half underway. Barnes replaces Iheanacho, who isn’t fit to continue having been clattered by Ederson. The rain’s clearing up, incidentally, so no chance of a weather-related abandonment. On which subject, here’s Justin Horton: “While everybody is enjoying Top Premiership Football on television, perhaps spare a thought for these lads, who travelled from Essex to Arbroath to watch the fixture at Gayfield Park today ... a game that was abandoned at half-time due to the wind.”

This is what #Football is all about. Big Bird from #Essex, 35 years ago decided to support Arbroath, and today he brought nine of his friends with him to cheer them on. @ArbroathFC @cmonthelichties @Boabskin @Swanks_10 @davidgold93 #montheluchties pic.twitter.com/2kNPd256Xk

6.23pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Here’s Jonathan Liew’s take on the lunchtime kick-off.

6.19pm GMT

To popular acclaim, the former Leicester player shanks a dismal free kick wide left, and that’s the end of the first half. The champions have had a goal disallowed, while Leicester could (argue amongst yourselves) have had two penalties. No idea how this is still goalless, but it’s been a lot of fun. Don’t go anywhere!

6.17pm GMT

45 min +2: Aguero comes back at Leicester, gliding in from the right and buying a cheap free kick off Soyuncu. This is just to the right of the D. Mahrez looks like he fancies a crack at this one.

6.16pm GMT

45 min +1: Ricardo romps up the right, but loses possession, allowing Manchester City to counter at speed. De Bruyne clips Aguero clear down the inside-left channel. Aguero draws Schmeichel and curls it round the keeper, off the right-hand post and in. But the flag’s up for offside, correctly so. Aguero was a mile off.

6.15pm GMT

45 min: There will be two added minutes.

6.13pm GMT

43 min: Ricardo cuts in from the right and has a dig from the edge of the box. Easy pickings for Ederson, who is now getting booed every time he touches the ball.

6.12pm GMT

42 min: Iheanacho gets up and walks off. He’ll be back in a second. Maddison meanwhile takes the corner, from which Tielemans has a whack that’s blocked and cleared. And then Iheanacho comes back on.

6.11pm GMT

41 min: But before it can be taken, Iheanacho needs lengthy treatment. He took a rare old whack there. Anywhere else on the pitch, and that collision would have been deemed a foul. But keepers are keepers. Leicester want a penalty, but they’re not getting one.

6.10pm GMT

39 min: Maddison, quarterbacking from deep, floats a pass into the Manchester City box. Iheanacho gets his head on the ball, hoping to loop it over the outrushing Ederson. He gets properly whacked by the keeper for his trouble. The ball clips off Ederson’s gloves and out for a corner.

6.07pm GMT

37 min: Maddison whips a decent free kick towards the bottom left, but Ederson has read it well and turns it around the post for a corner. The set piece is a non-event.

6.06pm GMT

36 min: Gundogan concedes another clumsy free kick, nipping at Maddison, 30 yards out on the left. He’s in danger of testing the referee’s patience with his repeated fouling. Maddison likes the look of this one too.

6.05pm GMT

35 min: De Bruyne plays a glorious reverse pass down the left to release Bernardo Silva into acres. He’s got four team-mates in the box, but somehow manages to thread the ball between them all, finding nobody. Chilwell clears up the left flank.

6.04pm GMT

34 min: De Bruyne threatens to zip clear down the left, but Soyuncu does extremely well to stick to his side and limit the problem to a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece.

6.03pm GMT

33 min: After an interminable wait, De Bruyne larrups a very ambitious, reasonably dismal effort high over the bar.

6.02pm GMT

31 min: Manchester City knock it about again. Eventually Praet gets fed up and bowls Rodri to the ground. This will be a free kick in a central position, 35 yards from goal. It’s De Bruyne’s turn to stand over a dead ball with eyes lighting up the night sky.

6.00pm GMT

29 min: Maddison aims for the top right. The ball hits De Bruyne’s hand, which was shielding his face, and deflects harmlessly towards Ederson, who claims. Neither referee nor VAR consider a penalty kick, though you could hardly make the argument that De Bruyne’s arms were in a natural position there. Anyway, it is what it is.

5.58pm GMT

28 min: Iheanacho latches onto a weak clearing header by Laporte, and dribbles with great purpose towards the Manchester City box. He’s clattered by Gundogan, and this is a free kick just outside the D, just right of centre. Maddison’s eyes begin to strobe with excitement.

5.56pm GMT

26 min: Manchester City pen Leicester back. Mahrez probes from the right. Mendy curls in a couple of balls from the left. Leicester hold firm, but the pressure is building.

5.54pm GMT

24 min: Mahrez dances in from the right, drops a shoulder, and tees up De Bruyne, who whips a low first-time shot inches wide of the right hand post. Schmeichel holds the pose of a man who had it covered, but I’m not so sure.

5.53pm GMT

23 min: Manchester City are beginning to dominate, though every time Leicester get the ball, they look good for a quick break. This is nicely balanced. A goal is surely coming along soon, one way or another.

5.52pm GMT

21 min: Fuchs and Maddison combine down the inside left, the latter slipping Iheanacho free in the box. Iheanacho takes a fierce shot from a tight angle, and Ederson fumbles it around the post, but up goes the flag for offside. The correct decision, but only just. Manchester City’s back line was not a work of art.

5.49pm GMT

19 min: A free kick for Manchester City 35 yards out, after Iheanacho accidentally skids into Walker. It’s sent into the City box, forcing Evans to concede a corner. From the set piece, Mendy has a batter from distance. That one’s deflected over the bar, and the second corner is a non-event. After a slow start, the champions are beginning to ask some serious questions.

5.47pm GMT

17 min: Manchester City stream forward in typically attractive style. Gundogan and Aguero exchange cute passes down the inside right, the former sidefooting towards the bottom right. He doesn’t hit it cleanly, but nearly catches out Schmeichel, who appears in two minds but hacks clear at the very last second. The resulting corner comes to nought.

5.46pm GMT

15 min: It’s high-octane stuff, this. Everyone racing around like they’ve just ingested a whole pack of Refreshers. No prizes for guessing why they’re on my mind.

5.44pm GMT

13 min: Fuchs hassles Gundogan on the halfway line, and wins yet another midfield battle for the hosts. Manchester City are preposterously ponderous sometimes. They get away with their latest faff when Fuchs seriously overhits his pass towards Vardy down the left. “Manchester City’s black second strip was ‘inspired’ by the colour scheme used in the Hacienda,” notes Frinton Bojangles. “I’d assumed the third kit came from someone’s chemically enhanced night out in the early 90s.”

5.41pm GMT

11 min: Vardy makes good down the left and hooks low into the mixer. Fernandinho hacks clear with blue shirts lurking. There’s surely no way this match will end goalless.

5.40pm GMT

9 min: Manchester City go up the other end and nearly score themselves. Vardy sashays in from the right and pearls one towards the top left. Schmeichel extends to full length in the process of tipping the shot away. This is already great fun.

5.39pm GMT

8 min: Leicester come so close to taking the lead. Once again, the champions are caught dozing in midfield. Tielemans snaffles the ball and strokes a lovely pass down the middle of the park, Vardy tearing free. He slips the ball bast Ederson, only for his shot to smack the base of the left-hand post and bounce clear. So unlucky!

5.37pm GMT

6 min: A nice open feel to this game. Iheanacho turns a ball round the corner on the left flank and sends Chilwell barrelling towards the Manchester City box. He goes shoulder to shoulder with Fernandinho and comes off second best, miscontrolling then falling over. He wants a penalty but there was little contact, certainly none that’s illegal, so come on and come off it.

5.35pm GMT

4 min: Tielemans looks lively. He wins another midfield battle before driving his team forward. Maddison is close to releasing Iheanacho down the inside right, but his outside-of-the-boot flick is a wee bit too heavy and the former Manchester City man can’t control.

5.33pm GMT

2 min: It’s all Manchester City. But then suddenly Gundogan is caught faffing about in the centre circle by Tielemans, who rakes a pass down the inside-left channel for Vardy. For a second, it looks like the striker will tear clear, but Laporte stands firm and ushers him away from the danger zone.

5.31pm GMT

And we’re off! Manchester City get the ball rolling on a drizzly night in the midlands. They ping it around a lot. You sense a pattern is already set.

5.30pm GMT

The teams are out! Leicester are in their trademark blue shirts, while Manchester City are kitted out in their retro-confectionery-influenced, yellow-and-pink third kit. Such a shame they’re not sponsored by Lyons Maid or Barratts. We’ll be off in a minute.

5.19pm GMT

Pre-match Pep talk. “I select my team for this match. I never understand to play a game thinking about the next one. That way you can suffer a big defeat. The other is a good team. We don’t know exactly their set-up. I guess they’re going to play with five. We change the way we have to press, we have to adapt a little bit.” And then a light moment as he’s asked whether it’s a good or bad sign that Jamie Vardy hasn’t scored in eight matches? “A bad sign. [laughs] If you didn’t do the question, it would be a good sign! But it’s a bad sign, honestly.”

