Red Bull Salzburg vs. Chelsea result, highlights & analysis as Blues qualify for Champions League last-16

Graham Ruthven

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Red Bull Salzburg vs. Chelsea result, highlights & analysis as Blues qualify for Champions League last-16 image

Chelsea secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Red Bull Salzburg in a match where both teams created plenty of opportunities. 

Graham Potter made four changes to the team that drew against Manchester United in the Premier League with Christian Pulisic and Conor Gallagher coming into the team.

A bright opening saw Salzburg force Kepa Arrizabalaga into a couple saves, but it was Chelsea who took the lead when Mateo Kovacic guided a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.

The visitors continued to press and came close to scoring a second soon after when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was released through on goal only for Philipp Kohn to thwart him with a save.

Salzburg emerged for the second half with fresh energy and grabbed an equaliser after 48 minutes through Junior Adamu who cushioned a finish past Kepa after being played through in behind.

Chelsea responded well and regained the lead when Kai Havertz crashed a long-range strike in off the underside of the crossbar.

A switch to a back four saw Chelsea stifle the Salzburg attack as the Premier League side saw out an important victory which secured their place in the next round of the competition.

MORE: Champions League permutations and scenarios for qualification

Chelsea midfield shines

This had the potential to be a difficult match for Chelsea, and there were moments when Salzburg looked dangerous and could have scored more than once, but the Blues' midfield was key to their victory.

Kovacic was untouchable in the centre of the pitch, gliding past opponents at will while Conor Gallagher also impressed with his performance. Their creativity and determination to get forward meant Chelsea always carried a threat even when they were sitting deep towards the end of the match.

Potter flexes his tactical muscle... again

Chelsea's players are being kept on their toes by the frequent tactical changes made by their new manager over the first two months of his tenure. Potter set up his team in a 3-4-3 to start which made use of Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling as wing backs and it ensured the Blues were able to find space in the wide areas.

However, with the match slightly too open for Potter's liking in the second half he switched to a back four to take the sting out of the Salaburg attack. This worked too as Chelsea saw out the final 10 minutes with minimal fuss. Potter continues to demonstrate his tactical nous.

Adamu and Sesko are superstars in-waiting

Red Bull Salzburg have a strong reputation for developing some of the best attackers in the game (cough... Erling Haaland... cough... Sadio Mane) and in Adamu and Benjamin Sesko they boast two more future superstars in-waiting.

Adamu scored Salzburg's equaliser with composure beyond his years while Sesko was a handful when he came off the bench in the second half, forcing Kepa into an excellent save with a ferocious strike from the edge of the box. Get used to hearing these names in the Champions League.

Red Bull Salzburg vs. Chelsea final score

  1H 2H Final
RB Salzburg 0 1 1
Chelsea 1 1 2

Goals:

0-1 CHE - Mateo Kovacic - 23 mins

1-1 RBS - Junior Adamu - 48 mins

1-2 CHE - Kai Havertz - 64 mins

Red Bull Salzburg vs. Chelsea live updates, highlights from Champions League

90+6 mins: FULL TIME! RB Salzburg 1 Chelsea 2 - Goals from Kovacic and Haverts give Chelsea the three points they needed to secure their place in the last 16 of the Champions League!

90+4 mins: This has been a very professional job from Chelsea since scoring the second goal. Salzburg have looked dangerous and have had opportunities, but the Blues have kept the Austrian champions at arm's length for a large part of the match.

90+2 mins: BOOKING - Kepa is booked for wasting time and the home fans aren't happy with the antics of the Chelsea goalkeeper.

90 mins: There will be SIX minutes of stoppage time played at the end of the match.

88 mins: Chelsea subs - Gallagher and Sterling OFF, Ziyech and Mount ON.

87 mins: Kepa saves! Salzburg create their first opportunity in a while with Sesko playing the pass out to the right side, but Dedic's shot is saved at the near post by the Chelsea goalkeeper.

86 mins: BOOKING - Gallagher is shown a yellow card for taking a shot after the whistle had gone for a foul.

85 mins: Salzburg haven't been able to build any momentum since Chelsea scored their second. The match has become disjointed which isn't helping the home team at all. Chelsea will be happy with how the final stages of the game are going, though.

82 mins: Salzburg sub - Adamu OFF, Kameri ON

80 mins: Chelsea are trying, and succeeding, to remove some of the sting from the game. They are slowing down the pace of the play and Salzburg are having to press high to even get close to the visitors. Smart play from Potter and his players.

