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Attendance: 19,242
Europa League | Group Stage
Dec 13, 2018 at 5.55pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

2-2

Ampadu (32' og.), Nego (56')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Willian (30'), Giroud (75')

Live Commentary: Videoton 2-2 Chelsea - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage as Videoton and Chelsea play out a 2-2 draw in Thursday's Europa League fixture at the Groupama Stadium.
2

A late free kick from Olivier Giroud has earned Chelsea a 2-2 draw against Videoton in Thursday's clash at the Groupama Stadium.

Willian put Chelsea in front with a set piece of his own, only for Ethan Ampadu to put through his own net two minutes later.

A stunning volley from Loic Nego gave the home side the advantage, but Giroud secured a point for the Blues with 15 minutes remaining.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in Hungary courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Europa League between Videoton and Chelsea. The Premier League side have already sealed top spot in the group, but the Hungarian outfit must register a positive result to keep their hopes of progress alive.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the two starting lineups, beginning with Chelsea...

CHELSEA XI:: Caballero; Zappacosta, Christensen, Ampadu, Palmieri; Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Barkley; Willian, Morata, Hudson-Odoi

CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Cumming, Alonso, Luiz, Jorginho, McEachran, Pedro, Giroud


As expected, Sarri has made wholesale changes and Chelsea supporters will be delighted to see that both Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi have been given an opportunity in the starting lineup.

Hudson-Odoi features in a front three which also includes Alvaro Morata, who did not feature in Sarri's most recent Premier League squad. Willian has been given the nod ahead of Pedro.

Sarri has gone with an offensive-minded midfield with each of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesc Fabregas and Ross Barkley all being given starts. Barkley is in need of minutes having not began a match for Chelsea for a couple of weeks.

The defence is as expected, with Ampadu being brought in for the injured Gary Cahill. The other three members of the backline have featured regularly throughout the group stages.

Willy Caballero is also named between the sticks with Kepa Arrizabalaga being provided with a rare evening off. The Argentine will be hoping that a strong outing can lead to another appearance against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup next week.

There are two more Chelsea youngsters on the bench. Sarri is really spoiling the club's supporters. Goalkeeper Jamie Cumming and midfielder George McEachran have been given their first appearances in the senior setup.

VIDEOTON XI: Kovacsik; Fiola, Juhasz, Vinicius, Stopira; Nego, Hadzic, Nikolov; Milanov, Scepovic, Huszti

VIDEOTON SUBSTITUTES: Kovacs, Tujvel, Berecz, Hodzic, Patkai, Tamas, Hangya


There are few surprises in the Videoton side. Forward Marko Scepovic is yet to score in this season's competition, but the Serbian has been given the nod by Marko Nikolic.

Istvan Kovacs had been in contention to earn a recall to the midfield, but Nikolic has instead decided to keep Anel Hadzic in the middle of the park.

Chelsea have already guaranteed top spot in Group L with five wins and 10 goals. However, it is a different story for Vidi who must gain at least a point from tonight's match. They must better the result of BATE Borisov, who face Greek side PAOK.

It's a misty night in Budapest. The temperature is also below freezing!



Chelsea head into this match having won just three of their last six outings in all competitions. That said, their triumph over Manchester City has effectively led to the defeats at Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers being forgotten.

Chelsea are looking to win their ninth successive game in this competition. That run stretches all the way back to when they won the trophy in 2013.

Sarri has used as many as 22 different players during the group stages. That becomes 23 with Caballero being provided with his first opportunity in this competition, and that could rise as high as 25 if Cumming and McEachran are both used.

However, there have been just five different scorers, with Loftus-Cheek and Giroud topping the charts with three goals apiece. They sit in joint-sixth for the competition.

This feels like an important match for Morata. The Spaniard has scored seven times this season, but being left out of the 18-man squad against Man City suggests that Giroud is ahead of him in the pecking order. The forward needs a big performance.

Ampadu and Hudson-Odoi have been tipped to have big futures at Chelsea, but the pair have featured for just 153 minutes between them in this competition. The pressure is on to make a positive impact on Sarri.

Let's turn our attention to Videoton now who still have a chance of progression despite losing three times in five matches. Both of their triumphs have come against PAOK, who were initially regarded as the favourites to finish in second place in the group.

However, the Hungarian side tend to find themselves in tight matches. There has not been more than three goals in any of their 13 European games this season, eight of which came in the Champions League qualifying rounds.

It has been just three years since Videoton struggled past The New Saints in the Champions League. The Welsh side earned a 1-1 draw in Hungary, but losing 1-0 at home in the first leg cost them.