5.11pm GMT

Brendan Rodgers speaks to Sky. “We lose that natural defensive midfielder player, so we put an extra one into the back line. It allows us to still play the way we want to play. We know we will have longer spells without the ball than normal, but you still have to fight and be strong defensively. And we’ve put in an extra striker to help us in the counter-attacking moments. We’ve played the system before. It’s a big game for us. If we win, we’ll go a point behind. It’s a great challenge.”

4.40pm GMT

Leicester make three changes to the side that drew at Wolves last Friday week. Christian Fuchs, Dennis Praet and Kelechi Iheanacho replace Harvey Barnes, Ayoze Perez and the suspended Hamza Choudhury.

Manchester City make three changes as well, in the wake of their midweek victory over West Ham. Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan replace Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Jesus and the semi-injured David Silva.

4.32pm GMT

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Soyuncu, Evans, Fuchs, Ricardo Pereira, Maddison, Tielemans, Praet, Chilwell, Iheanacho, Vardy.
Subs: Justin, Morgan, Albrighton, Ward, Barnes, Perez, James.

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy, Rodri, Mahrez, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Aguero.
Subs: Bravo, Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Silva, Joao Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden.

5.49pm GMT

You can be pretty sure that Manchester City haven’t given up the Premier League chase quite yet. Yes, they’re currently 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, who require only five more wins to be certain of the title. But the gap was 25 before the West Ham stroll on Wednesday, and it’ll be just 19 if they see off third-placed Leicester City tonight. OK, OK ... but do you really think Pep Guardiola is the sort to throw in the towel just because something’s merely improbable? Us neither, so here we all are.

This face-off between third and second should be a cracker. Not least because three points would be equally precious to Leicester, as they look to maintain a comfortable chasm between third and fourth. The Foxes took an early lead at the Etihad when these sides met in December, only for the Citizens to overpower them 3-1 in the end. But Leicester have only lost two of their last 18 at the King Power, while their Manchester namesakes went down here last season. Both Cities will take succour from recent history.

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Published on February 22, 2020 12:16

Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Olivier Giroud returned to the Chelsea starting XI and inspired the Blues to victory

2.55pm GMT

David Hytner was our man at Stamford Bridge. His verdict has landed, so you know what to do: click and enjoy. Thanks for reading this MBM!

2.54pm GMT

“I am proud of the players and their efforts. I am proud to see them fight until the last second. It is very difficult to do better than what we did, especially conceding a goal before we score. We had our opportunities to score but when we are 1-0 down it is very difficult because we don’t have that power. And with minutes going on and on, the fatigue of people like Lucas and Bergwijn is going to be bigger and bigger. How can I search more than we are doing? There is nothing more to search. The hopes are always the same hopes. The boys fight until the end and if we can score before the opponent, the game can be a little bit different. But when an opponent scores before us, they compact, and it’s very difficult. We don’t have the presence, the movement, the creation.” As for the Lo Celso incident: “I feel sorry VAR don’t admit more times, especially when things go against us. I don’t want to speak about it.”

2.48pm GMT

And now a cast-iron promise from Jose: “I am going to be very repetitive. You are going to be bored of me, because I am going to be very, very repetitive.” Here it comes, then ...

2.47pm GMT

Frank Lampard’s verdict on the latest VAR farce, five days after Harry Maguire survived his lashing out at Michy Batshuayi. “It’s not good enough. I’m sorry. It’s two VARs in two games. It’s always harder to speak about it when you’ve lost, because people claim you’re just shouting, but maybe you need to shout. Everybody in the world saw that it was a red. But it’s too late [to say they made a mistake]. The game should be over. I hate to call for red cards, but when they’re endangering players ... it’s a leg-breaker. VAR has been brought in to get the right decision. I’m not saying anything about referees on the spot, it’s not easy on the spot, VAR is here to clear it up. I’m not surprised that they’ve put it right, but it’s not good enough.”

2.38pm GMT

Man-of-the-match Olivier Giroud speaks! “It was a very important game for us. We have shown great character. We knew it was a turning point, we had lost a bit of confidence so it’s nice to bounce back and get a hard win against a rival. Scoring was a good feeling for me, a good moment. It was a special day for me, and for all of us.”

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, an ice pack taped to his leg, is then asked about the Lo Celso challenge: “I’m not a player who likes to be on the floor. I am tough. But it was a clear stamp on my shin, I felt it straight away and was surprised it wasn’t a red card. It wasn’t even a yellow card! Everybody can make a mistake but when you have a lot of replays it should be easier.”

2.30pm GMT

A deserved victory for Chelsea. They weren’t at their best, but they did score two fine goals to illuminate an otherwise scrappy game. Spurs by contrast were a complete non-event. Giovani Lo Celso was fortunate not to walk after standing on Cesar Azpilicueta’s leg, but as it didn’t affect the outcome, that doesn’t matter now and I’m sure we’ll hear no more about it. Eh?

2.22pm GMT

The whistle goes. Frank Lampard punches the air in celebration of a big victory. They’re four points clear of Spurs, in the final Champions League spot.

2.21pm GMT

90 min +3: Lo Celso loops a ball into the box. It’s deflected, but the absurd arc doesn’t fox Caballero. Imagine if he of all players scored a last-gasp equaliser, though.

2.19pm GMT

90 min +2: Mount dances down the right, getting the better of Winks, but can only scoop his cross into the arms of Lloris.

2.17pm GMT

90 min: There will be four added minutes. Spurs aren’t going to complete an absurd smash and grab, are they?

2.17pm GMT

So having said that, Lamela dribbles into the Spurs box down the left. He tries to roll a cross inside for Alli. The ball clips off Rudiger’s heel, and into the bottom left, past a wrong-footed Caballero. Game on! Finally!

2.15pm GMT

87 min: In the dugout that was once his stomping ground, Jose now looks fairly relaxed. A man who has accepted his fate. Spurs have barely threatened.

2.13pm GMT

85 min: Really, whatever your opinion of Lo Celso’s challenge, we can surely all agree on one thing: let’s unplug the VAR box, let it cool down, recycle whatever bits we can, pop the rest in landfill, and forget this ever happened. We don’t need to mention it ever again. Move on. No blame culture.

2.12pm GMT

83 min: This is preposterous. After a review, the folk in the VAR bunker have admitted that Lo Celso should have been sent off for standing on Azpilicueta’s leg. They’re claiming “it’s not a VAR error, but a human error”. Sweet baby Moses, what a fiasco.

2.09pm GMT

82 min: Alonso takes, and curls powerfully towards the top right. Lloris is beaten all ends up, but instead of nestling in the top right, the ball twangs off the crossbar.

2.08pm GMT

81 min: Mount prepares to bring down a high ball on the edge of the Spurs box, and is clumsily brought down by Lo Celso, who finally goes in the referee’s notebook. This will be a free kick, just to the right of the D.

2.07pm GMT

79 min: Mount spins Vertonghen with ease down the right. He curls a low ball into the centre for Abraham, who pokes cutely towards the bottom left. It looks like it’s heading in, but Lloris somehow grabs a ball that’s behind him. What a save! That’s kept Spurs in it. Just.

2.05pm GMT

78 min: Spurs make a double change, their last roll of the dice. Aurier and Alli replace Bergwijn and Alderweireld.

2.04pm GMT

77 min: Chelsea make their second switch, replacing Barkley with Willian, who ran Tottenham ragged in December.

2.03pm GMT

76 min: This is scrappy nonsense right now. Here’s Mary Waltz: “A penny for Jose’s thoughts (50 mins)? How many points can I squeeze out of the season in a series of 0-0 and 1-0 fixtures?”

2.01pm GMT

74 min: Winks bustles in from the right and falls over in the general environs of Rudiger. He wants a penalty but he’s not getting it. He was fairly brushed off the ball.

2.00pm GMT

73 min: Not much going on. Chelsea will be perfectly happy as the clock ticks on.

1.59pm GMT

71 min: Giroud goes off to a standing ovation. A message from the fans to Frank. He’s replaced by the equally popular Abraham.

1.58pm GMT

70 min: Lamela slips a pass down the right for Bergwijn, who is brushed off the ball by Christensen with ease. Bergwijn hasn’t featured at all today.

1.55pm GMT

68 min: Spurs stroke it around the back. They’ve had more possession in this second half, though they’ve done very little with it. In the dugout, Jose Mourinho has a face on. His post-match interview could be interesting if the score stays this way.

1.53pm GMT

66 min: Lamela looks for the top right, attempting a curler over the wall. The wall does its job, deflecting the ball out for a corner. The set piece is punched clear by Caballero, then returned by Alderweireld. The keeper claims well, under pressure from Sanchez on his line.

1.52pm GMT

65 min: Some pre-free-kick faffing.

1.51pm GMT

64 min: Moura dribbles his way down the inside right and is blocked crudely by Christensen, who picks up his fourth booking of the season for his trouble. A free kick just to the right of the D.

1.49pm GMT

62 min: The first switch of the afternoon, as Lamela replaces Ndombele.

1.48pm GMT

60 min: Ndombele sashays down the inside-left channel and enters the box. He’s got time to shoot, but hesitates, allowing James to brush him off the ball. Was he waiting for the sort of clumsy challenge that’d gift a penalty? If so, it wasn’t coming. Great defending by the ever-impressive James.

