• CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 7 – A quiet game overall for the stopper, who distributed the ball well, and held on to just about every goal-bound shot. EPA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy 7 – A quiet game overall for the stopper, who distributed the ball well, and held on to just about every goal-bound shot. EPA
  • Andreas Christensen 7 – Read the game beautifully to help shut down Lille’s threat from wide areas. Having said that, the impressive Renato Sanches did have the beating of the Danish defender once or twice. EPA
    Andreas Christensen 7 – Read the game beautifully to help shut down Lille’s threat from wide areas. Having said that, the impressive Renato Sanches did have the beating of the Danish defender once or twice. EPA
  • Thiago Silva 8 – Another dominant performance from the former PSG man. The 37-year-old shut down Jonathan David with relative ease, massively blunting Lille’s attacking threat in the process. EPA
    Thiago Silva 8 – Another dominant performance from the former PSG man. The 37-year-old shut down Jonathan David with relative ease, massively blunting Lille’s attacking threat in the process. EPA
  • Antonio Rudiger 6 – Very nearly sliced the ball into his own net early on, but that aside, the German was relatively solid. Reuters
    Antonio Rudiger 6 – Very nearly sliced the ball into his own net early on, but that aside, the German was relatively solid. Reuters
  • Cesar Azpilicueta 7 – The captain led by example once again. His relentless work rate set the tempo, having nearly assisted for Havertz inside the first few minutes after a run forward. AFP
    Cesar Azpilicueta 7 – The captain led by example once again. His relentless work rate set the tempo, having nearly assisted for Havertz inside the first few minutes after a run forward. AFP
  • Mateo Kovacic 7 – Not one of the Croatian’s best games, although his ability to keep the ball ticking over throughout did help to demotivate Lille in the first half. AFP
    Mateo Kovacic 7 – Not one of the Croatian’s best games, although his ability to keep the ball ticking over throughout did help to demotivate Lille in the first half. AFP
  • Hakim Ziyech 7 – Assisted Havertz for the home side’s opener, fizzing in a teasing corner that was duly headed home. While not as influential in the final third as his striking partners, the playmaker certainly left his mark on the tie. PA
    Hakim Ziyech 7 – Assisted Havertz for the home side’s opener, fizzing in a teasing corner that was duly headed home. While not as influential in the final third as his striking partners, the playmaker certainly left his mark on the tie. PA
  • Kai Havertz 8 – Could have had a hat-trick inside the first 10 minutes. The German’s header from Ziyech’s corner was well directed, while his excellent movement starkly contrasts with that of a certain other Chelsea forward right now. Reuters
    Kai Havertz 8 – Could have had a hat-trick inside the first 10 minutes. The German’s header from Ziyech’s corner was well directed, while his excellent movement starkly contrasts with that of a certain other Chelsea forward right now. Reuters
  • SUB: Saul Niguez 6 – Retained possession nicely in the final 30 minutes. Reuters
    SUB: Saul Niguez 6 – Retained possession nicely in the final 30 minutes. Reuters
  • SUB: Timo Werner N/A – Looked bright in the closing stages but didn’t see much of the ball. AP Photo
    SUB: Timo Werner N/A – Looked bright in the closing stages but didn’t see much of the ball. AP Photo
  • LILLE RATINGS: Leo Jardim 7 – Could do very little about either of Chelsea’s goals. The Brazilian did however pull off a handful of decent saves. AP Photo
    LILLE RATINGS: Leo Jardim 7 – Could do very little about either of Chelsea’s goals. The Brazilian did however pull off a handful of decent saves. AP Photo
  • Mehmet Zeki Celik 5 – A poor outing from the full-back, who was dragged out of position time and time again by the impressive Pulisic. AFP
    Mehmet Zeki Celik 5 – A poor outing from the full-back, who was dragged out of position time and time again by the impressive Pulisic. AFP
  • Sven Botman 6 – The towering centre-back’s lack of mobility was on full display against Chelsea’s nimble attackers. That aside, he generally looked solid, avoiding any glaring mistakes. Reuters
    Sven Botman 6 – The towering centre-back’s lack of mobility was on full display against Chelsea’s nimble attackers. That aside, he generally looked solid, avoiding any glaring mistakes. Reuters
  • Tiago Djalo 5 – Pinned back for virtually the entire game. The Portuguese full-back was replaced in the second half. AFP
    Tiago Djalo 5 – Pinned back for virtually the entire game. The Portuguese full-back was replaced in the second half. AFP
  • Amadou Onana 6 – Linked up well at times with Lille’s front three, although he was caught out of position far too often when Chelsea had the ball. Reuters
    Amadou Onana 6 – Linked up well at times with Lille’s front three, although he was caught out of position far too often when Chelsea had the ball. Reuters
  • Xeka 6 – Gave the ball away cheaply on more than one occasion. A passenger throughout for the French side. Reuters
    Xeka 6 – Gave the ball away cheaply on more than one occasion. A passenger throughout for the French side. Reuters
  • Benjamin Andre 7 – Worked hard from the advanced midfield position. While his efforts often went unrewarded, his ball retention was impressive. Reuters
    Benjamin Andre 7 – Worked hard from the advanced midfield position. While his efforts often went unrewarded, his ball retention was impressive. Reuters
  • Renato Sanches 7 – Lille’s danger man throughout, as he wasn’t afraid to take on – and beat – Chelsea’s defenders. The 24-year-old also showcased his range of passing with a handful of raking cross-field balls. Reuters
    Renato Sanches 7 – Lille’s danger man throughout, as he wasn’t afraid to take on – and beat – Chelsea’s defenders. The 24-year-old also showcased his range of passing with a handful of raking cross-field balls. Reuters
  • Jonathan David 5 – A very disappointing outing for the highly promising Canadian. With chances few and far between for the away side, David’s flat-footedness will surely have frustrated his manager. Reuters
    Jonathan David 5 – A very disappointing outing for the highly promising Canadian. With chances few and far between for the away side, David’s flat-footedness will surely have frustrated his manager. Reuters
  • Jonathan Bamba 7 – Lively in the final third, although the end product was often lacking. Showed flashes of how good he can be. AFP
    Jonathan Bamba 7 – Lively in the final third, although the end product was often lacking. Showed flashes of how good he can be. AFP
  • SUB: Edon Zhegrova 6 – Was well marshalled by Chelsea’s back three after replacing David, who similarly struggled to find space. AFP
    SUB: Edon Zhegrova 6 – Was well marshalled by Chelsea’s back three after replacing David, who similarly struggled to find space. AFP
  • SUB: Gabriel Gudmundsson 6 – A mistake free cameo from the Swede, who slotted into left-back for the final 20 minutes. Reuters
    SUB: Gabriel Gudmundsson 6 – A mistake free cameo from the Swede, who slotted into left-back for the final 20 minutes. Reuters
  • SUB: Burak Yilmaz 5 – Couldn’t make the ball stick up top for the away side, with Chelsea controlling possession late on. EPA
    SUB: Burak Yilmaz 5 – Couldn’t make the ball stick up top for the away side, with Chelsea controlling possession late on. EPA

