Chelsea FC 3-0 AC Milan LIVE! Champions League result, match stream, latest reaction and updates today

Chelsea vs AC Milan - LIVE!

Chelsea eased some of its early concerns in the Champions League by beating AC Milan 3-0, with Reece James setting up one goal and ruthlessly dispatching another. Picking up just one point from their first two games had left Chelsea in a sticky position in Group E, with a double-header against the Italian champions having the potential to plunge the English team — under a recently hired manager in Graham Potter — into further danger.

However, Chelsea produced easily its best performance of the competition, going ahead through Wesley Fofana with his first goal for the club before James crossed for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to finish after the break.

James completed the scoring six minutes later with the best goal of the lot, running onto Raheem Sterling’s pass and lifting a fierce shot into the roof of the net from a narrow angle, with the only negative for Chelsea on a brilliant night the sight of Fofana limping off with a knee injury.

Chelsea vs AC Milan latest news

• GOAL! James puts result beyond doubt

• GOAL! Aubameyang doubles the lead

• OFFSIDE! Mount denied by linesman’s flag

• GOAL! Fofana puts Chelsea in front

Chelsea FC 3 - 0 AC Milan

FT: Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan

21:55 , Matt Verri

Superb night for Chelsea, they’ve absolutely cruised past AC Milan.

Goals from Fofana, Aubameyang and James on what was a perfect night for the Blues, except for that injury to Fofana.

Focus now on the San Siro next week.

21:53 , Matt Verri

90 mins: Two minutes added on at Stamford Bridge, as Origi heads over the bar.

Visitors very glad it’s not more than those two minutes.

21:51 , Matt Verri

88 mins: Match being played almost at walking pace now, Chelsea know the job is long since done.

Happy to just pass it around with minimal fuss now, as they should. They’ve made a big statement ahead of the trip to the San Siro.

21:47 , Matt Verri

85 mins: Potter looking very relaxed on the touchline, though that is very rarely not the case.

Milan continue to knock the ball around in defence with no real interest in looking to get it forward. Strangely passive display from them, even with the injuries they have.

21:45 , Matt Verri

83 mins: James tries to head a long ball back to Kepa, instead puts it behind for a Milan corner.

Taken short, worked all the way back to their own half. Sums it all up really.

How Chelsea put it to bed...

21:44 , Matt Verri

21:42 , Matt Verri

80 mins: Not really what Milan need, Koulibaly hammering a ball over the top and the goalkeeper charges off his line.

Just about gets enough on the header, doesn’t fall to a Chelsea shirt and Milan survive. Blues so, so comfortable.

21:39 , Matt Verri

76 mins: Lots of niggly fouls, Chelsea content to stop any Milan attack at source before it develops.

Jorginho does just that but has hurt himself in the process - doesn’t look like anything too serious.

21:37 , Matt Verri

74 mins: Sterling and Mount off, Broja and Havertz on.

All these subs slowing down the match even more, imagine it will peter out on the whole from him. Chelsea with no need to force anything.

21:34 , Matt Verri

71 mins: Silva brings down Leao after a quick nutmeg, winger was not going any further. Yellow card for Silva.

Free-kick swung in deep, flicks off Giroud and behind for a goal-kick. Silva got the initial touch to clear it out of the six-yard box, making up for his error.

21:31 , Matt Verri

68 mins: Leao gets a rare chance to run into space and he takes full advantage, roars past Silva.

Cut back into the box, can’t pick out a white shirt. Koulibaly hammers it clear and Chelsea survive that brief scare.

21:29 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Gallagher and Jorginho on for Chelsea, Aubameyang and Kovacic on.

Should be a fun final 25 minutes for Chelsea, imagine they will have plenty of chances to extend their lead further.

21:26 , Matt Verri

64 mins: Sterling almost away again, Milan are folding.

Not sure what has happened for them tonight. Second best would be generous.

GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 AC Milan | Reece James 62'

21:24 , Matt Verri

Mount cuts inside and fires a stunning pass to James on the opposite wing. He whips a low cross in, Sterling volleys over the bar on the stretch. Offside flag up anyway.

Doesn’t matter... CHELSEA 3-0! Seconds later, Chelsea absolutely ruthless.

Milan caught playing out from the back, Sterling slides in James and he hammers home from a tight angle.

21:21 , Matt Verri

59 mins: Milan win a corner, they need a swift response. Been pretty dreadful tonight overall.

Koulibaly heads it away, Sterling completes the job and Chelsea can fly forward on the counter. Aubameyang nearly played in, Milan just about get back.

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 AC Milan | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 56'

21:19 , Matt Verri

CHELSEA DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!

That makes things a lot more comfortable. Pretty simple for the Blues, defending is so poor.

James clips a cross into the box, Aubameyang with so much space as Tomori makes a mess of it and it’s an easy finish.

21:16 , Matt Verri

54 mins: Milan seeing plenty of the ball in defence and with their two defensive midfielders, but they’re really struggling to play it into the forwards.

Chelsea solid in their shape, content to just sit back.

21:13 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Not a great free-kick from Mount, behind everyone in a Chelsea shirt but Chalobah tries to make something of it.

Very ambitious overhead kick from the defender, blasted high in the fans behind the goal.

21:12 , Matt Verri

50 mins: James and Sterling combine on the right, Loftus-Cheek has made a good run in behind but Tomori brings James down before the pass can be played.

Both look to have hurt themselves in the process, the pair limping away.

21:09 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Outrageous pass out wide from Silva to Chilwell.

Mount plays a one-two with Sterling, the winger goes charging into the box but he’s swiftly crowded out by a couple of white shirts.

Back underway!

21:07 , Matt Verri

Up and running again at Stamford Bridge for the second-half.

Elsewhere in the Champions League...

21:02 , Matt Verri

Erling Haaland is at it again. Shock.

Just the two goals for him in the opening 45 minutes against Copenhagen. Another hat-trick coming up?

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

20:58 , Matt Verri

Today is a day to remember for Wesley Fofana getting his first goal for Chelsea who he has supported for their association with Didier Drogba.

It’s such a shame that he has had to come off injured after getting his studs caught in the turf in a 50-50 duel with AC Milan winger Rafael Leao. He walked off the field so hopefully it isn’t too bad but it looks like a knee issue.

HT: Chelsea 1-0 AC Milan

20:53 , Matt Verri

And that’s half-time.

Chelsea much the better side, and they have Fofana’s goal to show for it after a solid 45 minutes.

Milan with no real threat at all until those final few seconds - they have to improve.

20:52 , Matt Verri

45+4 mins: Should be 1-1!

Leao drives into the box, past the challenges and squares it to De Ketelaere. His shot is saved, falls to Krunic and he somehow fails to score from a couple of yards out.

Corner given, must have taken a deflection. Chelsea hammer it clear.

20:49 , Matt Verri

45+1 mins: Huge chance for Chelsea!

Tomori gives it away, Mount plays Sterling through and he’s in on goal. Can’t quite get away from the Milan defenders, he’s crowded out as he gets the shot away. Milan survive.

20:48 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Four minutes added on at the end of the half, largely due to that injury to Fofana.

Dest looks to skip away from Chilwell out wide, not happening. Englishman saw that coming a mile off.

20:45 , Matt Verri

43 mins: Bennacer with yet another foul, dragging down Sterling this time as the Englishman skipped away from him. Yellow card out again, another easy decision for the referee.

Milan cannot cope with the pace of the Chelsea players.

20:43 , Matt Verri

41 mins: Chelsea starting to run Milan ragged down the right, Sterling and James getting all sorts of space with Leao not really tracking back.

Ball clipped into the box by James, headed away by Tomori who is furious with his team-mates.

20:41 , Matt Verri

39 mins: There is Giroud getting involved and being swiftly left in a heap on the floor.

Kovacic slides in, straight into Giroud who was standing there waiting for the ball to get to him. Yellow card for the Chelsea midfielder.