1.46pm GMT

58 min: Incidentally, during the first half, BT Sport cut to a shot of Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini, looking on, both men sporting fashionable flat caps. But both broadcaster and your hapless MBM hack missed the really big news, as Paul Neilan reports: “They were only sitting in front of Bobby Bloody Davro and no-one appears to have told them.” Bobby Davro, a star of Saturday light entertainment once more. It’s like TVS never lost their licence.

1.44pm GMT

56 min: Frank Lampard isn’t happy with that decision at all, and is currently involved in a heated exchange of views with the fourth official. You can see his point; red cards have been awarded for much less.

1.42pm GMT

54 min: VAR decides there’s no foul play, deeming the challenge accidental. Lo Celso is a lucky boy. So is Azpilicueta, who has suffered no serious damage.

1.40pm GMT

52 min: Lo Celso stands on Azpilicueta’s outstretched leg as the pair contest for a ball in midfield. VAR will have a look at this. It’s not a pleasant one, with the Chelsea captain’s leg bending in sickening fashion. Is it accidental, though, rather than a stamp? Possibly, though it’s one of those that can be argued either way.

1.38pm GMT

50 min: That goal represents a full house for Frank Lampard, as it involved all four of the players he recalled to the starting XI. Penny for Jose’s thoughts. Barkley nearly makes it three with a power curler from the left. Lloris tips over; the corner comes to nothing.

1.36pm GMT

What a strike this is! The ball’s worked across the face of the Spurs box, right to left. Giroud to Mount to Barkley to Alonso, who strides in from the left and pearls a first-time daisycutter across Lloris and into the bottom right. That’s a stunner.

1.34pm GMT

47 min: James has a wander down the right and has a dig from distance. He drags his shot across the face of goal. Lloris had it covered.

1.32pm GMT

Spurs get the second half underway. Mystic Dom doesn’t have much confidence in their ability to turn this around. “Is there any more chilling sentence to a Spurs fan than ‘If Spurs win this game, they will <insert very positive outcome here>’? To be honest, I don’t know why Jose bothered to send a team out.”

1.21pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Max Rushden celebrates the legendary Jimmy Greaves, whose brilliance is one of the few things Chelsea and Spurs fans can agree on.

1.17pm GMT

It’s not been much of a spectacle, though Chelsea won’t care. As things stand, they’ll go four points clear of Spurs in fourth, thanks to Olivier Giroud’s expertly taken goal. The best you can say for Tottenham: they’re still in it.

1.16pm GMT

45 min: As this half peters out painfully, the officials show us some mercy. There will be just one additional minute.

1.14pm GMT

44 min: Might as well beat the queue for a pint and a pie.

1.12pm GMT

42 min: It’s not been a classic so far, this.

1.10pm GMT

40 min: Lo Celso is barged - fairly - off the ball by Kovacic, allowing Chelsea to break upfield at speed. Barkley breaks into the box from the left and shanks wide. He should have done much better.

1.08pm GMT

38 min: Chelsea reestablish some control in midfield. But that was much better from Spurs, who are finally showing a little ambition.

1.08pm GMT

36 min: Alderweireld, quarterbacking from deep, sprays a pass down the right for Tanganga, who comes in from the flank and takes one touch to bring Alonso out of the game. The ball also flies past Caballero, who is way off his line. But it’s flying at speed, and bobbles out of play to the left of goal before Tanganga can poke into an empty net. Nearly as direct as it gets.

1.05pm GMT

35 min: Spurs finally show in attack. A few passes and Moura is gifted space in the box on the left. His shot is deflected over the bar by Azpilicueta’s lunge. From the corner, Sanchez flashes a header towards the top left, but it’s tipped over spectacularly by Caballero. The second corner comes to nothing.

1.04pm GMT

33 min: Kovacic slides a ball down the middle. Barkley takes up possession, his back to goal 30 yards out, and very nearly backheels Mount free down the inside left. Sanchez blocks. Spurs were very nearly opened up with a rapier thrust.

1.01pm GMT

31 min: Giroud has a dig from the best part of 30 yards. Ambitious, bordering on downright disrespectful. An international team-mate of Lloris as well.

1.00pm GMT

29 min: Lo Celso gets up and takes the resulting free kick. It’s not very good.

1.00pm GMT

28 min: Lo Celso dribbles down the left and is clattered by Mount. He extends his leg as he falls, and catches the Chelsea player. It’s not exactly Harry Maguire on Michy Batshuayi, but it is a little bit saucy. Neither referee nor VAR is interested, though.

12.56pm GMT

26 min: Spurs haven’t responded to falling behind at all. They’re barely able to string two passes together. Chelsea are enjoying the lion’s share of possession.

12.54pm GMT

24 min: The set piece is worked towards Alonso, to the left of the D. He chests down and pearls a stunning volley towards the top right. It’s beaten Lloris and is inches away from nestling in the top corner. That was Le Tissieresque.

12.53pm GMT

23 min: But here comes the first yellow card of the afternoon. Winks loses control and is robbed by Jorginho. He responds by tugging on the Chelsea midfielder’s shirt, and that’s a booking and a free kick out on the right.

12.52pm GMT

21 min: Giroud and Sanchez clatter into each other. No whistle, and no recriminations either, the pair shaking hands after a short period of hopping around in pain. Adults playing hard but fair.

12.49pm GMT

19 min: Jorginho tries to release Barkley down the inside left, but Sanchez snuffs out the attack. Chelsea are first to everything in the centre of the park right now.

12.48pm GMT

17 min: VAR pokes its neb in. Of course it does. But there’s nothing wrong with the goal, and eventually we’re allowed to continue. The Stamford Bridge faithful break into a chorus of the traditional English folk song Fuck VAR. No manners, but cogent analysis nonetheless.

12.46pm GMT

Jorginho curls a glorious pass down the inside right channel for Giroud. A poor first touch takes him a bit wider than he’d like, but he powers a shot towards the bottom right anyway. Lloris parries. Barkley gets onto the rebound and slams a shot against the right-hand post. Giroud latches onto that rebound and drives home, beating Lloris, the ball flying into the bottom right.

12.44pm GMT

14 min: Barkley powers his way down the inside right and fires a low diagonal shot wide of the left-hand post. A more-than-decent effort.

12.43pm GMT

13 min: Seems Giroud’s header took a nick off a Spurs player. Another corner. James hits it long. Too long. Goal kick. Ah well, at least this match has finally sparked into life after a slow start.

12.42pm GMT

12 min: Chelsea respond by whisking up the other end, Alonso sliding a glorious pass down the inside left to release Mount, who whistles a shot towards the bottom left. Lloris turns the ball around the post. From the resulting corner, Giroud flashes a header wide left at the near post.

12.40pm GMT

10 min: The first corner leads immediately to the second. Lo Celso’s low delivery is cleared by the first man, but Spurs come back quickly at the home side, Moura dropping a shoulder 20 yards out and slamming a shot towards the bottom left. It’s a fine effort, but well met by Cabellero.

12.39pm GMT

9 min: Bergwijn busies himself out on the left, and earns the first corner of the game off Azpilicueta.

12.37pm GMT

7 min: Rudiger dallies in the midfield and is robbed by Winks, who should really send Moura clear down the left. But his pass is a clunker, and flies out for a goal kick. Shame for Spurs, as Chelsea were light at the back there, and Moura had plenty of grass in front of him.

12.36pm GMT

6 min: A slow, scrappy start to this game, which is why I’ve been droning on about bugger all.

12.34pm GMT

4 min: Spurs have hardly had a touch yet. Maybe they’re pining for the yellow winter ball, which is back in its box for another year, replaced by a white-and-red number. Spring has sprung.

12.32pm GMT

2 min: Alonso crosses from the left. James crosses from the right. Spurs clear without too much fuss. It’s all Chelsea in the opening exchanges, Spurs happy to sit back.

12.31pm GMT

And we’re off! Chelsea get the ball rolling, and ping it around the back for a bit.

12.28pm GMT

The teams are out! Chelsea wear their famous blue, Spurs are in their trademark lilywhite. A derby-day atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. We’re one reggae instrumental away from kick-off.

12.09pm GMT

And now it’s the turn of Frank Lampard. “It’s a big moment for us. We understand how close the battle for fourth is, and it’s a big rivalry anyway. This game always has a lot on it, regardless. Our players need to show something, our home form hasn’t been what we want it to be, we are very honest about that. It’s a time to change that, a good opportunity. Olivier Giroud’s professionalism has been brilliant. He needed some weeks to get fit, and today he is ready, so he gets the nod. We have a squad for a reason, players have to come in and do their jobs. I expected Jose to know how we were going to go, so the match-up is a test, a challenge for us.”

11.54am GMT

BT Sport have a word with the ever-spiky Jose Mourinho. “I cannot demand more than I do in every game, which is to give everything they can give. We have had only two days to prepare but we prepared the best we could. As I was more than expecting, Chelsea come with a system and with Alonso playing, we prepare ourselves tactically for that. And with what we have available, we are going to fight for the points.” As for leaving out Dele Alli? “I am not sure you ask every manager in the Premier League when one player stays out. Do you do the same question for them? For other managers it is normal to leave out any player they want. It looks like to me any time I make a decision of this type, there is always a big story so I prefer not to answer. I think Ndombele can give us creativity, we need a bit of risk, he is in condition to give us a good hour.”

