Chelsea slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Valencia in their opening Champions League match as Ross Barkley missed a late penalty.
2019/2020 UEFA Champions League
0-1
Match Reports
With Jasper Cillessen in fine form and Mason Mount's injury having compounded Chelsea's frustrations, the Blues' frailties were exposed once more when Rodrigo Moreno prodded in Dani Parejo's free-kick with16 minutes remaining.
VAR came to Chelsea's rescue when the referee decided to award the hosts a spot-kick for a Daniel Wass handball, but substitute Barkley - who overruled Willian to take the penalty - struck the bar.
Match Events
6' Abraham's shot stopped by Cillessen
Azpilicueta curls in a cross and Wass hashes his clearance. Kondogbia is forced to boot it out for a corner under pressure from Abraham. Abraham's header from the corner is blocked. Valencia eventually get it clear.
15' Mount subbed off after getting injured
Play is stopped as it looks like Mount can't continue. The young English midfielder will have to go off. Pedro comes on for Mount. That's a shame for Mount. No doubt the Champions League will see more of him soon.
27' Abraham's header wide out
Abraham nods wide after Azpilicueta puts in another fantastic cross. Chelsea's 3-4-3 is working well for them at the moment.
40' Willian's shot over the bar
Willian is Chelsea's brightest player so far. Alonso checks inside and curls in a fantastic right-footed ball for Willian arriving on the run, who can't keep his effort down.
45' CLOSE! Cillessen denies Willian’s effort
Chelsea get their best chance at the end of the half! Azpilicueta slides through Willian, who takes the ball on the half-volley and forces a save from Cillessen! Valencia clear. That's that for now.
55' CLOSE! Gameiro's shot over the bar
Parejo cleverly cuts the corner back to Gameiro just inside the penalty area, but he blazes over. That set-piece routine almost paid off for Valencia.
74' GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Valencia (Rodrigo)
Kovacic fouls Gaya in a central position. From Parejo's free-kick, Rodigo makes a clever run unmarked towards the near post and hits the ball into the ground. It bounces over Kepa and into the roof of the net!
87' Penalty Missed! (Barkley)
Barkley takes a stuttering run-up that deceives Cillessen but his penalty is always rising and just clips the crossbar! Valencia get a reprieve for now.
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