20:40 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Fofana down again and that will be the end of his night. Chalobah on to replace him.

Really disappointing for the Frenchman, after what was the perfect start to the night for him. Hopefully nothing too serious.

20:38 , Matt Verri

35 mins: Fofana down receiving treatment, looks like a problem with his knee. Looks like he’ll be fine to continue, or at least he’ll try to do so.

Milan have not got anything going in attack, with ten minutes of the half remaining. Giroud has barely got near the ball, let alone touch it.

20:35 , Matt Verri

33 mins: Brilliant move, wonderful finish... all for nothing!

Silva launches a ball down the pitch, falls for Sterling. Played inside to Aubameyang, cushions it over the top to Mount and he lobs the goalkeeper brilliantly from a tight angle.

Offside flag swiftly up though.

20:32 , Matt Verri

30 mins: Almost 2-0!

Sterling and James combine on the right, the wing-back pulls it perfectly into the path of Mount who is running onto it. Hammered at goal, straight into a Milan defender. That looked destined for the far corner.

20:31 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Chelsea well on top now, Milan not able to get their front players involved. More and more sloppy passes from the visitors.

Tonali has to be alert to halt a Blues counter as the hosts came flooding forward.

20:28 , Matt Verri

26 mins: For all Milan have looked good on the ball, they have been woeful at defending set-pieces. Bennacer marking Silva has not worked.

No shots for the Serie A side yet - that has to change now.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 AC Milan | Wesley Fofana 24'

20:26 , Matt Verri

CHELSEA TAKE THE LEAD!

Just a shambles from Milan. Three set-pieces in a row that Silva has a free header, this time it’s parried straight out into the six-yard box.

Bit of a chaotic scramble, falls for Fofana and he passes it into the corner from close range.

20:24 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Bennacer decides to liven the Stamford Bridge crowd up by dribbling around in his own box and then sending a looping pass to Sterling. Not sure what he was doing there. Chelsea then win a free-kick by the corner flag for handball.

Mount again whips it in, Silva wins the header and it’s tipped over the bar!

20:22 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Silva with a crunching challenge on Leao, has no interest in letting the winger run at him.

At the other end of the pitch, Tonali plays a terrible backpass straight out for a corner. Mount finds Fofana, shoulders it over the bar.

20:20 , Matt Verri

18 mins: Scrappy start at Stamford Bridge. Lots of fouls stopping the game from having much flow, though Milan look the more comfortable in possession.

Kalulu and Tomori both pushing out of defence for the visitors, and they keep switching sides too.

20:17 , Matt Verri

15 mins: That’s not a great challenge from Ballo-Toure, to put it mildly.

Slightly heavy touch from James, Milan full-back goes lunging in and catches the Chelsea man high. Yellow card and he can’t have any complaints about that.

Two bookings for Milan already.

20:15 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Koulibaly nutmegged and he loses his balance, been a bit of a ragged start from the centre-back.

All of Milan’s best moments coming in wide areas, no sign of Giroud being involved yet. Dest tries to change that, firing a cross in but it’s cleared.

20:13 , Matt Verri

11 mins: Leao skips past Fofana this time, looks to get the shot away but then loses his balance. Fofana got lucky there, came from the wrong side and wasn’t going to stop the winger had the shot come in.

Chelsea seeing more of the ball now, but Milan look sharp when they break.

20:10 , Matt Verri

8 mins: Chelsea would be wise to stop letting Leao turn and run at them. He’s already breezed past James and Sterling like they weren’t there.

At the other end of the pitch, we have the first yellow card of the match. Krunic brings down Loftus-Cheek, his defence is it was his first foul. Unfortunately for him that foul was a late lunge with the ball five yards away.

20:07 , Matt Verri

5 mins: Chelsea’s first attack and they almost score from it!

Kovacic plays the ball through and Aubameyang has all sorts of space to lay it off to Mount. Low, curling effort. Turned behind for a corner.

