This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2019/may/02/eintracht-frankfurt-v-chelsea-europa-league-semi-final-first-leg-live

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Eintracht Frankfurt v Chelsea: Europa League semi-final, first leg – live! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea: Europa League semi-final, first leg – live!
(32 minutes later)
Chelsea are 90 minutes from the final. Thanks for your company. Now, read Dominic Fifield’s report from Frankfurt:
Pedro pegs back Eintracht Frankfurt with precious away goal for Chelsea
Some post-match Chelsea reaction. The captain, César Azpilicueta, says: “We scored an away goal, it’s always important. But today was just the first step to get the result. Everything is going to be decided at Stamford Bridge next Thursday. We know we have to win the game, they are a dangerous team and they play with a lot intensity. It is the last step before the final. We started the job in September, we have to finish it altogether on Thursday and hopefully we can bring our fans to Baku.” Ruben Loftus-Cheek, asked about the influence of Jorginho, adds: “I think he was really good in the second half, dictating the play. When he sucks players in, it gives me and N’Golo space to turn and run at the defence or get a pass off.”
In the other semi-final, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the gloss on a big result for Arsenal. They saw off Valencia 3-1.
Maurizio Sarri’s side will take an away goal home with them. A fine first-half equaliser by Pedro gives Chelsea a decent platform to build on at Stamford Bridge next Thursday, as the road to Baku nears. They are 90 minutes away from reaching the Europa League final. Frankfurt showed glimpses of class – particularly in the first 45 minutes – but in the end they struggled to live with the pace and power of Chelsea, especially Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Eden Hazard came on for half an hour but could not dig out a winner.
90+5 min: Now Sebastian Rode is down with cramp. The midfielder has covered just about every blade of grass.
90+4 min: Frankfurt look as though they are going to hang on.
90+1 min: Willems replaces Mijat Gacinovic.
90 min: There will be five added minutes.
88 min: Jovic powers away from Pedro, winning a free-kick after pressing pause and then fast forward down the left flank. He has shown glimpses of class, none more so than for the opening goal here. Frankfurt whip it in from the left but David Luiz gets up to head away. N’Golo Kanté then tidies up, before Emerson gives Gacinovic, who goes down with cramp, a helping hand.
85 min: N’Golo Kanté almost gifts Frankfurt a second goal! The midfielder tries to be clever as Chelsea play out from the back through Jorginho and Kostic is played through on goal. In fairness, Kanté does magnificently to make amends, getting across the forward to snuff out the danger. Chelsea survive – but that is two big let-offs in a matter of seconds. They looked so comfortable, too.
84 min: David Abraham heads over unmarked! The Frankfurt captain ghosts into the box and nods over Rode’s corner. Head in hands stuff for the Argentinian defender. A stirring late rally by the German side, who have seemingly dipped into the energy reserves.
82 min: Mateo Kovacic replaces Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
80 min: Chelsea – and David Luiz – get away with one. Da Costa comes alive again, squareing up the Brazilian, and proceeds to jink past the defender. He whips in a beautiful ball from the right ... but the linesman has his flag up. That was sluggish by David Luiz.
79 min: They say it is the hope that kills you. Chelsea are rampant, Jorginho makes a crunching challenge on Gacinovic. There should only be one winner here, but can Chelsea make their pressure count? And now, right on cue ...
77 min: Frankfurt players and fans want a penalty – but the referee is having none of it. A nothing ball cannoned into the chest of Olivier Giroud. Frankfurt are going ballistic but that was a rather tired, half-hearted appeal. They had a glimmer of hope.77 min: Frankfurt players and fans want a penalty – but the referee is having none of it. A nothing ball cannoned into the chest of Olivier Giroud. Frankfurt are going ballistic but that was a rather tired, half-hearted appeal. They had a glimmer of hope.
76 min: David Luiz heads straight at Trapp! Hazard’s cross is gorgeous, with the Chelsea defender doing well to skate away from his marker and send a diving header goalwards. But it is ultimately too close to the Frankfurt goalkeeper who gathers.76 min: David Luiz heads straight at Trapp! Hazard’s cross is gorgeous, with the Chelsea defender doing well to skate away from his marker and send a diving header goalwards. But it is ultimately too close to the Frankfurt goalkeeper who gathers.