11.41am GMT

Chelsea hand Olivier Giroud his first start in three months. He’s one of four changes to the side that went down at home to Manchester United. Ross Barkley, Mason Mount and Marcos Alonso also step up, taking the places of Michy Batshuayi, Pedro, Willian, and the injured N’Golo Kante.

Meanwhile there’s no room in the starting XI for Tottenham’s bottle-and-boot-juggling malcontent Dele Alli. He drops to the bench, one of three changes made in the wake of the Leipzig defeat. Serge Aurier and Gedson Fernandes also make way; Jan Vertonghen, Tanguy Ndombele and Japhet Tanganga take their places.

11.31am GMT

Chelsea: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Barkley, Mount, Giroud.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Abraham, Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Zouma, Emerson Palmieri, Gilmour.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Tanganga, Ndombele, Winks, Lo Celso, Davies, Lucas Moura, Bergwijn.
Subs: Lamela, Dier, Sessegnon, Alli, Gazzaniga, Aurier, Fernandes.

5.50pm GMT

It’s fair to say Chelsea have the upper hand in this fixture: Tottenham Hotspur have won it once in the last 30 years. Look at it another way, though: Spurs have won one of their last two Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge, having triumphed here 3-1 in April 2018. So depending on your cut-off point, and the angle at which you’re holding the prism you’re peering through, Spurs either have a win ratio of 50 percent or a slightly less impressive 3.33 percent. It’s all up to you.

However you want to spin it, this is a big one. When Chelsea did a number on Spurs in north London last December, an eventual finish in the Champions League places looked likely for Frank Lampard’s side. For Spurs, such an end-of-season prize seemed a pipe dream. But Spurs have won three of their last four league games, drawing the other, while Chelsea are without a win in four. And suddenly, having made up eight points in short order, Jose Mourinho is breathing down his old club’s neck. They’re just a point behind!

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Published on February 22, 2020 06:55

February 19, 2020

Tottenham 0-1 RB Leipzig: Champions League last 16 – as it happened

Leipzig outplayed Spurs as Timo Werner’s second-half penalty gave the upwardly mobile Germans the win and a precious away goal

Read Jacob Steinberg’s match report Jonathan Liew: lack of history no hindrance to RB Leipzig Mourinho on Spurs’ attack: ‘It is like a gun without bullets’

12.50am GMT

10.37pm GMT

And so the evening ends with another man-management masterclass from Jose Mourinho. If you squint really hard, and peer between the lines, you may conclude that he’s not totally happy with his lot. Should Chelsea beat Spurs at the weekend, his post-match interview could be the most riotous thing transmitted live on television on a Saturday lunchtime since the days of Tiswas. You’ll join us for that one, yes? See you soon!

10.30pm GMT

It’s not quite up there with his famous Chelsea-Southampton soliloquy, but Jose Mourinho’s post-match interview is quite something. BT Sport’s Des Kelly tries to get proceedings off to a positive start, asking whether we “saw the real Spurs in the last 20 minutes”. A glance is shot, Mourinho’s steely gaze lingering longer than is strictly comfortable. “Come on. What do you mean by the real Spurs? Come on. Tch. Come on. Let’s be loyal to the boys and tell they did everything they could do. Lamela? You know how many training sessions he made with the team? Zero. Direct from injury to recovering on the pitch with the physios, to 20 minutes of a game in the Champions League. That is our team. You can see it from two perspectives. One perspective is, it’s an amazing group with amazing guys. They try everything. By another side you see how we are in this moment. You look to the other guys, they play with Schick and Werner and Nkunku. Nkunku is tired, come out, there’s Forsberg. Schick is tired, come out, there’s Poulsen. This is our situation, it’s like going to a fight with a gun but without bullets. You can tell me we had luck in some moments. I disagree. We had a great goalkeeper, that is not luck, that is a great goalkeeper. We had our chances and tried everything. I thank the fans. What worries me is,these are our players for the next, I don’t know how many matches. In the next few matches we could see Lucas dead, Bergwijn dead, Lo Celso dead. I am so proud of them. But we are really in trouble. Don’t tell me that Lamela and Ndombele could start the game, because they could not. But I could not be happier to have guys like them with the limitations we have, but here we go! Chelsea are drinking sparkling water with lemon while watching the game on TV, and Saturday morning, thank you very much, we are there again.”

10.13pm GMT

Jacob Steinberg was our man at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this evening. His verdict is in ... and here it is!

10.09pm GMT

Hugo Lloris speaks. “I want to stay positive, especially after the last 20 minutes. Obviously if we started the game in the same way, the score would be different. But there is a second leg, we still have a chance. We are still alive. We were a bit more proactive with the ball. But we have to give a lot of credit to Leipzig, they press very high and are a very good team. We have to stay positive, not give up, not try to find excuses, and fight to the end. We are not really happy, but we have to deal with that. Let’s hope we can create another story.” He’s then given the man-of-the-match award, and doesn’t look particularly pleased to receive it. “Er, OK, but I’d have preferred a win.”

10.01pm GMT

Spurs depart for the dressing room looking glum. They were second best for most of that game. The match winner, Timo Werner, was excellent. So was Patrik Schick, though he missed one glorious chance to put Spurs in all sorts of trouble. Tottenham can take heart from the performance of Giovani Lo Celso, who sparkled in attack, and their performance during the last 20 minutes, when Lo Celso and Erik Lamela finally asked a few questions of Leipzig. But they’ve got a big job on in Saxony in three week’s time. The visitors stay on the pitch and celebrate with their fans. After this half-match (© Jose Mourinho) they’re halfway to the quarter finals.

9.55pm GMT

Bergwijn nearly beats Ampadu to a long ball down the middle, but the young Welsh defender holds firm, and that’s that. Spurs have been outplayed at home and are reasonably fortunate to have limited the damage to a single goal. But all is not lost. They’ve been here before. Two words: Ajax Amsterdam.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +4: Lamela is booked for leaving a stiff arm in Sabitzer’s startled coupon.

9.53pm GMT

90 min +3: Bergwijn slips a pass down the inside right, forcing Ampadu into a desperate interception, sliding the ball out for a corner. But Lo Celso’s delivery is overcooked and flies out the other side for a goal kick.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +2: Winks tries to guide a shot towards the top right from the best part of 30 yards. It’s weakly struck and easily snaffled by Gulacsi.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +1: Leipzig knock it around the middle. Sixty seconds fly by.

9.49pm GMT

90 min: Ampadu goes down with cramp. Mukiele needs a couple of swabs up a bloody nose. The clock ticks on. There will be five extra minutes.

9.48pm GMT

89 min: Some pinball on the edge of the Leipzig box. Davies loops a cross in from the left. Halstenberg mistimes his jump, missing the ball and gifting Moura a free header, six yards out. He’s got to work the keeper at the very least, surely, but slaps his header over the bar. What a chance.

9.46pm GMT

87 min: Forsberg and Werner combine well down the left and earn a corner off Alderweireld. Leipzig don’t commit many players upfield, and the set piece is easily cleared.

9.45pm GMT

86 min: The corner is hit deep. Moura does well to rise highest, but can’t get a header on target. A melee, in which a couple of Spurs players fall over. Nobody claims for a penalty.

9.45pm GMT

85 min: Leipzig are beginning to ask for trouble, sitting deep and allowing Spurs to come at them. Moura comes racing down the middle and is upended by Forsberg. A free kick from a central position, 30 yards out. Lamela takes, curling one towards the bottom right. It’s going wide, but Gulacsi turns it around the post anyway. A free corner for Spurs.

9.43pm GMT

84 min: Some space down the right for Aurier, who whips a cross into the mixer. It’s easy meat for Gulacsi.

9.42pm GMT

83 min: Emil Forsberg takes Konrad Laimer’s place.

9.42pm GMT

82 min: Laimer goes down clutching his shoulder. He’ll be replaced. He takes his own sweet time to leave, in the grand clock-management style.

9.40pm GMT

80 min: Halstenberg clearly obstructs Aurier as the Spurs man looked to break clear down the right. No foul, according to the referee. That’s a preposterous decision, and no wonder Jose Mourinho, on the touchline, performs the internationally recognised jig of fury, throwing his arms about, spinning around, effin’ and jeffin’ into the cool night air.

9.38pm GMT

79 min: A lot of frantic nonsense in the midfield. Both teams fully aware of how important the next 11 minutes, plus stoppages, could be.

9.36pm GMT

77 min: Spurs have enjoyed most of the possession during the last ten minutes, so Nagelsmann makes another switch. Yussuf Poulsen replaces Patrik Schick.

9.35pm GMT

75 min: Lamela puts himself about in the Argentinian style, a sly block here, a cheeky clip there. That’s also got the crowd shouting again. Plenty of noise as Spurs look for a precious equaliser.

9.33pm GMT

74 min: Leipzig make their first change of the evening. Christopher Nkunku is replaced by Amadou Haidara.

9.32pm GMT

73 min: Lo Celso curls one towards the top left. It’s a wonderful free kick, sailing in, but it’s tipped onto the post by Gulacsi and out for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece, but that’s got the crowd going for the first time in ages. Lo Celso has been seriously impressive this evening.

