RB Salzburg vs Chelsea Champions League result and reaction as Chelsea qualify for knockout stage - live
RB Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea: Goals from Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz see Blues book their spot int he kockouts with a game to spare
Kai Havertz’s brilliant second-half goal earned Chelsea a 2-1 win at RB Salzburg which booked their place in the Champions League knockout stages.
The Germany international curled in a stunning effort midway through the second half to decide a testing evening in Austria and extend Graham Potter’s unbeaten start to his Blues reign to nine games.
The Premier League side had gone ahead through a fine strike by Mateo Kovacic and only a string of saves by impressive home goalkeeper Philipp Kohn stopped it being a rout at half-time.
The Austrian side levelled early in the second half through Junior Adamu’s superb breakaway effort as Chelsea looked in peril. Havertz had the final say, though, winning the match in style and sending his side through with his 20-yard effort that found the top corner.
Chelsea will top Group E if Dinamo Zagreb fail to beat AC Milan in the late kick-off. Relive the action as Chelsea beat RB Salzburg in the Champions League:
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
48 mins: Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou won’t want his side to be timid in this half. There is a touch of complacency that can creep in when teams have a lead but Celtic need to control this game.
Shakhtar quickly move through the middle and flick the ball into the penalty area but Carter-Wickers is alert and nods it clear.
Second half: Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
Kick off: Celtic get the match back underway with no changes from either side at the break. Reo Hatate was hobbling a bit at the end of the first half so he’s one to keep an eye on.
Celtic will be hoping to get another goal to make them more secure in the match especially since they’ve conceded quite a few late goals in the Champions League this season.
HT Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
In the previous five meetings between Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stage, both teams have shared two wins apiece. The one draw came in this season’s reverse fixture, with Celtic drawing 1-1 away from home.
Shakhtar Donetsk have never won a Champions League away match against a British team, losing on eight of their nine total trips (D1). They did avoid defeat in the most recent one, however, drawing 1-1 against Manchester City in November 2019.
Kai Havertz stunner books Chelsea’s place in Champions League knockouts with thrilling win at Salzburg
With a magical stroke of Kai Havertz’s left boot, a key task has already been ticked off for Graham Potter at Chelsea. A place in the knockout stages of the Champions League has been secured with a game to spare following a thrilling 2-1 win at FC Salzburg which also saw Chelsea produce their best attacking performance of Potter’s reign. The quality of the goals from Havertz and, in the first half, Mateo Kovacic stood out among a number of slick team moves, while Chelsea having to survive a few scares at the other end to be sure of their progress added to an impressive night overall.
It has been quite the six weeks for Potter, and it may get better tonight if results go Chelsea’s way and top spot in Group E is also confirmed ahead of the final round of fixtures. Just six weeks ago, Potter took charge of Chelsea for the first time against Salzburg, only for a 1-1 draw against the Austrian champions to leave them bottom of the group and facing an awkward European campaign. In Chelsea’s previous two draws against Brentford and Manchester United, questions were beginning to be asked of an attack that looked short of ideas, only for an empathic response to be delivered here.
It was required to end Salzburg’s 40-match unbeaten run in their home stadium and the most attacking line-up of Potter’s time in charge produced not only a plethora of chances but swift, coherent movement and passing between the talented forwards at the manager’s disposal. If it had not been for the excellent Phillip Kohn in the Salzburg goal then Chelsea could have been out of sight by half-time but in between the excellent Conor Gallagher and Kovacic pieced it together, while Thiago Silva was immense to see out the Austrian’s late siege.
Kai Havertz stunner books Chelsea’s place in knockouts with thrilling win at Salzburg
FC Salzburg 1-2 Chelsea: Havertz’s sublime finish was followed by an impressive defensive stand from Graham Potter’s side as they secured their place in the last 16 with a game to spare
HT Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
How important will this goal prove to be at the end of this match?
Half-time: Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
45 mins: There’s no added time played at the end of the first half and Celtic head into the break with a slender advantage over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Both sides have had their moments but Celtic’s best finisher (arguably) Giorgos Giakoumakis has given the home side the lead. Can they hang onto it in the second half?
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
42 mins: Nearly! Mudryk gets played in behind on the left side and he gets into the box before coming up against a sprinting Joe Hart who deflects the ball wide of the target!
Big save from Celtic’s goalkeeper.
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
40 mins: Save! Great strike from Giakoumakis who is full of confidence after getting his goal. He receives it inside Shakhtar’s half and turns towards goal before lacing one from range.
There’s a decent amount of swerve and dip on the effort it’s a nice height for Trubin who dives to the right and palms it away.
Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar
37 mins: The noise level inside Celtic Park has gone up as the home crowd get behind their team. Haksabanovic gets played into the left side of the box but has a shot blocked.
Celtic are bossing the game with Shakhtar properly on the back foot now.
GOAL! Celtic 1-0 Shakhtar (Giakoumakis, 34’)⚽️
34 mins: Huge goal for Celtic!
Haksabanovic drifts out wide on the left wing and is given the ball with a pass up from the halfway line. He drives down the line before moving inside and drilling a square pass into the penalty area.
Liel Abada meets it but turns his shot into a defender and Celtic get lucky as the ball bounces free to Giorgos Giakoumakis who whips it into the bottom corner from seven yards out!
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