Dinamo Zagreb Home – View From In Front Of My Screen
Having been unbeaten in the Champions league under Potter, and not having lost a home Champions League tie since September 2019 the odds look good for a least a draw.
However Zagreb can still get a Europa league place if they win and Salzburg lose against AC Milan so it should still be a competitive game.
Chelsea lost the reverse fixture 1-0 in a bit of a shock earlier in the season with one of the lethargic and disjointed performances which seems were part of the reason for TT losing his job.
Let’s hope they can improve on that display in front of their own fans and make up for the disappointment of losing against Brighton.
Potter makes 7 changes as he reverts to a back 4 and plays on loan Zakaria to shore up the midfield.
It’s a rainy night in West London as the players take to the pitch with the Zagreb fans making a lot of noise.
A cagey start from both sides, Drums and a megaphone stirring the Zagreb fans on.
On 6 mins a cross hits Azpi on the back of the head and it falls to Petcovic with an easy head in 1-0 the volume of noise goes up from the Zagreb hordes.
On 8 mins Koulabaly goes down as he is clattered into, and there is some concern as he’s just back from injury, but he comes back on.
Potter is in deep conversation with his assistant.
15 mins and a good ball from Havertz just fails to find a stretching Sterling.
Then a minute later Jorginho plays a great through ball which Aubameyang back-heels to Sterling who takes a touch and then smashes it into the net 1-1
Chelsea look a bit more settled.
21 mins and Mount has his heels clipped as he steams forward earning Misic a yellow card.
Zagreb being pressed back
25 mins and a corner is glanced over by Koulabaly, at least it reached a Chelsea player for a change!
Patient build up play by Chelsea against a wall of Zagreb players all in their own half waiting for a quick break away.
Good work from Sterling keeps the ball in he finds Havertz who feeds a great ball back to him and he fires over.
29mins and Chelsea take the lead debutant Zakaria smashes the ball home after a great cutback and has a big smile on his face.
Zagreb fans still making all the noise.
40 mins and Koulabaly is booked for a foul.
Zagreb pressing a bit more as half time draws near, 1 added minute to play and the rain has stopped.
No changes at half time.
48 mins and a deflection off Chalobah goes for a Zagreb corner, a good leap and header is saved well by Mendy and the player lands awkwardly but gets up and limps away.
53 mins and Ivanusec is booked for dragging back Chalobah in midfield
Chelsea starting to turn the screw.
55 mins and Orsic fires just wide, Zagreb fans still bouncing and singing.
60 mins and Gallagher is warming up as Chilwell hits the side netting. He then puts a teasing ball into the area but its just in front of Aubameyang and goes out.
63 mins and a corner from Chilwell arrives on Chalobah’s head, but the header goes out for a goal kick
64 mins brings a triple change Broja is on for Aubameyang and Silva is on for Koulabaly and Gallagher for Havertz.
68 mins and the game is getting a bit scrappy as Zagreb make a change and Zakaria goes down and is subbed by RLC he is applauded as he makes his way round the ground.
72 mins and another Chilwell corner gets to a Chelsea man who can’t find the target.
Dare I say but Chelsea corners are improving.
73 minutes and Gallagher wins a dangerous free-kick which is whipped in by Mount and well saved by the keeper, the rain has started again.
77 and another Chilwell corner finds Chalobah to no avail.
82 mins another change as Pulisic comes on for Sterling and Zagreb make several changes Buket off with Ademi on.
84 another good save from the goalie from Gallagher.
85 Chilwells free-kick drops at the feet of Silva who mishits it just wide with the goal begging.
87 and now Dave is holding the back of his knee what is it with Chelsea defenders getting injured atm.
88 and a yellow for Moharani as he stops Mount in his tracks, Mounts hits the free-kick from 35 yards just wide.
Chelsea attacking, Zagreb playing hopeful long balls forward.
4 mins extra time.
90 mins and great chance for Gallagher from a Pulisic pass, but the goalie stops it.
Chilwell now goes down with hamstring pull and immediately raises his hand to be subbed it doesn’t look good.
Chelsea are going to finish with 10 men.
The final whistle goes and back to winning ways but at what cost?
My Chelsea man of the match Gallagher, and for Zagreb “their fans”
Jack Russell
‘Chelsea Supporters Group’ can also be found on Twitter and Facebook