9.31pm GMT

72 min: Lo Celso runs hard at Leipzig again. He’s clearly being tugged back by Nkunku, and earns a free kick, just to the right of the D. Nkunku is booked. A promising position, this, though before the whistle blew for the foul, Lo Celso had Aurier in acres to his right. But this is where we are.

9.29pm GMT

70 min: Leipzig sit back and stroke it around with great confidence. Time is already on their side.

9.27pm GMT

68 min: Lo Celso has been Tottenham’s best player this evening, their only hope in attack. He dribbles elegantly down the inside-right channel, momentarily threatening to tie Leipzig up in knots. But he can’t find the killer pass.

9.26pm GMT

66 min: Dele Alli is seething. But Mourinho had to do something. Here’s Peter Crosby: “Ah Ben Davies. Ah, Serge. We’re back to the glory days of my youth when Dean Austin and Justin Edinburgh were tearing up and down the flanks letting in goals left, right and centre.”

9.24pm GMT

64 min: Spurs make a double change. Off goes Gedson Fernandes and an affronted Dele Alli; on come Erik Lamela and Tanguy Ndombele.

9.22pm GMT

62 min: Leipzig nearly score after a wonderful sweeping move. There’s acres for Angelino down the left. He rolls a pass inside for Werner, who throws Alderweireld off the scent with a sensational dummy, letting the ball roll to Schick, free on the penalty spot. He has to score, but flashes his shot straight at Lloris. Great save, but he should never have been allowed to make it. What a lovely move that was. Werner is living up to his billing.

9.20pm GMT

61 min: A little space for Bergwijn down the left. He drifts inside then checks back and tees up Lo Celso, who pearls a decent strike towards the bottom right from 20 yards. It’s well read and easily gathered by Gulacsi, though.

9.19pm GMT

60 min: Spurs try to bounce back immediately, Lo Celso bursting down the right into space. But there’s nobody near his pullback, and the visitors can clear with ease. There’s a break on, with the livewire Werner romping down the left, but he’s well marshalled away from the danger zone by Sanchez.

9.17pm GMT

Werner, as cool as a pickled cucumber, fires a low penalty into the bottom left. Lloris had guessed correctly, but even at full stretch couldn’t get anywhere near it. A crucial away goal for the Germans.

9.16pm GMT

57 min: Laimer took a bit of a whack. Looks like he’ll be OK, but there’s a pause before Werner can take the spot kick.

9.15pm GMT

56 min: Leipzig stroke it around the back awhile, then suddenly spring forward, triangulating at speed down the right. The ball’s switched to the other flank. Werner glides inside and slips a pass down the middle for Laimer, who takes a touch, enters the box, and is upended by a crude block by Davies. Foul, booking, penalty. No question.

9.12pm GMT

54 min: A simple ball down the middle causes Sanchez all sorts of problems. He heads it straight into the air and back down towards Werner, who accepts the gift and purchases a cheap corner. Nothing comes from the set piece, but after a slow start to the second half, Leipzig are beginning to reestablish their earlier control.

9.11pm GMT

52 min: Nkunku tries to whip one over the wall and into the top left. It’s not a good effort, the ball sailing serenely over the crossbar.

9.10pm GMT

51 min: Schick bursts down the left and is cynically clipped from behind by Aurier. Not exactly sure why the Spurs full-back hasn’t gone into the book, but there we are. It’s a free kick in a dangerous position, though, 25 yards out, just to the left of the D.

9.09pm GMT

50 min: Leipzig loop crosses into the Spurs box from the left and then from the right. The home defence holds firm, though Werner was again buzzing around their heels with great purpose. It’s very odd that this game remains goalless.

9.08pm GMT

48 min: Spurs launch their first meaningful attack of the evening. Aurier swings a low cross in from the right. Moura extends a leg and forces Gulacsi into a parry from close range. Bergwijn hoicks the rebound harmlessly wide left. But that’s so much better from the hosts, and the home fans respond accordingly.

9.06pm GMT

And we’re off again! Spurs get the second half underway, and there have been no half-time changes. Not long after the restart, the Leipzig fans fling on a few toilet rolls. Everyone’s a critic. They unfurl a banner which reads STAND UP FOR A FAIR PRICE CAP. Applause from all four corners of the stadium. After a clean-up operation, the game eventually restarts.

9.04pm GMT

Spurs weren’t great in that first half, but their fans remain four-square behind the team. “The way I see it, Tottenham have no striker, no defensive midfield, and are keeping a clean sheet against a team in form,” argues Gregory Greene. “Our attackers aren’t fluffing chances (they aren’t getting any honestly), and I’ve seen Tottenham defend worse. I can’t really be mad.” Meanwhile James Hopkin thinks a happy ending is written: “The big question in tonight’s game (apart from which minute with Spurs score a late smash and grab winner) is why do a couple of the RBL players (e.g. Timo Werner) have all-white logos on their shirts and others have full colour red bulls?” I have no idea. To get us all talking about everybody’s favourite nerve-end-bothering beverage?

8.50pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. There have been goals in tonight’s other match. Simon Burnton has the details. But don’t forget to come back, y’all.

8.49pm GMT

Alli busies himself down the left, flatly refusing to give up possession and winning a corner off Halstenberg. The same Leipzig defender heads the corner clear, and there’s that whistle. Spurs will be pleased to get to the break without conceding. Leipzig have been by far the better side, and will wonder how they haven’t bagged a crucial away goal. Some work for Mourinho to do during the break.

8.47pm GMT

45 min: And that half-time whistle will be heard in roughly 60 seconds time.

8.46pm GMT

44 min: Werner probes again down the left. Aurier just about holds him up. Spurs could do with the half-time whistle, though in retrospect that’s been the case since the 26-second mark.

8.44pm GMT

42 min: Here comes Werner again, down the left, winning another corner off Sanchez. The corner, once again, is not worthy of our time or consideration.

8.43pm GMT

41 min: Werner whizzes down the left and nearly finds Schick in the middle, six yards out. Schick would be slamming home a sidefoot, but Sanchez slides in to bundle the ball out for a corner. What a glorious saving tackle. The resulting corner is a complete non-event.

8.42pm GMT

39 min: Mukiele is back on. Good news for Leipzig, as he’s been involved in a lot of their best attacks. Out on the other flank, Fernandes drops a shoulder to get past Angelino, and whips a cross to the near post, but Alli can’t get his head on the ball. Tottenham’s best half-chance of this half-match.

8.41pm GMT

38 min: Mukiele is down in some pain, having taken an accidental whack to the left knee. That knee’s already covered in tape, so he could have aggravated an existing problem. He grimaces an awful lot as he limps off for more treatment.

8.39pm GMT

36 min: Leipzig should be leading. Schick and Halstenberg bus the ball right to left, and find Werner free, just inside the area. Werner’s one on one with Lloris, but slams it straight at the keeper. The resulting corner is a waste of time. That’s a poor effort from the much-heralded Werner, who is on a run of five matches without scoring.

8.37pm GMT

34 min: They kind of have a point, but then Sabitzer, already in the book, gets away with a blatant clip on Fernandes. A free kick, nothing more. The Leipzig captain wants to watch himself here. One more clumsy one and he could be walking.

8.35pm GMT

33 min: Winks shoves Schick in the back but gets away with it and races off up the left touchline. Werner sticks out a leg. There’s no contact, but Winks goes over, and Werner goes into the book. Several Leipzig players, plus the manager, wear affronted looks.

8.34pm GMT

32 min: The corner is sent long and half cleared. From 25 yards, Fernandes slaps a wild shot deep into the stand behind the goal.

8.33pm GMT

31 min: Yet more space for Angelino down the left, sent away by Werner. But there’s nobody to cross to, so he buys a corner off Sanchez. The same defender clears the set piece, and suddenly Lo Celso is tearing down the left in sensational style. He slips a pass forward to Bergwijn, who wins a corner for Spurs. Good end-to-end fun.

8.31pm GMT

29 min: Spurs are struggling to keep hold of possession. Moves consisting of more than two or three passes are at a premium right now. The home fans are getting a little concerned.

8.29pm GMT

27 min: Schick slips a ball down the left for the relentless Angelino, whose low cross is only just missed by a lunging Werner, hoping to poke home from six yards. The flag goes up for offside, belatedly and correctly, but Spurs are giving Angelino so much space on the left. They need to sort this out, because at some point the Leipzig attack is going to click in the final third.

8.28pm GMT

26 min: Spurs enjoy a little possession for the first time in the game. They don’t go anywhere in particular, but that should give them a little confidence in midfield, where they’ve been thoroughly out-passed so far.

8.27pm GMT

24 min: The right wing-back Mukiele flashes a crossfield ball towards his opposite number Angelino, whose cross-cum-shot is blocked. Leipzig are switching the play time and again, in the style of the reigning champions Liverpool. Julian Nagelsmann less Baby Mourinho, more Baby Klopp.

8.25pm GMT

22 min: Atalanta have taken an early lead in their tie with Valencia. Hans Hateboer with the opening goal on 16 minutes in that one. Simon Burnton is all over that one.

8.23pm GMT

20 min: The Tottenham plan is obviously to play on the break. Moura gets the better of Ampadu under a long ball, but can’t see off Halstenberg. For a second, it looked as though he might break free. But the defender purchases a cheap free kick and Leipzig are off back up the other end, pinging the ball around once more.