Chelsea vs Lille player ratings: Pulisic 9, Havertz 8; David 5, Sanches 7


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Goals in each half from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic earned defending champions Chelsea a solid 2-0 first-leg victory over Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, but the London side will be concerned about injuries to key players.

Germany forward Havertz, who had already had two attempts on goal early in the game, headed down a Hakim Ziyech corner in the eighth minute and the ball bounced high off the turf into the net.

Chelsea left struggling striker Romelu Lukaku on the bench and it was American Pulisic who hit the second in the 63rd minute with a curling finish after N'Golo Kante's surging run and pinpoint pass.

The action was at times frenetic as Ligue 1 champions Lille sought to take something from the game into the second leg at home on March 16.

Chelsea, who face Liverpool in the League Cup final on Sunday, may be satisfied with their two-goal lead in the tie but they will be concerned for the fitness of pivotal midfielder Mateo Kovacic and of in-form Ziyech who both limped off early in the second half.

Tuchel admitted he was not sure of the extent of injuries to Mateo Kovacic and Ziyech ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Liverpool at Wembley.

“I should have substituted Kovacic earlier at half-time, so could have had one more change. I did not see Hakim’s injury, I have not spoken to the doctor. I hope it is not too much, but it is a little bit the story of the season [with injuries]," Tuchel told BT Sport.

“Today is Tuesday, until Sunday it is good because there are a lot of days for us to recover, so we will take care of that.

“We don’t like to have that many injuries and would like to have more impact from the bench in a tactical matter, but it is what it is.

“Let’s see, I hope the guys will be ready for Sunday.”

Tuchel's side are on an exhausting run of games with matches this month played or scheduled in five competitions.

They won the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi 11 days ago and injured trio Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi paraded the trophy round Stamford Bridge before kickoff.

They also won games in the FA Cup and Premier League before Tuesday's game and Sunday's final at Wembley.

Updated: June 10, 2023, 11:26 AM