75 min: Loftus-Cheek wins Chelsea a free-kick, 25 yards out, wide on the left. Can Eden Hazard conjure up some magic?75 min: Loftus-Cheek wins Chelsea a free-kick, 25 yards out, wide on the left. Can Eden Hazard conjure up some magic?
73 min: Hazard has a shot deflected over! Trapp first saves from Loftus-Cheek, who drifted into space on the edge of the box. It came from another wave forward, César Azpilicueta crossing from the right. Frankfurt just cannot keep possession. And Chelsea just keep coming back at them. Hinteregger is holding it together back there. A weary Frankfurt are all over the place.73 min: Hazard has a shot deflected over! Trapp first saves from Loftus-Cheek, who drifted into space on the edge of the box. It came from another wave forward, César Azpilicueta crossing from the right. Frankfurt just cannot keep possession. And Chelsea just keep coming back at them. Hinteregger is holding it together back there. A weary Frankfurt are all over the place.
72 min: Frankfurt make their first change of the evening. Gonçalo Paciência replaces Fernandes, who was on a booking.72 min: Frankfurt make their first change of the evening. Gonçalo Paciência replaces Fernandes, who was on a booking.
71 min: Loftus-Cheek bundles into the area, his second touch is heavy but the ball runs into the path of Giroud. The Chelsea striker intelligently turns but ends up stabbing an effort wide.71 min: Loftus-Cheek bundles into the area, his second touch is heavy but the ball runs into the path of Giroud. The Chelsea striker intelligently turns but ends up stabbing an effort wide.
69 min: Gacinovic slightly overcooks a routine pass and David Abraham fails to keep it in play. Chelsea, who continue to probe, sense blood. Hazard, Loftus-Cheek and Pedro are queuing up to take over the baton from Jorginho in midfield.69 min: Gacinovic slightly overcooks a routine pass and David Abraham fails to keep it in play. Chelsea, who continue to probe, sense blood. Hazard, Loftus-Cheek and Pedro are queuing up to take over the baton from Jorginho in midfield.
68 min: Frankfurt look pretty spent. Chelsea tease them by hogging the ball, making them work even harder. It is a thankless task. Adi Hütter, the Frankfurt coach, must be tempted to make a change.68 min: Frankfurt look pretty spent. Chelsea tease them by hogging the ball, making them work even harder. It is a thankless task. Adi Hütter, the Frankfurt coach, must be tempted to make a change.
66 min: Hazard’s corner spins in towards the near post – but Kevin Trapp, the Frankfurt goalkeeper, punches it clear. Chelsea are in the box-seat now, stroking the ball about with purpose.66 min: Hazard’s corner spins in towards the near post – but Kevin Trapp, the Frankfurt goalkeeper, punches it clear. Chelsea are in the box-seat now, stroking the ball about with purpose.
65 min: Hinteregger is alert again on Giroud, screening the striker after Jorginho dinked the ball into the box. The Austrian has had his hands full at times but has coped well. The rest of the Frankfurt side have wilted a little. Hasebe concedes another corner ...65 min: Hinteregger is alert again on Giroud, screening the striker after Jorginho dinked the ball into the box. The Austrian has had his hands full at times but has coped well. The rest of the Frankfurt side have wilted a little. Hasebe concedes another corner ...
63 min: Chelsea win another corner! Giroud does brilliantly, swivelling to chest down a smart cross-field pass. He has Hinteregger for company but the striker superbly shields the ball away from the defender before he can nip in to intercept. Frankfurt try to counter, attempting to pick out Jovic but it breaks down.63 min: Chelsea win another corner! Giroud does brilliantly, swivelling to chest down a smart cross-field pass. He has Hinteregger for company but the striker superbly shields the ball away from the defender before he can nip in to intercept. Frankfurt try to counter, attempting to pick out Jovic but it breaks down.
62 min: Eden Hazard replaces Willian. Half an hour for the Belgian.62 min: Eden Hazard replaces Willian. Half an hour for the Belgian.