Videoton sit in second place in their league table. However, there is an eight-point gap between themselves and Ferencvaros with just nine wins being recorded from 17 matches.

There are plenty of hats and gloves out in force, and who can blame them!



PREDICTION! Sarri has made wholesale changes for the closing fixture of the group stages, but we still expect the Blues to win in style. Players will be keen to make an impression ahead of the Christmas period, and this should lead to a professional display from the English side. Chelsea to prevail by a 3-1 scoreline.

HEAD TO HEAD! Thursday's game will represent just the second competitive meeting between the two clubs, with their only other contest coming earlier in this competition. Chelsea will also be making their first-ever trip to Hungary to take on a team from Nemzeti Bajnoksag I.

Videoton are also not familiar with facing English teams, with their only previous tie coming in 1985 when they got the better of Manchester United in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

It's time for the two teams to start making their way out at the Groupama Arena. This is actually the home ground of Ferencvaros, but Videoton will be moving to their new stadium shortly.

A reminder of the two starting lineups...

VIDEOTON XI: Kovacsik; Fiola, Juhasz, Vinicius, Stopira; Nego, Hadzic, Nikolov; Milanov, Scepovic, Huszti

CHELSEA XI:: Caballero; Zappacosta, Christensen, Ampadu, Palmieri; Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Barkley; Willian, Morata, Hudson-Odoi


KICKOFF:  Chelsea get us underway!

Chelsea have dominated possession since kickoff and the Blues win an early corner. Ampadu pinged a 50-yard pass out wide to Willian during the move, as if to prove something to Sarri. Nothing came from the resulting set piece.

SHOT!  Back come the home side and Nikolov is provided with the chance to shoot from 18 yards. However, the ball is sliced well wide of Caballero's right-hand post.

Hudson-Odoi does well on the edge of the box before teeing up Barkley, but the Englishman's shot is blocked by Stopira.

SHOT!  Chelsea look a big threat down the left-hand side. Emerson and Willian are having it all their own way and they win another corner for the Blues. Morata is found from the set piece, but his header lacks power.

Videoton certainly aren't allowing Chelsea to have full control of this match. The home side have started to press the Blues backline and it is leading to mistakes being made.

Chelsea are remaining patient in possession, especially in the middle of the pitch. They are still to create anything from open play, however.

More of the same from the Blues as they try to engineer a chance in and around the penalty area. Videoton are sitting deep and making it difficult.

Nothing to add, I'm afraid! Chelsea are seeing all of the ball now but Videoton simply aren't budging. It has turned into a training exercise for Sarri's side.

You can certainly see why Videoton do not score or concede many goals in Europe. It's defence first and if they get anything else, it is a bonus.

Better from Chelsea who manage to get the ball to Morata on the edge of the area, but the Spaniard attempts a pass instead of a shot and the ball is lost.

LATEST! BATE Borisov have taken the lead against PAOK. As it stands, BATE are heading through to the last 32 regardless of the result of this game.

CHANCE!  Chelsea over-play it in their own half and Videoton almost capitalise. Nego receives the ball on the edge of the area, but his shot on the turn is weak and too close to Caballero.

There are a few signs that Chelsea are starting to get frustrated. They have had three quarters of possession, but chances are not being created. Sarri will not be too concerned, but he may have expected better.

The main plus point for Chelsea has been the attitude of Ampadu. He looks calm in possession and is always looking to progress the play from the back.

GOAL!  Videoton 0-1 Chelsea (Willian)

Willian wins Chelsea a free kick around 25 yards out. There was contact but it was initiated by the midfielder. However, the Brazilian takes full advantage by curling a delightful effort over the wall and into the bottom corner.

Videoton 1-1 Chelsea (Ethan Ampadu own goal)

The lead does not last long! An inswinging corner from the right is flicked on at the near post, and Ampadu can only react by nodding the ball into the far corner of his own net.

It had been a dull opening half-hour, but those goals have certainly livened everything up. As it stands, Vidi need to win this match and hope that PAOK can peg back BATE.

It has been all Chelsea since the equaliser. Again, the pressure is coming down the left through Emerson and Willian. When the former is showing this kind of form, he should be challenging Marcos Alonso for a starting role in the Premier League.

Ampadu does well to win a challenge in the Videoton half and Hudson-Odoi's flick goes into the path of Zappacosta. However, the Italian is adjudged to be offside.

CHANCE!  Hudson-Odoi is starting to warm into this one. The youngster does well down the right before finding Morata with his cross, but the Spaniard's close-range effort is straight at Kovacsik.

CHANCE!  Videoton almost take the lead! A break leads to Nego getting the chance to shoot from 16 yards out, but Caballero throws himself to his left to tip the effort wide for a corner.