It’s Mount to take, Giroud up well at the near post to clear.

20:06 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Safe to say Koulibaly is up for this. He flies up from defence again, it’s a late challenge once more though. Can’t afford too many more of those before a card is shown.

Once again Tonali unable to find a Milan head in the box.

20:04 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Koulibaly with a foul in the opening seconds, gives Tonali an early chance to whip a free-kick into the box.

Chelsea clear it away, before Mount then brings down Krunic. Blues not giving Milan a second on the ball.

KICK-OFF!

20:02 , Matt Verri

Up and running at Stamford Bridge - should be a good one!

Here we go!

19:58 , Matt Verri

Players out, Champions League anthem done. Mascots look absolutely freezing, they’re delighted to get off the pitch.

Ready for kick-off in west London.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:55 , Matt Verri

Chelsea’s match against AC Milan is even more important for Graham Potter after RB Salzburg claimed three points over Dinamo Zagreb. Salzburg are now top with five points, Milan behind with four and Chelsea are still bottom with one point.

In reality, Zagreb were always very unlikely to qualify out of this group despite beating Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on matchday one.

Big night for Chelsea

19:53 , Matt Verri

Two matches, six days. Chelsea and AC Milan will become very familiar with each other over the next week.

We’ll know a lot more about who will be progressing from Group E after these games - Chelsea you feel really need to pick up a win tonight ahead of the trip to Italy.

No pressure...

Chance for the centre-back to impress...

19:48 , Matt Verri

Potter’s pre-match thoughts

19:45 , Matt Verri

“Important game, we know that. We want to play well, be aggressive and get the crowd involved.

“We need a stable side, one that allows the boys to go out and express themselves. The boys are in a good place, we’re looking forward to it.

“We have to focus on ourselves and what we can control. It feels like we’ve taken a step forward in our previous match.”

Elsewhere in Group E

19:37 , Matt Verri

RB Salzburg have gone top of the group with victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the early kick-off.

That leaves them with five points from their first three matches, with Zagreb on three points. Chelsea could move to within just one point of top spot in Group E with victory tonight.

Very strong attire from Milan...

19:31 , Matt Verri

Giroud tells Milan team-mates what to expect

19:23 , Matt Verri

Olivier Giroud is looking forward to his Chelsea reunion as he prepares to face his former side in the Champions League.

The Frenchman spent three years in west London, following his move from Arsenal, before leaving the club last summer to join AC Milan. He scored 11 league goals in his first season at the club, helping them to the Serie A title.

He now returns to England with Milan to face the Blues, with back-to-back fixtures between the two sides set to place a decisive role in what is an incredibly tight Group E.

“Yes of course,” Giroud responded when asked if he had told his team-mates what to expect at Stamford Bridge.

Read the full story

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

19:16 , Matt Verri

Insight from Fofana...

19:08 , Matt Verri

Chelsea’s matchday programme has an interesting interview with Wesley Fofana where he reveals that his sister failed a trial at Chelsea a few years before he joined the club in a £70million deal from Leicester City.

He also added: “It’s crazy for me. Every day I say, ‘thank you, thank you for my life’ because it’s crazy that I play with Koulibaly and Thiago Silva.

“I used to play FIFA with Koulibaly and Thiago Silva and now I’m training with Thiago Silva just to my right, and I learn every day from them both. It’s crazy, but life is incredible.”

Kepa gets the nod

19:00 , Matt Verri

Back three for Chelsea, with Koulibaly getting his chance alongside Fofana and Silva. Big news is that Kepa keeps his place in goal despite Mendy’s return to the squad.

Chilwell preferred to Cucurella at wing-back, with Aubameyang and Sterling the main threats up front as expected.

For AC Milan, still a strong side despite their injury problems. Giroud and Tomori start on their returns to Stamford Bridge.