61 min: A crude challenge on Loftus-Cheek earns Gelson Fernandes, the former Manchester City midfielder, a booking.61 min: A crude challenge on Loftus-Cheek earns Gelson Fernandes, the former Manchester City midfielder, a booking.
58 min: David Luiz rattles the crossbar! A cracking effort by the Chelsea defender, whose strike fizzed over the Frankfurt wall.58 min: David Luiz rattles the crossbar! A cracking effort by the Chelsea defender, whose strike fizzed over the Frankfurt wall.
56 min: Willian forces a save from Trapp! He cuts on to his right foot, bending an effort at goal from the edge of the area but it’s lacking conviction. Hasebe is then booked for chopping down Willian after Chelsea recycle possession. A promising position for Chelsea to test the Frankfurt goalkeeper. Eden Hazard is stripped and ready for action but, on the field, it is David Luiz who fancies it, 25 yards out ...56 min: Willian forces a save from Trapp! He cuts on to his right foot, bending an effort at goal from the edge of the area but it’s lacking conviction. Hasebe is then booked for chopping down Willian after Chelsea recycle possession. A promising position for Chelsea to test the Frankfurt goalkeeper. Eden Hazard is stripped and ready for action but, on the field, it is David Luiz who fancies it, 25 yards out ...
53 min: Loftus-Cheek shoots over at the end of a slick Chelsea move! It stems from a neat counterattack, started by Kanté just inside his own half. Loftus-Cheek then surged forward, breezing past Hinteregger unchallenged before slipping in Pedro. The Portuguese laid it back for Loftus-Cheek to have a pop but in the end it comes off his shin. A wonderful move but no end product.53 min: Loftus-Cheek shoots over at the end of a slick Chelsea move! It stems from a neat counterattack, started by Kanté just inside his own half. Loftus-Cheek then surged forward, breezing past Hinteregger unchallenged before slipping in Pedro. The Portuguese laid it back for Loftus-Cheek to have a pop but in the end it comes off his shin. A wonderful move but no end product.
52 min: David Luiz buys a free-kick deep inside the Chelsea half. They have started the second half the better. They are dominating the ball and they look intent on finding a second. Meanwhile, down on the touchline, Eden Hazard is warming up.52 min: David Luiz buys a free-kick deep inside the Chelsea half. They have started the second half the better. They are dominating the ball and they look intent on finding a second. Meanwhile, down on the touchline, Eden Hazard is warming up.
50 min: If a Terry Butcher bandage doesn’t endear Jorginho to unconvinced Chelsea fans, then nothing will. The Italian is back up on his feet, all smiles. As is Rode. They’re both happy to play on, with the referee seeking a quick thumbs-up from the pair.50 min: If a Terry Butcher bandage doesn’t endear Jorginho to unconvinced Chelsea fans, then nothing will. The Italian is back up on his feet, all smiles. As is Rode. They’re both happy to play on, with the referee seeking a quick thumbs-up from the pair.
49 min: A nasty clash of heads between Rode and Jorginho. The Chelsea midfielder appears to have come off worse. The medical team are quickly to his aid. Jorginho remains grounded.49 min: A nasty clash of heads between Rode and Jorginho. The Chelsea midfielder appears to have come off worse. The medical team are quickly to his aid. Jorginho remains grounded.
48 min: Chelsea pen Frankfurt in early on in the second half. The hosts have started a little lethargically. The same cannot be said for the crowd, though. They are fully revved-up, supercharged.48 min: Chelsea pen Frankfurt in early on in the second half. The hosts have started a little lethargically. The same cannot be said for the crowd, though. They are fully revved-up, supercharged.
47 min: Jorginho does well to sweep up possession in midfield, putting Sarri’s side immediately on the front foot.47 min: Jorginho does well to sweep up possession in midfield, putting Sarri’s side immediately on the front foot.
46 min: Frankfurt get us back under way. No changes.46 min: Frankfurt get us back under way. No changes.