8.21pm GMT

19 min: Werner bursts down the left and finds Schick in the middle. Schick can’t get either a header or shot away, and a combination of Sanchez and Winks manage to half-clear. Angelino comes again, sending a fizzer down Lloris’s throat from a tight angle on the left. Spurs are getting mauled at the moment.

8.19pm GMT

17 min: Schick rises miles above Davies and sends a downward header inches wide of the bottom right. Had that been on target, it was a goal; Lloris was rooted to the spot. Leipzig are getting closer and closer.

8.18pm GMT

16 min: An awful lot of space for Werner down the left. He nearly frees the overlapping Sabitzer with a cute pass, but Sanchez reads play and pokes out for a corner. From which ...

8.16pm GMT

14 min: Ampadu sprays a pass wide left for Angelino, who hits a first-time volleyed cross down the corridor of uncertainty. Nobody in black, red and blue dashes has taken a gamble, and there are no scares for Spurs.

8.15pm GMT

12 min: Laimer tries to send Werner clear down the left. The striker’s in space, but the pass is poor and sails out harmlessly for a goal kick. Spurs try to counter, but Bergwijn is clipped from behind by Sabitzer, and it’s now one yellow card apiece. There’s little sense that this fast, open game will end goalless, and it might not end with a full complement of players either.

8.12pm GMT

10 min: Lo Celso is booked for a late trip on Sabitzer, who was hoping to burst off down the left. The Spurs man doesn’t bother complaining, he was bang to rights. A long evening on a yellow, one poor challenge away from an early shower, stretches out ahead.

8.11pm GMT

9 min: Angelino dinks a little pass down the inside left for Schick, who whistles a shot towards the bottom left. Lloris is behind it all the way.

8.10pm GMT

8 min: Perhaps the best form of defence is attack. Lo Celso slips a ball down the left that forces Mukiele into conceding a corner. The set piece is only half cleared, but Spurs come back again down the left, Lo Celso finding Bergwijn, who curls towards the bottom right. Gulacsi sticks out a strong hand, and the flag goes up for offside. But that’s better from the home side. Somewhere, in a parallel universe, it’s 1-1.

8.08pm GMT

6 min: Mukiele drives down the right and finds Werner on the edge of the box. Winks throws himself in the way of a shot. Great block, but once again Leipzig opened Spurs up with ease, and Spurs surely can’t keep making last-ditch blocks and saves all night.

8.06pm GMT

4 min: Such an electric start by the visitors. Four efforts on goal within the first 120 seconds. Three of them very decent chances. Some decent last-ditch defending by Spurs, but that’ll have rattled them. Leipzig coming at them from all angles.

8.05pm GMT

2 min: What a start this is by Leipzig! Werner’s snap effort from six yards is blocked by Sanchez. The ball breaks left to Angelino, who hammers a shot straight at Lloris from a tight angle. Lloris deflects the ball onto the post and away. The visitors recycle possession, Mukiele and Werner buzzing down the inside right and forcing Lloris to turn the ball around the post. The flag goes up for offside to release the pressure. But wow.

8.03pm GMT

And we’re off! Leipzig get the first leg of this round-of-16 tie underway. A huge roar crackles the north London air. And after 26 seconds, Schick juggles the ball down the middle and sends a decent effort bouncing inches wide of the right-hand post.

8.01pm GMT

The teams are out! A cracking Champions League atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs wear their famous lilywhite, while Leipzig sport their bespoke European away shirt, a cascade of black, red and blue dabs and dashes that wouldn’t look out of place in Claude Monet’s garden. In other shirt news, Harry Kane has presented Hannah and Danny Greaves, granddaughter and son of the absurdly brilliant former Spurs striker Jimmy, with a Spurs top to celebrate the living legend’s 80th birthday tomorrow. On the back: GREAVES 80. If you get a chance to watch the new BT Sport documentary about Greavsie, snatch it with both hands. A marvellous celebration of the greatest English striker of all time. Anyway, we’ll be off in a minute!

7.37pm GMT

Julian ‘Baby Mourinho’ Nagelsmann, who at 32 is only 22 years older than the club he manages, talks to BT Sport. “It is the first time at this stage for Leipzig, so we are all excited. We are a young team, perhaps a bit nervous, but we will try to do our own style. It is a great stadium and it’s a pleasure to be here. It is the same for Tottenham and Leipzig, we have injured players. But I think Ethan Ampadu will do well. This is not a tactical battle between the managers, it is about the players, the performance of the guys. The emotional things are the more important, if you can deal with the pressure.”

7.32pm GMT

If Spurs win this evening, Jose Mourinho will break the all-time record for victories as a manager in the knockout stage of the Champions League. He’s currently tied on 27 wins with Sir Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola. A 28th knockout victory will catapult him to the top of that particular tree, though of course Ancelotti has won the competition three times, as opposed to everyone else’s two. Ancelotti also has two European Cup wins as a player to his name (Pep has one) so his medal haul knocks the other three into a cocked hat.

7.22pm GMT

A pre-match chat with Jose Mourinho. “This is a half-match. Too many matches in the knockout stage of the Champions League are thought of emotionally as one match. But this is only a half-match. So we need to be very intelligent in our approach, knowing what we have and what we don’t have, and be positive with a good feeling. We are going to play against a team that normally play with five at the back, are very consistent and very fast. So I think a very difficult match. But we know what to do. Emotional control. It is not about fighting and running. We need to be clinical with our chances, but also knowing how to manage the game and the tempo. It is February, we are fighting for the top four, we are in the knockouts, and the last 16 of the FA Cup, so it is a big effort from the boys to be here. I think the crowd will be with them.”

7.10pm GMT

Gedson Fernandes makes his Champions League debut for Spurs. His presence allows Giovani Lo Celso to move upfield in the space left by the injured Son Heung-min.

Leipzig’s defensive crisis means a start for Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea. One-time Everton striker Ademola Lookman is on the bench.

6.59pm GMT

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Fernandes, Lo Celso, Alli, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura.
Subs: Vertonghen, Lamela, Dier, Gazzaniga, Ndombele, Skipp, Tanganga.

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi, Mukiele, Klostermann, Halstenberg, Angelino, Laimer, Ampadu, Sabitzer, Nkunku, Schick, Werner.
Subs: Haidara, Poulsen, Forsberg, Lookman, Wolf, Olmo, Mvogo.

5.41pm GMT

Only three teams have ever lifted the European Cup the season after tasting defeat in the final: Milan in 1994, Bayern Munich in 2013 and Liverpool last year. Three in 63 seasons; that’s a one-in-21 hit rate. If history counts for anything, Tottenham Hotspur have their work cut out if they’re to go one better than last season. On behalf of all Spurs fans: bah.

But hold on! Spin it another way, and the feat has been achieved twice in the last seven seasons. It’s far from a pipe dream in the modern game. So on behalf of all Spurs fans: yay!

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Published on February 19, 2020 14:37

The Fiver | Dark arts, sharp counter-attacking and weapons-grade jaded cynicism

That’s Liverpool out of Big Cup, then. On Tuesday night at the Metropolitano they enjoyed 99.9% possession against Atlético Madrid, yet were restricted to a grand total of zero shots on goal. So we know exactly how the return leg in three weeks’ time will play out. A ruthless display of dark arts, sharp counter-attacking and weapons-grade jaded cynicism that, when mixed together, will make the impotent fury generated by José Mourinho and Chelsea in 2014 feel like an insouciant shrug of the shoulders. A mild huff. It’s over. This is Atleti. A Diego Simeone team. They’re not good-time charlies like Li’l Leo and his pals. Hey, it was nice while it lasted.

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Published on February 19, 2020 07:56

February 15, 2020

Norwich City 0-1 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Sadio Mane came off the bench to break down stubborn Norwich and extend Liverpool’s lead at the top to 25 points

8.02pm GMT

So that, me old MBM pals, is your lot. Paul MacInnes was the man brave enough to face down the elements at storm-battered Carrow Road this evening, and his report is in. You know what to do: click and enjoy. Thanks for reading this live blog. Nighty night.

7.59pm GMT

And now Jurgen Klopp, who is in chatterbox mode tonight. “It was a difficult game for different reasons. The wind. Our opponent. The organisation of our opponent. The way we played in the first half. The distances between the lines were too big; we went too early with our long balls. The counter-press was not there. The good thing is, if you don’t play well in the first half, it’s easier to improve! Trent’s positioning was improved, it was higher, and immediately everything changed. We were much more compact. Then we brought Fabinho and Sadio. One brought more organisation, and Sadio ... [giggles] ... he was fresh and made the difference, which was nice, so we could win the game. I haven’t seen it back, but I am pretty sure it was a perfect finish. I’m 98 percent sure [Norwich’s first-half chance] was offside. But it was a great save. Alisson has helped us so often, which is good, but we pay him for that actually! The mentality of the boys was exceptional. It’s really all bout the character of these wonderful football players. [Our lead] is so insane, I really don’t understand it, I am not smart enough. It is difficult. I have no clue how it has happened. We are focused. We feel really good.”

He’s then asked about the Manchester City situation. “It was a shock. When it came out, wow. The only thing I can say is, I am a football coach, and what Man City did when I am in England is exceptional, absolutely exceptional. About all the rest, I have no idea. I can imagine it is really difficult for the sports people to understand. I really feel for Pep and the players. But it is the first verdict and they can appeal. The football they played was exceptional, and will be exceptional.”