AC Milan team news

18:57 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Tatarusanu, Dest, Kalulu, Tomori, Ballo-Toure, Bennacer, Tonali, Krunic, De Ketelaere, Leao, Giroud

Subs: Mirante, Jungdal, Diaz, Rebic, Origi, Pobega, Gabbia, Gala, Coubis

Chelsea team news

18:50 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Kepa, Fofana, Silva, Koulibaly, James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Chilwell, Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling

Subs: Bettinelli, Mendy; Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Cucurella; Zakaria, Jorginho, Gallagher; Ziyech, Broja, Pulisic, Havertz

Blues in the building!

18:45 , Matt Verri

Where it will be won and lost

18:40 , Matt Verri

Potter has played two different systems in his first two matches as Chelsea boss. Last night, Milan coach Stefano Pioli admitted he is playing a guessing game as to how the Blues will set up, but that he is helped by having watched Potter’s Brighton teams in the past.

Chelsea could play a back-four or five — or possibly even a combination of both. Potter’s formation will dictate which team is picked and how many forwards get on the pitch.

Read Nizaar Kinsella’s full preview here

Strange situation for Bakayoko

18:36 , Matt Verri

Tiemoue Bakayoko is still on loan at AC Milan from Chelsea, for the second and final year of the deal.

He is yet to play for the Italian side this season - there’s a pretty good reason for that.

Inside the away dressing room

18:29 , Matt Verri

Gloves are off in goalkeeper battle!

18:21 , Matt Verri

For the first time since Edouard Mendy joined Chelsea in 2020, there is a genuine battle for the No1 shirt — and it is happening amid the backdrop of their stuttering Champions League campaign.

Kepa Arrizabalaga could well start ahead of fit-again Mendy tonight, when Chelsea know that a defeat against Milan will almost certainly see them knocked out.

The Spaniard has forced his way back into the reckoning since being dropped after his save percentage fell to a League-worst 54.5 per cent at the end of the 2019-20 season.

The helter-skelter nature of Chelsea’s defending back then — under the management of Frank Lampard — drove down his performances, with clubs targeting him at set-pieces after seeing him fail to claim a single corner over the season.

Read the full story

Not a bad evening for it...

18:13 , Matt Verri

Prediction

18:07 , Matt Verri

Chelsea are still finding their feet under Graham Potter, while Milan’s injury struggles have contributed to an inconsistent start to their season.

This is the first of a double-header between the two group favourites, and either side will have to be at their best to win, which currently neither are.

A 1-1 draw

AC Milan team news

17:59 , Matt Verri

AC Milan are struggling with what Italian media are describing as an “injury crisis” and may have to turn to youngsters to make up a full squad.

Mike Maignan, Junior Messias, Theo Hernandez, Divock Origi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Florenzi have already been ruled out, and Davide Calabria, Simon Kjaer and Alexis Saelemaekers could join them on the sidelines. Former Blues forward Olivier Giroud should feature.

Chelsea team news

17:49 , Matt Verri

Chelsea have been handed a boost with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and midfielder N’Golo Kante back in training after recovering from injury.

Mendy has not played in the past month due to a knee injury but could feature in Wednesday’s Champions League Group E game at home to AC Milan while Kante, who has been sidelined since August with a thigh problem, is nearing a return to action.

Manager Graham Potter said he was happy to have Mendy back and competing with Kepa Arrizabalaga for a spot in goal due to their gruelling schedule, with Chelsea set to play 12 games before the mid-season break for the World Cup next month.

Chelsea predicted XI vs AC Milan (3-4-3): Kepa; Fofana, Silva, Cucurella; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling

How to watch Chelsea vs AC Milan

17:41 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The match will be televised on BT Sport 2 and Ultimate, with coverage starting at 7pm.

Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the BT Sport website or app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action via Standard Sport’s live blog, with Nizaar Kinsella providing expert analysis from Stamford Bridge.

Good evening!

17:30 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs AC Milan!

It’s a huge night in the Champions League, with Graham Potter’s side desperately in need of some points but they’re up against their toughest group-stage opponent.

We’ll have all the latest build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from Stamford Bridge. Stay tuned!