Level-pegging at the interval. Chelsea were flat for 40 minutes, with Frankfurt taking a deserved lead through the 21-year-old Luka Jovic, but they rallied just before the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek kickstarted a mini-revival, lashing an effort just wide of the post before turning provider to pick out Pedro, who powered an equaliser into the corner of goal. Sarri said they had “trouble” in defence and they have looked suspect down the left, with Danny da Costa finding joy time and again against the defender, while Andreas Christensen, on thin ice after an early booking, has looked nervy at times. It’s all to play for in the second half.Level-pegging at the interval. Chelsea were flat for 40 minutes, with Frankfurt taking a deserved lead through the 21-year-old Luka Jovic, but they rallied just before the break. Ruben Loftus-Cheek kickstarted a mini-revival, lashing an effort just wide of the post before turning provider to pick out Pedro, who powered an equaliser into the corner of goal. Sarri said they had “trouble” in defence and they have looked suspect down the left, with Danny da Costa finding joy time and again against the defender, while Andreas Christensen, on thin ice after an early booking, has looked nervy at times. It’s all to play for in the second half.
Maurizio Sarri’s side are level in Germany. Moments after Loftus-Cheek went close, he battles his way through to help the ball on to Pedro inside the box. His quick feet wriggle a yard of space inside the box. He jinks to his left before hammering in a low effort.Maurizio Sarri’s side are level in Germany. Moments after Loftus-Cheek went close, he battles his way through to help the ball on to Pedro inside the box. His quick feet wriggle a yard of space inside the box. He jinks to his left before hammering in a low effort.
42 min: Loftus-Cheek angles a fierce shot just wide!42 min: Loftus-Cheek angles a fierce shot just wide!
40 min: Christensen gets away with one! Da Costa boots the ball upfield, the Chelsea defender misjudges the bounce and Gacinovic nips in to beat him to it. But instead of running on to it, and through on goal, the Frankfurt forward wants a foul after Christensen had a little tug at him. Gacinovic should have just got his head down, carried on with things and given Kepa something to think about. As it turned out, Frankfurt spurn a huge opportunity. The Spanish referee was unmoved.40 min: Christensen gets away with one! Da Costa boots the ball upfield, the Chelsea defender misjudges the bounce and Gacinovic nips in to beat him to it. But instead of running on to it, and through on goal, the Frankfurt forward wants a foul after Christensen had a little tug at him. Gacinovic should have just got his head down, carried on with things and given Kepa something to think about. As it turned out, Frankfurt spurn a huge opportunity. The Spanish referee was unmoved.
39 min: Sebastian Rode has been ubiquitous for Frankfurt. Neither Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho nor Kanté have got near him.39 min: Sebastian Rode has been ubiquitous for Frankfurt. Neither Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho nor Kanté have got near him.
37 min: Chelsea win another corner through Pedro. Willian swings it in and Giroud goes to ground appealing for a penalty after clashing with Hinteregger but it is the Chelsea striker that is fault. Sarri and Zola have a pop at the fourth official but that is frustration more than anything. Chelsea have simply not been good enough.37 min: Chelsea win another corner through Pedro. Willian swings it in and Giroud goes to ground appealing for a penalty after clashing with Hinteregger but it is the Chelsea striker that is fault. Sarri and Zola have a pop at the fourth official but that is frustration more than anything. Chelsea have simply not been good enough.
35 min: Jorginho upends Rode on halfway. The Dortmund loanee will whips it in and, in the end, it is diverted behind for a Frankfurt corner via Giroud’s head. They, too, opt for a short corner before failing to make the most of another bite of the cherry.35 min: Jorginho upends Rode on halfway. The Dortmund loanee will whips it in and, in the end, it is diverted behind for a Frankfurt corner via Giroud’s head. They, too, opt for a short corner before failing to make the most of another bite of the cherry.
34 min: Willian drops a shot wide! Whether it was a cross or a shot only he knows. He does well, twisting and turning to buy himself a yard on the edge of the box before curling a right-footed effort just beyond the far post. That’s about as good as things have got for Chelsea. Frankfurt have looked far more comfortable.
33 min: Chelsea again opt to play it short – presumably they have worked on that – but Rode is alive to it and Frankfurt clear.
32 min: Loftus-Cheek picks the ball up on halfway, opens up his legs and drives into space. Chelsea win a corner ...