7.48pm GMT

Daniel Farke’s verdict on a bittersweet performance by his team. “It’s disappointing, because in many topics we were very, very good. It was a top-class performance, but a moment of magic by Mane was crucial. Of course it’s disappointing at the moment, but we can be proud of our performance. When we create chances we have to be effective. We were two against one on the goalkeeper. We should be tidier and not as nervous, it must be a goal if you want to beat Liverpool. We were playing the best in the world, and we’re a bit sad that we were unable to score with one of our counter-attacks. We were pretty close to coming away with a good result. The lads left their hearts out on the pitch. I can’t accuse them too much, the quality of Mane was the difference.”

7.39pm GMT

Incidentally, today’s winner is Mane’s 100th goal in English football. Exactly three quarters of them have been scored for Liverpool, the rest for his former club Southampton. Sky flash up a stat that illustrates the African Player of the Year’s versatility and talent: 59 with the right foot, 27 with his left, and 14 headers. Plus of course a hat-trick in two minutes and 56 seconds, a Premier League record, albeit one broken against a team managed by Tim Sherwood.

7.36pm GMT

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson speaks: “We’ve had a good break, and a week’s training as well. We knew it would be difficult coming here. They’re bottom of the league but they still cause teams problems. They play football. It was a good performance from us in the end and thankfully we got the three points. We’ve got to be delighted with the result. There are still things we have to improve on.”

Sky’s Geoff Shreeves then asks man-of-the-match Sadio Mane whether he considers the title a done deal. A grin and cheeky glint in the eye suggests yes, but he’s careful to trot out the “more games to play” party line, and Henderson interjects with “one step” just to make sure his team-mate doesn’t go off message Fabinho-style.

7.26pm GMT

Liverpool are now 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

7.21pm GMT

One win down, five more to go, and it’ll be Liverpool’s title. But the leaders were made to work so hard by the Premier League’s bottom team. They celebrate more in relief than anything else.

7.19pm GMT

90 min +2: Firmino tussles with Lewis down the right. He concedes a foul, then kicks the ball away. But the referee isn’t minded to flash a yellow for that one.

7.18pm GMT

90 min +1: Space for Aarons down the right. His cutback finds Buendia, who clumps carelessly out for a goal kick. He had options there. Liverpool breathe again.

7.18pm GMT

90 min: Mane is booked for throwing the ball away after conceding a throw. There will be three additional minutes.

7.17pm GMT

89 min: Buendia slips Pukki into space down the inside right. He’s not going to be able to outpace Van Dijk, so takes a shot from distance. It’s heading into the bottom left, but is snaffled with care by a perfectly positioned Alisson.

7.15pm GMT

87 min: Drmic worries Liverpool with a power run down the left. The ball’s eventually run out of play; goal kick. But the visitors look a little nervous again in the wake of Firmino’s miss.

7.14pm GMT

86 min: A huge miss by Firmino! Alexander-Arnold whips a cross in from the right, teeing up the Brazilian for a tap-in. But the ball’s travelling at speed and he shanks it wide and high. Could the miss cost Liverpool? That was awful.

7.12pm GMT

84 min: That’s Keita’s last contribution. He’s replaced by Milner. Meanwhile Norwich make a double change, throwing on Buendia and Drmic in place of Rupp and Tettey.

7.11pm GMT

83 min: ... Henderson flashes at fresh air by the near post. Cantwell tries to make off down the left, and is clattered from behind by Keita, who is booked for his trouble.

7.10pm GMT

82 min: Salah miscontrols 25 yards out. No matter: McLean blooters the loose ball behind for a corner. From which ...

7.08pm GMT

80 min: Salah and Alexander-Arnold take turns to busy themselves down the right, but neither player manages to produce anything significant. The away fans making plenty of noise now, nevertheless.

7.06pm GMT

Henderson creams a long ball down the inside-left channel. Mane brings it down, spins, and slams a wonderful shot into the bottom left. There’s a quick VAR check, as Mane had placed a hand on Zimmerman’s back as he turned, but it’s never going to be disallowed.

7.04pm GMT

77 min: Liverpool’s play is getting a little frantic. Passes not quite sticking. And then, all of a sudden ...

7.03pm GMT

75 min: ... it’s an easy take for Alisson. Liverpool try to break upfield, but Norwich are soon coming straight back at them through Lewis, who goes on a glory run down the left. He’s eventually stopped by Henderson, tracking back, but for a second Liverpool were exposed there. After a long period under pressure, Norwich have the scent now!

7.01pm GMT

74 min: Suddenly Norwich have their tails up, and in the next phase of play, a corner’s won down the right. One corner leads to another, and ...

7.01pm GMT

72 min: Cantwell tears down the left. He rolls the ball across the face of the box. Tettey lets it run across him. He looks as though he’s taken it too far wide, but then unleashes a shot that caroms off the base of the right-hand post and away! Norwich so close to taking a shock lead! Again!

6.59pm GMT

71 min: Mane releases Salah down the inside left with a sensational diagonal pass. Salah pulls the ball across the face of goal, but nobody else in red is switched on, allowing Zimmerman to clear.

6.58pm GMT

70 min: Hanley slips over with the ball at his feet, just outside the Norwich box. Henderson clumsily falls on him, and suddenly a promising chance for Liverpool is a free kick for Norwich. Hanley breathes a sigh of relief.

6.56pm GMT

69 min: Gomez sprays a long pass down the left. Robertson cushions a header into the path of Mane, who threatens to burst clear into the box. But Aarons stands firm, Krul gathers, and the ball had hit Mane’s arm anyway.

6.55pm GMT

67 min: Liverpool’s corner is no good, though Van Dijk fumes as he’s tugged over by a combination of Pukki and Rupp. There’s not enough in the tussle, and play goes on.

6.54pm GMT

66 min: Robertson whistles another cross in from the left flank. Aarons sticks out a leg to intercept, with Mane lurking, and nearly deflects the ball into his own net. Instead, it’ll be a corner.

6.53pm GMT

65 min: Liverpool keep Norwich pinned in their own box. Crosses flying in from both sides. Salah has the best chance, but his attempt to sidefoot home a Robertson cross into the bottom right is blocked.

6.51pm GMT

64 min: Robertson crosses from the left. The ball is nowhere near Salah and that’s easy pickings for Krul.

6.50pm GMT

62 min: Norwich take their sweet time over a throw in the midfield. Liverpool look a little agitated, which is of course the point.

6.48pm GMT

60 min: Klopp has seen enough. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum are replaced by Mane and Fabinho.

6.48pm GMT

59 min: Salah turns on a sixpence inside the Norwich area and blasts towards the bottom left. Krul parries sensationally. The ball sits up for Keita, who must score, but doesn’t connect properly, allowing Krul to parry again and smother. It’s one of those: a bad miss but a stunning save nonetheless. Both sides have had one now.

6.46pm GMT

58 min: Ah, there he is! Salah tees him up on the edge of the D. He sends a rising shot towards Krul, who is forced to tip over the bar. Corner, from which Van Dijk sends an uncharacteristically tame header into the arms of Krul.

6.44pm GMT

56 min: Space for Keita down the right. He’s got options in the box, but prods a very uncertain ball into the area that’s easily intercepted and cleared. So much for the earlier brief sighting of Leipzig Naby.

6.42pm GMT

54 min: Keita romps down the middle before feeding Robertson out on the left. Robertson rolls the ball through the six-yard box, but Firmino can’t get anywhere near it at the front stick. The ball trundles harmlessly out for a goal kick. This is going swimmingly for Norwich, who are keeping the runaway league leaders at arm’s length.

6.40pm GMT

52 min: Henderson’s poor pass in midfield allows Pukki to tear off down the left. The ball’s worked towards the other flank, Cantwell getting past Robertson and lashing a shot into the side netting. Alisson had it covered. Robertson took a wee tug on Cantwell’s shirt there; had the Norwich player decided to go down, the referee would have had a serious decision to make.

6.37pm GMT

50 min: Norwich haven’t had a sniff since the restart. But Liverpool are yet to parlay their dominance into serious work for Krul.

6.36pm GMT

48 min: Firmino should make off down the right but McLean sticks to his back and eventually wrestles the ball away from him. The leaders have come out looking a little sharper, Jurgen Klopp presumably having made some trenchant observations during the break.

6.34pm GMT

47 min: Liverpool are immediately on the front foot. Robertson drives down the left but can’t quite break clear. Then Henderson chips one into the box from the right but Aarons wins an aerial battle with Firmino and clears the danger.

6.32pm GMT

Norwich get the second half underway. There have been no half-time changes.

6.21pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. The current scoreline is good news for second-placed Manchester City ... and boy do they need some good news right now. Here’s David Conn’s latest take on City’s two-year Champions League ban.

6.19pm GMT

There’s just enough time for Liverpool to earn their third corner of the match, and waste it. And that’s the half-time whistle. Norwich will be very happy with their performance, though they should be leading. Rupp’s indecision and Alisson’s brilliance combining to keep the scores level.