Morata picked up a knee injury when attempting his most recent shot, and it looks like that will end his evening.

SUBSTITUTION! Giroud is on for the Spaniard. There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME:  Videoton 1-1 Chelsea

The half-time whistle goes in Hungary and Chelsea head into the break on level terms with Videoton. Willian's delightful free kick gave the Blues the lead, but Ampadu's own goal cancelled that out two minutes later. Chelsea have been the better side, but Videoton have caused problems on the counter-attack.

Chelsea were perhaps fortunate to earn a free kick for their goal, but Willian took full advantage by finding the bottom corner with a super effort from 25 yards. However, the lead was quickly wiped out when the unfortunate Ampadu headed into his own net after a flick on at the near post from a corner.

KICKOFF:  Videoton get us back underway.

CHANCE!  Videoton should be in front. A corner to the back post finds Stopira all on his own, but the defender heads well over the crossbar from around eight yards out.

LATEST! BATE are now 3-0 ahead against PAOK. It's effectively game over as far as Videoton's chances of qualification are concerned.

Chelsea win a free kick in a threatening position and it appears to be the perfect position for the left foot of Emerson. However, the full-back's effort is poor and straight into the wall.

The game is not being played at the same pace as it was before the break. There is little value in either side using too much energy.

SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Chelsea sees Pedro take the place of Willian.

GOAL!  Videoton 2-1 Chelsea (Loic Nego)

Well this was not in the script. A cross-field ball finds Nego at the back post and the Frenchman drills a first-time volley from 15 yards inside Caballero's near post. It's a stunning strike.

CHANCE!  Chelsea try to hit straight back with Hudson-Odoi getting a shot away from the left-hand side of the area. However, the youngster fails to get the necessary curl and Kovacsik makes the save.

It will be interesting to see how Sarri uses his last substitution. He has already introduced his two attacking options, so there is still a chance that McEachran will be handed his debut.

Videoton have started to pack the defence again now that they are in front. This may turn into another attack versus defence scenario.

More of the same from Chelsea but they are struggling for space in the final third. Giroud is not providing as much movement as Morata, so that is not helping matters either.

YELLOW CARD!  Juhasz goes into the book for a cynical block on Giroud. Cynical does not quite do it justice!

CHANCE!  Much better from Chelsea and they probably should be on level terms. Emerson's cross picks out Giroud around six yards out, but the Frenchman places too much focus on trying to make connection with his left foot and his effort goes wide.

YELLOW CARD!  Huszti becomes the second Videoton player to receive a yellow card for a trip on Hudson-Odoi.

CHANCE!  Giroud goes much closer with a tougher opportunity! Fabregas's free kick picks out the forward at the back post, and the Frenchman's thunderous volley goes just over the crossbar.

CHANCE!  Chelsea are really knocking on the door now. Hudson-Odoi advances down the left before finding Pedro at the back post, but the substitute scuffs a volley marginally wide of the far post.

YELLOW CARD!  Another booking for Videoton, this time for Vinicius who goes straight through Fabregas on the edge of the box.

GOAL!  Videoton 2-2 Chelsea (Olivier Giroud)

We have had some outrageous goals in this game and Giroud has just added to that list. The forward takes responsibility for a 20-yard set piece, and his effort clips the underside of the crossbar and finds the top corner.

YELLOW CARD!  The yellow cards are totting up for the home side. Nego is the next man who is booked.

I think that the home side would be happy with a point at this stage. There is little riding on the match, but holding Chelsea would still go down as one of the best results in their history.

YELLOW CARD!  Loftus-Cheek is now cautioned for a late challenge. Not sure it warranted a yellow, but I suppose the referee wants to even things up a little.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Videoton make two changes as Kovacs and Hodzic are introduced for Milanov and Huszti.

There is an end-to-end feel to this game as we approach full time. Both teams have decided that they may as well push for a winner.

SUBSTITUTION! A third and final alteration for Videoton sees Patkai replace Hadzic.

A late challenge from Hudson-Odoi acts as a trigger for a couple of heated confrontations between the two sides. No yellow cards are dished out, however.

We haven't had many chances during the closing stages of the game, despite the two teams pushing forward. There will be three minutes of added-on time.

Videoton are still showing plenty of ambition going forward, but I think we are about done as far as chances are concerned.

FULL TIME:  Videoton 2-2 Chelsea

The full-time whistle goes in Hungary and we have ended 2-2. Chelsea have had to rely on two free kicks from Willian and Giroud, but Videoton are well worth their point. Chelsea end Group L in top spot, while Videoton finish in third place.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

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Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates his first senior goal for Chelsea in the win over PAOK on November 29, 2018
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