31 min: David Luiz has the ball inside his own 18-yard box, but Frankfurt are quick to make life difficult, with not one but three men pressing him. Frankfurt have been smart defensively.
28 min: “I’m a Chelsea fan and my gut reaction for that goal was that Kepa should’ve done better,” emails Lee Madden. “He had time to get across for it and should have anticipated the flight of the ball much better. So a) am I being too harsh and b) can you remember the last time Kepa made a save you didn’t expect him too? Well deserved from Frankfurt and game on ...” Kepa did seem to take an age to react once Jovic made contact, as it squeezed in.
26 min: Pedro’s poor first touch inadvertently tees him up to have a pop on the volley 25 yards out. He hits it sweetly enough but in the end it bobbles just wide of Kevin Trapp’s post. It had the Frankfurt goalkeeper scrambling for a moment.
24 min: It was loud before but Frankfurt fans have just turned up the volume a few decibels. Jovic is wriggling around and causing problems for Chelsea’s back line, with Christensen wary of diving in having picked up an early yellow card.
That’s No 26 for the season and his ninth in the Europa League. It stemmed from Giroud losing possession high up the field and the German side countered at speed. They flew forward down the left, with Kostic whipping in an inviting ball and Jovic stoops superbly to guide a diving header into the corner beyond Kepa.
20 min: David Abraham blazes over at the back post! Kostic floats in a dangerous ball, which pinballs off a couple of Frankfurt heads before dropping kindly for the defender. But he gets it all wrong.
18 min: Christensen booked! Rode raids down the left, invites the challenge and the young Dane chops down the Frankfurt midfielder. The Dortmund loanee hops back on to his feet and they will swing in a free-kick from the touchline out on the left flank, 30 yards out. Another chance to test the Chelsea defence ...
17 min: Kepa holds from Da Costa! Kostic worked it in from the left and Eintracht cleverly pick out the overlapping defender, who drives in a low cross-cum-shot. In the end it is too close to the Chelsea goalkeeper but they needed Kepa to take the sting out of the attack. Plenty of early positives for Frankfurt.
15 min: Danny da Costa continues to be very lively! The full-back smuggles the ball away from a stationary Loftus-Cheek and Eintracht bomb forward. A sea of luminous yellow shirts manage to halt him but Da Costa is finding joy down the right flank.
13 min: Sarri has his arms crossed, but Chelsea will be relatively happy with this. Emerson has looked a little lost at left-back on occasions but nothing to get too worried about – yet.
12 min: Role reversal for Eintracht, this time with Da Costa building down the right before swinging in a cross for Kostic. The striker takes a swipe at it but fails to make a clean connection. It stemmed from some patient play by the hosts, slowing things down again, Hasebe and Hinteregger taking an opportunity to get on the ball.
9 min: A gentle reminder that the two top-scorers in this competition are going head-to-head tonight: Olivier Giroud and Luka Jovic. Giroud has been involved in 10 goals in his last seven starts for Chelsea, six of which have been in the Europa League.
7 min: Kostic clips in a high ball towards an unmarked Da Costa, but the Frankfurt defender was too slow to react. Chelsea end up earning a free-kick deep inside their own half as Emerson is clattered by Da Costa, a little overzealous to amend for dawdling a moment ago.
5 min: It is all a bit cagey, but Jorginho and Kanté try to bring the heat to Rode who dallies on the ball 30 yards from his own goal. The referee pulls up the Chelsea pair but good to see they want to get things going. Maurizio Sarri will be encouraged.
2 min: Chelsea buy an early corner out of Kostic; they play it short but it comes to nothing as Kanté drags wide from 25 yards out.
1 min: A low-key start in a huge atmosphere. David Luiz and Christensen happily knock the ball around in defence.
Chelsea, in yellow, get things started in Frankfurt.
Eintracht unveil a giant tifo as the teams trot out of the tunnel. Frankfurt are most definitely up for this one.
There is a cracking atmosphere building inside the Waldstadion, as Eintracht fans channel their inner Frankie Valli.