6.17pm GMT

45 min +1: The corner should be claimed by Krul at the far post. But the keeper thinks Zimmerman will deal, and vice versa. Eventually Salah nips in, but can’t find anyone in the centre with a weakly hit cross. Norwich get away with one.

6.15pm GMT

45 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain and Robertson combine to win a corner on the left. One last chance for Liverpool to take a lead into half-time, perhaps?

6.15pm GMT

44 min: Lewis nearly lets Firmino in with a poor clearing header, but just as it looks like the Brazilian will burst clear into the box, the Norwich sub fights back and clears up his own mess. An entertaining tussle.

6.12pm GMT

42 min: Alexander-Arnold tries to find Van Dijk at the far post with a low curler, but Krul reads the free kick well and smothers.

6.11pm GMT

41 min: Henderson rolls a pass down the right channel for Firmino, who turns Hanley with ease. Hanley climbs all over his back to stop him bursting into the box, and takes the booking. This is still a free kick in a dangerous position, though, just to the side of the box, 25 yards out.

6.09pm GMT

39 min: Alexander-Arnold prepares to take the corner, but is held up awhile as the referee comes across to check he’s placed the ball in the quadrant. Eventually we’re good to go. The corner is blocked, and ends up back at the feet of Alexander-Arnold, who yanks a wild shot wide left from the edge of the box.

6.08pm GMT

37 min: That near miss has lit a fire under Liverpool. Robertson, Keita and Salah take turns to drive at the Norwich back line. Salah’s shot, an attempted curler towards the top left, is deflected out for a corner.

6.07pm GMT

35 min: Rupp combines briskly with Cantwell down the right. For a split second it looks as though they’ve opened Liverpool up, but Rupp runs the ball out for a goal kick. Norwich are soon coming back at the leaders. A long ball down the middle. Rupp brings it down, and he’s clear of the Liverpool offside trap! He tries to round Alisson on the keeper’s left - or is he trying to pass to Pukki, by his side? Either way, Alisson sticks out an arm and breaks up the move. What a save ... but Rupp will reflect that he should have done better. Norwich should be leading.

6.03pm GMT

33 min: Keita plays a headed one-two with Henderson on the edge of the Norwich box, then drags a lame shot wide right. Krul, calmness personified, watches it bobble harmlessly past his post.

6.02pm GMT

32 min: Robertson is sent scampering down the left by Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cute flick. His low cross fails to find Salah, six yards out, and Norwich are able to clear their lines.

6.01pm GMT

30 min: The first sign of Liverpool frustration, as Van Dijk tries to force an attack and yanks a weird pass to nobody straight out of play. No pressure, other than the weight of history.

5.59pm GMT

28 min: Robertson’s diagonal ball is stunned instantly by Salah, just inside the Norwich box on the right. He tees up Alexander-Arnold, who hits a weak first-time shot that’s easily blocked. Norwich are holding their own.

5.56pm GMT

26 min: Byram is helped off by the physio and is replaced by Lewis.

5.55pm GMT

24 min: Krul rakes a ball down the Norwich left. Byram sticks out a leg to trap, and twangs his hamstring. He immediately clasps the back of his right leg. He’s clearly not going to be able to continue.

5.53pm GMT

22 min: Keita bursts into action, dribbling with purpose down the middle, beating a couple of Norwich challenges and nearly executing a crisp one-two with Salah. Norwich manage to hack clear. A brief glimpse of the Naby Keita we saw at Leipzig.

5.50pm GMT

20 min: Liverpool’s patience snaps, and Oxlade-Chamberlain hoicks a dismal cross from the left deep into the stand behind. Krul hasn’t been forced into serious action yet.

5.49pm GMT

19 min: Liverpool stroke it around the back in the 1970s style. Patience the watchword for the leaders at the minute.

5.47pm GMT

17 min: The free kick is sent down the left wing, but Pukki is unable to get the jump on Gomez. The home side are playing with the freedom of a team who have been told by their boss that this is a free hit.

5.46pm GMT

16 min: Henderson bowls Cantwelll to the floor, to the left of the centre circle. A chance for Norwich to send folk upfield.

5.45pm GMT

14 min: Firmino appears to be in the mood tonight. He nearly sends Wijnaldum clear down the inside left with a ludicrous dragback and flick, but the Dutch midfielder gets his feet in a tangle as he looks to burst into the box. Norwich clear.

5.43pm GMT

12 min: Tettey, going down the middle, has team-mates either side of him, and Liverpool backtracking. He should slip Pukki clear down the inside left, but picks the wrong pass and the chance to seriously worry Liverpool is gone.

5.42pm GMT

10 min: A long ball down the middle by Liverpool this time. Firmino tries to bring it down on the penalty spot with a Bergkamp-style trap and turn. He nearly executes it perfectly, but Zimmerman gets a toe in, and Firmino’s sensational plan is foiled.

5.39pm GMT

8 min: Norwich come again, Cantwell trying a trick to get past Alexander-Arnold on the left. Neat skill, but it doesn’t quite come off and he loses control. Goal kick. Yes, this match is promising to bloom into an entertaining back-and-forth.

5.38pm GMT

7 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain has a dig from 25 yards. His attempt to thread one into the bottom left is easily snaffled by Krul. This match is lively and open.

5.37pm GMT

6 min: A long ball down the middle by Hanley. Pukki is under it, and for a second looks like getting ahead of Gomez. But he slips as he tries to figure out the ball’s flight, and Liverpool mop up. That’ll give Norwich encouragement after a slow start.

5.35pm GMT

5 min: Alexander-Arnold whips a ball in from the right. Zimmerman tries to clear with a diving header, but succeeds only in pinging the ball off the lurking Keita. It ricochets harmlessly into the arms of Krul, but on another day, etc. Then Liverpool come again through Firmino down the inside-left channel. He tries to work enough space for a proper shot but fails. City clear their lines.

5.34pm GMT

4 min: Liverpool are beginning to hog the ball. Norwich are happy to sit back, and sit deep.

5.33pm GMT

3 min: All a bit scrappy so far as both teams try to get a handle on the conditions.

5.31pm GMT

1 min: Liverpool are on the front foot immediately. Firmino drifts in from the left and tees up Alexander-Arnold, who drags a shot well wide left after 13 seconds. That would have been some start.

5.30pm GMT

Liverpool get the game started. “Norwich might be facing a Liverpool team on a terrifying run, but at least they don’t have to face Luis Suarez,” writes Matt Dony. “Man, he hated Norwich. So many ridiculous goals.”

5.26pm GMT

The teams are out! Norwich wear their trademark yellow and green. That allows Liverpool to wear their storied red. It’s always an aesthetic treat when both teams get to wear their best duds. Despite the horrific weather, Carrow Road is packed and bouncing. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

5.21pm GMT

Farke talking up his side’s chances, there, as best he can. He’ll be pleased to know that Ben Heywood has his back. “I’d love to believe that we could pull off a shock and become the first team in about 12 months to beat Liverpool and thereafter pull off the greatest escape since James Coburn strolled over the Swiss border. It’s lovely to dream about prolonging our stay in the Premier League and hanging on to about £100m worth of talent (Buendia, Cantwell, Aarons and Godfrey would fetch that collectively). But it just ain’t going to happen. Our entire squad and stadium cost less than VVD and we can’t even outspend the likes of Sheffield Utd - the relegation writing has been on the changing room wall since November. But ... but ... you never know. It’s football - and what I love about Daniel Farke is that he will set us up to have a go, regardless of the likely battering it’ll earn us. We’re bottom-of-the-table box-office!” The feature presentation is coming up soon.

5.18pm GMT

A word with that other charismatic German, Daniel Farke. “Today is just the second time all season that we have had three centre backs available. That says a lot about our injury crisis. There is good competition and the lads have done fantastic in recent games, so hopefully we can put in a good performance today. We are playing the best team in the world, the floodlights are on, it’s a home game, everyone should enjoy it. We will go out brave and try to be ourselves today. A win would be great, but we are realistic, we know everything has to come together today and put in an outstanding performance.”

5.08pm GMT

Weather report. Seeing we’re watching the Canaries tonight ...

4.36pm GMT

It’s as you were for Norwich. Daniel Farke names the same side that earned a point at Newcastle two weeks ago.

Liverpool make one change to the side that beat Southampton 4-0 on the first day of the month. Naby Keita comes in for Fabinho, who drops to the bench. Sadio Mane is back from injury, and named as a sub.

4.31pm GMT

Norwich City: Krul, Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram, Tettey, McLean, Rupp, Duda, Cantwell, Pukki.
Subs: Godfrey, Vrancic, Hernandez, Lewis, Emi, Drmic, Fahrmann.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Subs: Fabinho, Lovren, Milner, Mane, Adrian, Lallana, Origi.

11.17am GMT

Norwich City need some points, and they need them damn fast. Having only won one of their last dozen matches, they’re seven points and eight goals adrift of safety. Three points this evening aren’t a must, not yet, but how they would help. One, never mind three, might be so precious come the end of the season.

A small problem tonight: they’re facing Liverpool, who have won 34 of their last 35 matches in this division. An even bigger problem: that’s not the most nerve-shredding stat Norwich have to wrestle with! Liverpool have won seven of their last eight games against Norwich, rattling in 33 goals along the way. In recent years, the Canaries have been Liverpool’s bunnies.

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Published on February 15, 2020 12:02

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