77 mins: Salzburg sub - Wober OFF, Ulmer ON

75 mins: With that double change, it looks like Chelsea have gone to a back four. Indeed, they are now playing in a 4-2-3-1 which suggests Potter wants to shore things up and make sure Salzburg don't come back into the match.

74 mins: Chelsea subs: Aubameyang and Pulisic OFF, Azpilicueta and Broja ON

70 mins: OFF THE LINE! Pavlovic wins a header in the air against Kepa with the Chelsea goalkeeper off his line. However, Silva got back smartly to make the clearance before the ball could cross the line!

69 mins: Chelsea sub - Kovacic OFF, Loftus-Cheek ON

68 mins: Sesko strike! Nearly an instant impact by the young Salzburg forward who unleashes a powerful strike from the edge of the box, but Kepa makes the diving save and Chelsea still have the advantage.

67 mins: Salzburg sub - Sucic OFF, Sesko ON

65 mins: Kohn has been brilliant for Salzburg this evening, but he has been beaten twice by two stunning strikes, the first one by Kovacic and the second one by Havertz.

64 mins: GOAL! RB Salzburg 1 Chelsea 2 (64' - Havertz) - What a goal! Havertz whips a finish into the back of the net and Chelsea are back in front! That's the first time Havertz has scored away from home in the Champions League!

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58 mins: Aubameyang gets on the end of a cross into the middle, but that was a difficult one for the Chelsea striker. Moments later, Kohn then makes a save low down to prevent Havertz from finding the back of the net.

54 mins: OFF THE LINE! Jorginho surely thought he'd scored with a header from a corner kick, but the clearance was made on the line and Salzburg survive!

53 mins: AUBAMEYANG... saved! What an opportunity for the Chelsea striker to put his team back in front, but Kohn comes off his line quickly to make the stop. That's not the first time he has stopped Aubameyang from finding the back of the net tonight!

51 mins: Salzburg started the second half with a lot of energy and they have been rewarded for that. Keep in mind that this is a team that hasn't lost a match at home in 40 games!

48 mins: GOAL! RB Salzburg 1 (48' - Adamu) Chelsea 1 - The hosts are level and Adamu finishes well to get Salzburg back on level terms! The ball was played in behind the Chelsea backline and the young forward was on hand to cushion the shot past Kepa!

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46 mins: Penalty claim! Salzburg believe they should have a penalty kick for a handball by Kovacic inside the box, but the referee rejects the calls. VAR has a look and no penalty is the decision.

45 mins: The second half is under way! No changes made by either team at the break. Chelsea have a 1-0 lead over RB Salzburg.

45+1 mins: HALF TIME! RB Salzburg 0-1 Chelsea: Kovacic's goal is the difference between the two teams at the break, but Chelsea have been the better side on the whole as well. Aubameyang had a very good chance right at the end of the half - Kohn made the save low down!

45 mins: There be ONE minute of stoppage time played at the end of the first half.

43 mins: Potter will be pleased with how Chelsea have equipped themselves in the first half of this match. Salzburg have been limited to only a handful of half-chances while the away team have the lead and have looked dangerous.

41 mins: Salzburg create a decent opening by shifting the ball all the way over to the left side of the edge of the box, but Kjaergaard didn't make a proper connection with the strike and that is a tame effort in the end!

40 mins: Kovacic has been excellent for Chelsea so far this evening. Salzburg just can't get close to the Croatian midfielder who also scored the opening goal for his team.

37 mins: Havertz with the header! The cross was staged up for Havertz, but his header is saved by Kohn! The Chelsea forward might have done better with that after he got up highest to meet the delivery!

35 mins: Save by Kepa! Sucic drives forward with the ball at his feet, the space opened up for the shot, but Kepa makes the save with ease. That was a decent opportunity for the home side.

34 mins: What a chance! Chelsea carve Salzburg open and Aubameyang is played clean through on goal, but the striker hesitates and Kohn comes out to make the save!

33 mins: Chelsea are enjoying a good spell of possession and that is taking the sting out of Salzburg as an attacking outfit. This is very smart play by the Blues who are producing the perfect away performance so far.

29 mins: Salzburg are unbeaten at home in their last 40 matches in all competitions. This isn't an easy place to visit, but Chelsea have the advantage. If they can hold on, that would be enough to send them into the last 16 of the Champions League.

26 mins: Nearly a second Chelsea goal! The corner kick was played into the box, Aubameyang got his head to it, Kohn made the save and then Havertz couldn't bundle home the rebound!

