Chelsea vs Zenit LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight

Relive all the action as the Blues began the defence of their European crown

Tuchel on Chelsea Champions League defence

Romelu Lukaku’s pinpoint header rescued Chelsea’s first match as Champions League holders in a 1-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg.

Belgium hitman Lukaku bagged his third goal in two games and his fourth for Chelsea since his £98million switch from Inter Milan.

The 28-year-old converted captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s hanging far-post cross with a header of stunning accuracy, and that after shrugging aside three touch-tight Zenit defenders.

Chelsea laboured past a resolute and regimented Zenit, for much of the match running the risk of limping to a dispiriting draw.

But then Lukaku rose up, highest of all, to nod home and turn the night entirely. Relive all the action below:

Chelsea vs Zenit

• Lukaku heads Chelsea into lead
• Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Lukaku, Mount
• Zenit XI: Kritsyuk; Sutormin, Chistiakos, Rakits’kyy, Santos; Malcom, Wendel, Barrios, Kuzyaev, Claudinho; Azmoun

[14 September 2021 16:28 · Michael Jones]

Solskjaer on new Champions League campaign

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke about his expectations for this season’s Champions League campaign after the disappointment of last year when Manchester United were dumped out at the group stage despite winning their first three games.

New signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane both bring heaps of Champions League experience with them to the squad and Solskjaer hopes they’ll have a positive impact on the rest of his players.

“Of course, you’re at the start of a new competition and we want to win every game and go all the way.” he said “But we know that we have to take one game at a time. We started brilliantly last time and then it changed against Basaksehir, that was the game that we shouldn’t have lost. We just have to focus on [Young Boys] now.

“It can only be a good thing, of course. With Cristiano and Raphael coming in, they won it four times with Real Madrid and Cristiano won it here with us as well. I think it’s great for everyone in the team and in the squad to see those players up close. They’ve come in, gelled really well with the group and they’re here to help the team.”

[14 September 2021 16:22 · Tom Kershaw]

Ronaldo included in travelling squad

There was some doubt over how quickly Ronaldo would be rushed into the starting eleven ahead of United’s victory against Newcastle. The 36-year-old silenced those quickly, though, with two goals on his second debut and was immediately included in United’s travelling party for tonight’s fixture.

Manchester United squad

De Gea, Heaton, Kovar; Bailly, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Varane, Wan-Bissaka; Fernandes, Fred, Lingard, Mata, Matic, Pogba, Sancho, van de Beek; Elanga, Greenwood, Martial, Ronaldo.

[14 September 2021 16:22 · Michael Jones]

Cavani absent for United

Edinson Cavani will miss Manchester United’s Champions League opener against Young Boys this evening as he is sidelined with a ‘minor injury’ picked up in training before Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle in the Premier League.

Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Cavani will be out for a ‘week or so’ and the 34-year-old could also miss Saturday’s league match versus West Ham.

There are some surprise inclusions to Man Utd’s travelling squad with 19-year-old winger Anthony Elanga, and 21-year-old goalkeeper Matej Kovar included.

Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in the squad for his first Champions League trip with the Reds since featuring in the 2009 final, in which they were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona.

[14 September 2021 16:16 · Tom Kershaw]

Can Ronaldo provide a shortcut to Champions League success?

The impact Cristiano Ronaldo has had on Manchester United’s squad is already plain to see, but can the Portuguese’s return guide the club to Champions League glory? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes so, but Ronaldo’s presence failed to make the difference at Juventus.

[14 September 2021 15:05 · Michael Jones]

Manchester United open Champions League campaign against Young Boys

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as Manchester United begin their Champions League campaign on away soil against Swiss champions Young Boys.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s matchday squad after scoring twice on his second United debut as they defeated Newcastle last weekend.