Report as Kurt Zouma, Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell go close for Chelsea; Luuk De Jong, Nemanja Gudelj and Joan Jordan offer Sevilla's best efforts as hosts manage just six shots all night in Champions League opener
An unusually resolute Chelsea found chances hard to come by with Kurt Zouma providing their best effort in a 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla.
Having conceded three against Southampton on Saturday to blow a commanding lead at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea looked far more assured defensively against their talented European visitors, but still needed the restored Edouard Mendy to be at his best to palm out Nemanja Gudelj's deflected header before the break.
Chelsea managed only one shot on target in the first half but emerged resurgent from the break and could have led through Zouma's free header from a Ben Chilwell corner, but the Frenchman directed his header straight at Yassine Bounou in the Sevilla goal.
Chilwell also found the goalkeeper's gloves with a header while Timo Werner - who managed only 26 touches all night - still managed to twice sting the palms of the visiting goalkeeper, before Joan Jordan came close to netting a stunning 20-yard volley from a corner, which rustled the top of the net on its way through in the game's final chance of note.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Mendy (7), James (8), Zouma (6), Silva (7), Chilwell (7), Jorginho (6), Kante (7), Mount (6), Havertz (5), Pulisic (7), Werner (6).
Subs: Ziyech (6), Kovacic (7), Abraham, Hudson-Odoi (n/a).
Sevilla: Bounou (7), Navas (7), Gomez (7), Carlos (6), Acuna (7), Rakitic (7), Fernando (7), Gudelj (7), Suso (6), De Jong (6), Ocampos (6).
Subs: Jordan (7), Torres (6), En-Nesyri, Vazquez (n/a).
Man of the match: Reece James
Chelsea better at the back, toothless in attack
Looking to finally address the defensive woes which have dogged them in the opening weeks of the season, Chelsea nearly shot themselves in the foot in the opening minutes when Thiago Silva's rash run forward left Lucas Ocampos in space to fire wide inside three minutes, before the offside flag went up against the Argentine.
An early yellow card for Jorginho also left the midfielder under pressure and did not help Chelsea's hopes of controlling the midfield battle; and with Sevilla winning the fight in the middle of the park, the Blues had only two half-chances for Werner to show for their efforts before the break.
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