CHELSEA take on Salzburg tonight in a repeat of Graham Potter's first match in chaarge of the Blues in the Champions League.
Their first clash at Stamford Bridge finished 1-1 thanks to Noah Okafor's late equaliser after Raheem Sterling opened the scoring.
- Start time: 5.45pm BST
- TV/Live stream: BT Sport 4
- Salzburg XI: Kohn, Adamu, Seiwald, Kjaergaard, Sucic, Gourna-Douath, Pavlovic, Wober, Dedic, Okafor, Bernardo
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Cucurella, Kovacic, Jorginho, Sterling, Pulisic, Gallagher, Havertz, Aubameyang
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- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea
54. Pulisic momentarily looks through on goal, but he's unable to bring a high ball under control, and Salzburg players get back to cover.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea
52. Jorginho header! Off the line!
The Chelsea captain gets himself on the end of the set-piece and flicks goalwards, but somehow Salzburg scorer Adamu clears the ball away.
Those in blue are claiming it had crossed the line, but the referee points to his watch to signal 'no goal' and the game continues.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea
51. Brilliant tackle from Dedic!
Gallagher springs forward once again, and slipps through a pass for Aubameyang.
The Chelsea striker appears to have got around his man to give himself a clear sight of goal, but a superb recovering challenge from the Salzburg right-back denies him a telling shot.
The visitors do have a corner though.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea
50. It's some game we have here now!
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RB Salzburg 1-1 Chelsea
48. Salzburg equalise in stunning style!
There was no time for feeling aggrieved at the non-award of the penalty, and instead the home side have struck straight back!
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- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
48. VAR take a look and agree with the referee – no penalty!
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
47. A free-kick early in the second half causes chaos in the Chelsea box, and suddenly the Salzburg players are screaming for a penalty!
They're convinced that Mateo Kovacic handled the ball!
Referee Sandro Scharer waves the appeals away.
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Kick-off – RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
46. Back underway at the Red Bull Arena.
There are no changes to report, and why would Chelsea want anything to be different (with the exception of Aubameyang finding his shooting boots)?
- Sam Dymond
First half facts and figures
Six shots on target to one, 76% possession, and 378 passes in the first half? It's fair to say Chelsea fans are loving Potter-ball.
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Half-time – RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
Chelsea are in charge at the break.
The Blues lead through Mateo Kovacic's incredible left-footed strike, scored midway through the first half, and are now just 45 minutes away from booking their place in the Champions League knockout stages.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
45+2. A fitting end to the first half; brilliant Chelsea play, a chance for Aubameyang, and a fine save from Kohn.
Kovacic, Havertz and Sterling are all involved as they tee up the Gabonese forward, whose first-time drive is brilliantly pushed away by Kohn at his near post.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
44. More sumptuous football from Chelsea.
A series of one-touch passing unlocks the home defence; Kovacic ignores it as he's in an offside position, and that allows Kohn just enough time to rush out and beat Aubameyang to the loose ball.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
42. Pavlovic, who was sent off for two bookable offences against Sturm Graz at the weekend, clatters into Gallagher, and does well to avoid another caution.
A yellow card for the Serbian international tonight and he will miss matchday six against AC Milan.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
40. Five minutes to go until the break.
As it stands, Chelsea are heading for the knockout stages.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
39. But there's always a chance. Or a half-chance.
Okafor nudges a pass out to Kjaergaard on the left, and the midfielder skips back inside before scuffing a shot wide of Kepa's near post.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
38. The home side aren't giving up on this yet despite Chelsea racking up chance after chance.
That said, the visitors have had 75% of the possession so far.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
36. Another huge chance for Chelsea to make it two.
Havertz helps himself to a free header ten yards out, but plants it straight at Kohn.
This time this Salzburg keeper is unconvincing in dealing with the effort, but claims the ball fully at the second attempt.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
34. Up the other end, and Okafor tries his luck with a daisy-cutter from 25 yards that's straight at Kepa.
You're not going to beat the Chelsea goalkeeper like that in his current form.
No, you want the Kepa from 2019 to score those.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
32. Another chance for Aubameyang! Another fine save from Kohn!
It's beautiful football from Chelsea that opens up the Salzburg defence, leading to their former Arsenal striker bearing down on goal.
He just has the Salzburg keeper to beat, but thumps his effort straight at him.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
29. The last side to beat Salzburg in a competitive game here were Villarreal in the Europa League, back in February 2021.
Victory tonight for Chelsea will not only end the hosts' 40-match unbeaten run at the Red Bull Arena, but book the Blues a place in the Last 16 of the Champions League.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
27. A brilliant save from Kohn!
Aubameyang gets his head on an inswinger from the right, and looks certain to have made it two.
However, Salzburg's Swiss stopper throws himself down low and flicks the effort away from danger.
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RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
25. The home fans aren't happy, and not just they're one goal behind.
Instead, they feel their team should have been awarded a free-kick for a challenge on Adamu that has left their striker requiring treatment.
Instead, Chelsea have a corner.
- Sam Dymond
RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea
23. What an extraordinary goal!
Salzburg fail to deal with Connor Gallagher's cross in from the right, Christian Pulisic wins possession back, and Kai Havertz helps the ball back to the edge of the area.
Moving away from his left foot, Mateo Kovacic has no right to shoot from here, but when has that ever stopped the Croatian?
First time with the outside of his left foot, Kovacic connects and sends it slicing away and into the top corner.
Chelsea lead in Austria!
- Sam Dymond
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