23 mins: GOAL! RB Salzburg 0 Chelsea 1 (23' - Kovacic). Chelsea make the breakthrough! The ball fell to Kovacic on the edge of the box and the Croatian midfielder opened up his foot to guide a shot into the corner of the net! What a finish!

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22 mins: Even when Chelsea have possession, Salzburg are very well set-up in defence. They are a difficult team to play through. 

19 mins: Salzburg have made this a difficult opening 20 minutes for Chelsea with the Austrian champions pressing well and doing a good job of keeping hold of the ball when they have it.

15 mins: Over the bar! Sucic bursts forward from deep and gets the return pass back for a shot, but that effort was never going to trouble Kepa who watches the ball fly over the target.

12 mins: Chelsea started the match on the front foot, but Salzburg have grown into the contest and they are enjoying a good spell of pressure. The Blues have to be careful not to give the home team too much space in the final third.

9 mins: Good clearance! Chalobah was under serious pressure from Bernardo as both players challenged for the ball inside the box, but the Chelsea defender gets his head to it first to clear!

7 mins: Pulisic is now over on the left side and gets the better of his man as he bursts to the byline, but the clearance is made to stop the American winger from finding a Chelsea teammate in the middle.

4 mins: Kohn makes the save! That was nearly a calamity at the back for Salzburg with Havertz pouncing on a weak header back to the goalkeeper, but Kohn did just enough to make the save, although he's taken a sore one from the Chelsea forward.

3 mins: It looks like Sterling is playing as a left wing back for Chelsea tonight with Pulisic on the right side. That's interesting. Aubameyang and Havertz are playing as a front two.

1 min: The match is under way in Austraia! It's Red Bull Salzburg against Chelsea in the Champions League with a place in the last 16 of the competition on the line!

10 mins to KO: Kepa Arrizabalaga has enjoyed an unexpected renaissance as Chelsea goalkeeper over the last month or so. The Spaniard looked finished at Stamford Bridge, but has been in excellent form of late.

20 mins to KO: Potter likes to chop and change his team from game-to-game and it will be interesting to see how Chelsea line up for this match. Will Pulisic be playing as a wing back? Is it a 3-4-3 formation?

35 mins to KO: Chelsea come into this match on the back of back-to-back wins over AC Milan. Keep in mind that the Blues started their Champions League campaign this season with a defeat to Dinamo Zagreb. It has been a remarkable turnaround under Potter!

50 mins to KO: Sesko is on the bench for RB Salzburg this evening, but the Austrian champions still have a lot of firepower through Adamu and Okafor. They will be dangerous.

RB Salzburg XI: Kohn, Dedic, Wober, Pavlovic, Bernardo, Gourna-Douath, Seiwald, Kjaergaard, Sucic, Adamu, Okafor.

60 mins to KO: Pulisic starts for Chelsea! There's also a place in the Chelsea XI for Cucurella who was hooked in the first half of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Chelsea XI: Kepa, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella, Jorginho, Kovacic, Gallagher, Pulisic, Havertz, Sterling, Aubameyang.

75 mins to KO: These two teams drew 1-1 when they met in the first fixture at Stamford Bridge in this season's Champions League. Red Bull Salzburg are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions. They won't roll over for Chelsea this evening!

90 mins to KO: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the Champions League fixture between Red Bull Salzburg and Chelsea. Can Graham Potter's team recover from Saturday's disappointing draw at home to Manchester United to make the last-16 of the Champions League?

Red Bull Salzburg vs. Chelsea lineups

Red Bull Salzburg are unbeaten in their last 16 matches in all competitions with the Austrian champions still to suffer defeat in the Champions League this season.

However, Matthias Jaissle has a number of injuries to contend with - Justin Omoregie, Fernando, Ousmane Diakite, Nicolas Capaldo, Sekou Koita and Dijon Kameri are all expected to be sidelined.

Red Bull Salzburg XI (4-1-3-2): Kohn (GK) - Dedic, Bernardo, Pavlovic, Wöber - Gourna-Douath - Seiwald, Sucic, Kjærgaard - Okafor, Adamu.

Kalidou Koulibaly missed Chelsea's draw against Manchester United with a knee problem and is sidelined for the Champions League fixture against Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

Reece James, Wesley Fofana and N'Golo Kante are also missing for the Blues who are short of options in defence.

Chelsea XI (3-4-3): Kepa (GK) - Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella - Jorginho, Kovacic, Gallagher, Pulisic - Havertz, Sterling, Aubameyang.

Graham Ruthven