A bit of insider knowledge, courtesy of Ian Copestake. “Having lived in Frankfurt many years it is hard to envisage but pleasing to see a return of pride in a team that has invariably induced even longer faces in the locals,” he says on email. “It seems they have a never say die attitude which might not even be necessary against Chelsea-lite.” Frankfurt, who won the Uefa Cup in 1980, qualified for the Europa League after winning the German Cup last season, when they beat Bayern Munich 3-1 in the final.
Maurizio Sarri speaks on Hazard’s omission. “We have to play five matches in two weeks, with the same level of importance so we need to change,” he says. “Christensen was the only centre-back available but he is available to play every match. He is improving, I have no doubt about him. For the same reason Hazard is on the bench as well, for two reasons. First of all because he played the last 10 matches in a row and secondly because usually he is really able to change the match from the bench. I think after 10 matches in a row he needs to rest. I don’t want him to play for 90 minutes.”
By leaving out Hazard, Sarri has in effect rested him for ... Watford at home on Sunday. Keeping the Chelsea forward fresh with only three games left after this one tonight – one of which is the second leg of this tie at Stamford Bridge next Thursday – is a little baffling. It will be interesting to see if and when Sarri looks to use him from the bench. In terms of Frankfurt, the pre-match discourse has revolved around their attacking armoury but in midfield they possess a couple of familiar faces: there is a start for the former Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes, who was signed by Sven, while ex-Swansea man Jonathan de Guzmán is on the bench.
Going in studs up is Giulio Ongaro, on email. “Sarri is doing exactly what he did with Napoli,” he says. “Claims he is not interested in the Europa League and he is thinking about the Scudetto (in that case) He got neither. When you go in not to win, it’s a bad message you send to the players.” It is a bold call by the Chelsea coach.
Team news news: so, no Eden Hazard for Chelsea, with Maurizio Sarri making five changes from the team that drew at Manchester United five days ago. Sarri wants a top-four spot in the Premier League instead of an Europa League trophy at the end of the season – he made no bones about it – but giving Hazard a breather in a semi-final seems a big, ballsy call. Rüdiger, Alonso, Kovacic, Higuaín and Hazard are replaced by Christensen, Emerson, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro and Giroud. The omission of Hazard is a boost for a Frankfurt side unbeaten in their past 11 home matches in this competition. Haller and Rebić are absent for the hosts.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp; Abraham, Hinteregger, Falette, Da Costa; Fernandes, Hasebe, Rode; Gacinovic, Kostic, Jovic Subs: Ronnow, N’Dicka, De Guzman, Willems, Torro, Chandler, Gonçalo
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Emerson; Kanté, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Giroud, Pedro
Subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Alonso, Barkley, Kovacic, Hazard, Higuaín
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande
According to Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea’s defence is in “trouble”, which, frankly, is music to the ears of a Frankfurt side again riding high, fourth in the Bundesliga after reaching a European semi-final for the first time since 1980. At the heart of Chelsea’s problems is a dearth of available centre-backs; Antonio Rüdiger has been ruled out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, while Gary Cahill is absent with an achilles problem. David Luiz and Andreas Christensen are set to start in the centre of defence, while César Azpilicueta has trained there “just in case”. If only Sarri could call on Branislav Ivanovic, the hero when Chelsea last lifted the Europa League trophy six years ago in Amsterdam. Sarri, though, has made it clear his team is prioritising a top-four finish in the Premier League over winning this competition, in which Ivanovic snatched victory after Fernando Torres opened the scoring in 2013.
But if Chelsea, who drew at Old Trafford on Sunday and are yet to taste defeat in the Europa League this season – record victory then they will fancy their chances of reaching another final. Frankfurt are also missing key personnel – the forwards Sébastian Haller and Ante Rebić through injury and suspension respectively – but head coach Adi Hütter can at least call on Luka Jovic, one of the hottest strikers on the continent. “Most of our players are playing their first European season,” Hütter said. “But we’ve been brave and deserve to be here. On a special day, we can hurt even a special opponent.”
Kick-off: 8pm (BST)
‘He’ll be the best striker in Europe’ – the stunning emergence of Luka Jovic | Nick Ames