Chelsea went top of the Premier League as they came from behind to beat Leeds United in their first game in front of fans for nine months.
Former Blues striker Patrick Bamford, who spent five years at Chelsea without making a senior appearance, gave Leeds an early lead at Stamford Bridge after getting between defender Kurt Zouma and keeper Edouard Mendy.
Timo Werner then somehow managed to miss from point-blank range after Olivier Giroud’s flicked header from a corner, the Germany forward hitting the underside of the bar before Leeds cleared.
However, Giroud marked his first league start of the season with his fifth goal of the week, the scorer of all four of Chelsea’s Champions League goals away to Sevilla in midweek poking home from five yards after Reece James’ cross.
Chelsea, who welcomed 2,000 fans back to Stamford Bridge after coronavirus restrictions were eased, went ahead as Zouma headed in from Mason Mount’s corner before substitute Christian Pulisic, from Werner’s pass, added a late third.
Chelsea, who started the day third, are one point clear at the top.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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Chelsea
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
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Squad number24Player nameJames
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Squad number15Player nameZouma
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
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Squad number21Player nameChilwell
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
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Squad number7Player nameKanté
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Squad number19Player nameMount
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Squad number22Player nameZiyech
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Squad number18Player nameGiroud
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Squad number11Player nameWerner
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Squad number9Player nameAbraham
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Squad number10Player namePulisic
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Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Leeds United
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Squad number1Player nameMeslier
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Squad number2Player nameAyling
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Squad number5Player nameKoch
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Squad number6Player nameCooper
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Squad number10Player nameAlioski
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Squad number18Player nameRaphinha
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Squad number15Player nameDallas
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Squad number23Player namePhillips
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Squad number22Player nameHarrison
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Squad number43Player nameKlich
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Squad number9Player nameBamford
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Squad number7Player namePoveda-Ocampo
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Squad number14Player nameLlorente
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Squad number20Player nameRodrigo
More to follow.
Line-ups
Chelsea
- 16Mendy
- 24James
- 15Zouma
- 6Thiago Silva
- 21Chilwell
- 29HavertzSubstituted forKovacicat 67′minutes
- 7Kanté
- 19Mount
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forPulisicat 30′minutes
- 18GiroudSubstituted forAbrahamat 79′minutes
- 11Werner
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 2Rüdiger
- 5Jorginho
- 9Abraham
- 10Pulisic
- 17Kovacic
- 28Azpilicueta
Leeds
- 1Meslier
- 2Ayling
- 5KochSubstituted forLlorenteat 9′minutesBooked at 74mins
- 6Cooper
- 10AlioskiSubstituted forRodrigoat 69′minutes
- 18Dias BelloliBooked at 90mins
- 15Dallas
- 23Phillips
- 22HarrisonSubstituted forPoveda-Ocampoat 57′minutes
- 43Klich
- 9Bamford
Substitutes
- 7Poveda-Ocampo
- 11Roberts
- 13Casilla
- 14Llorente
- 17Hélder Costa
- 20Rodrigo
- 21Struijk
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.
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Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.
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Raphinha (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Raphinha (Leeds United).
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Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Goal! Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Timo Werner following a fast break.
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Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).
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Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Timo Werner.
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Attempt blocked. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Timo Werner.
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Offside, Leeds United. Stuart Dallas tries a through ball, but Ian Poveda-Ocampo is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Reece James (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Liam Cooper.
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Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
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Substitution, Chelsea. Tammy Abraham replaces Olivier Giroud.
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Attempt saved. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Illan Meslier.
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Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount.
