Antonio Rudiger was the unlikely hero for Chelsea as his brace salvaged a 2-2 draw against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
The big news that dominated the pre-match build-up was that Kepa Arrizabalaga had been dropped from the starting XI by Frank Lampard , with Willy Caballero making a rare league start.
Despite making five changes to his team, Lampard’s men started brightly and only Callum Hudson-Odoi will know how he failed to make contact with Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from the left early on.
Tammy Abraham, who was reportedly not 300 per cent match fit, was also guilty of some near misses in the first half.
Lampard was left incensed on the touchline after VAR decided against giving the Blues a penalty for a foul on Abraham by Caglar Soyuncu. Replays showed there was contact but it supposedly did not meet the “clear and obvious” criteria to overturn referee Lee Mason’s decision
Leicester were looking threatening on the break too and had arguably their best chance of the half when Ayoze Perez struck straight at the onrushing Caballero. Up the other end, Mason Mount saw his effort charged down by Jonny Evans as Chelsea finished strongly before the interval.
Just seconds after the restart, the visitors found the breakthrough. Mount’s corner found Rudiger at the far post and the German, making his 300 th Chelsea appearance, headed past Kasper Schmeichel.
The Foxes responded well to going behind, however, and leveled just seven minutes later. Harvey Barnes cut inside Reece James and with the aid of a deflection beat Caballero at the far post.
The home side began to dominate proceedings and took advantage of some shoddy defending from Chelsea to take the lead. Caballero was caught way off his line as Youri Tielemans crossed to the far post and Ben Chilwell finished smartly to make it 2-1.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued as the Blues looked to find a way back into the game, and it was Rudiger again who provided the answer, meeting Mount’s delivery with a looping header from 21 yards out which flew into the top corner.
Leicester wasted two golden chances to restore their advantage, with Evans missing the target with a free header and Barnes somehow dragging wide with only Caballero to beat.
Lampard sent on Willian and Mateo Kovacic in search of a winner, with Ross Barkley replacing Abraham late on – meaning Michy Batshuayi was left on the bench as Chelsea operated with a false nine.
But the chances dried up towards the final stages as the two top-four challengers settled for a point after a thrilling second half.
Relive all the goals and action at the King Power Stadium .
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Lampard on Caballero’s display
“I thought his performance was pretty good because he made some good saves, he was comfortable with his feet. “I was right behind the Barnes goal and it took a deflection and was pretty much in. There was much he could do for either goal. “
. “It probably doesn’t matter what I say, we were underdogs at start of the season. No one gave us a top four slot as a given and I understand why, that’s just where we’re at.
“It’s probably the same now, but we’ve shown .. . we were six points clear before this game, we’ve come to Leicester – where everyone’s raving about them and quite rightly because they’re a really good team – and we’ve got a well-fought draw, so we move on.
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Chelsea boss Frank Lampard gives his verdict to BT Sport:
“I thought it was an even game. I felt we were the better team in the first half. Maybe not in terms of chances, we gifted them opportunities, but in terms of our pressing and how we moved the ball at times.
We had some gilt-edged chances ourselves. In the second half we weren’t so fluid, they had clear chances on goal, so I thought it was pretty even. ”
Rudiger goals / performance
“We want to score more goals from set pieces, we work on them a lot and to get two through Toni was great particularly in games like this because you know you’re up against top quality opposition.
“Yeah he was, a lot of them were [good] , Christensen as well, he was struggling a fever but his first half performance was really good. I was pleased with him. “
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Willy Caballero speaks to BT Sport after being chosen ahead of Kepa today:
“I enjoyed it a lot. I am really Happy to help the team. I made a few saves but it is important that the team takes one point here, which is positive. ”
On waiting for opportunities
“It is hard as a goalkeeper when we don’t have the opportunity to play , we have to keep the faith, keep training well and when the opportunity arrives you have to be ready for it.
” This is a lesson for every goalkeeper in the world, we must be ready at any time. ”
90 – – (T) : : . (Z)
Antonio Rudiger speaks to BT Sport after his two-goal haul:
“At the end of the day, it’s a six-pointer so we could not lose. After we score, they were pushing, we were a bit sloppy and gave them chances. It was a difficult game. “
“I was going naturally by my side. The ball touched, yes, but it was not my intention. We have VAR for this, so it’s not my business. “
No celebration?
“I’m happy with the spirit we showed after going 2-1 down. There was still time to win the game and I wanted to push everyone, wake everyone up. ”
78 – (-) T : : (Z)
Very much as you were for both sides.
Leicester stay eight points clear of Chelsea in third, but the Blues are now seven clear of nearest challengers Manchester United.
As we saw in the previous gameweek, a point can prove to be very handy when your rivals are struggling.
(FULL TIME) 91305 – 016 – (T) : 40: . (Z
FULL TIME | Leicester 2-2 Chelsea
A thrilling second half comes to a close as Rudiger’s brace salvages a point for the Blues.
It really could have been 4- 4 or 5-5. A brilliant game of football.
(VAR)
– 15 – (T) : 40: . (Z)
(4 mins: Penalty ??) Barnes races down the left-hand side and tries to find Maddison in the box. It does appear to hit Rudiger’s hand but it looked accidental.
VAR agrees – no penalty.
– 016 – (T) : : 23. (Z)
mins: (There will be FIVE minutes of added time.
Enough time for a winner? After four second-half goals, it can’t be ruled out.
1184026267 – 15 – (T) : . (Z)
mins: Some concern here for Chelsea.
Hudson -Odoi looks in some pain after being caught by Chilwell. Chelsea have made all three substitutes, just to remind you.
(SUBS)
– – (T) : : 35. (Z)
mins: (Final change for Chelsea – and it’s a strange one.
Abraham makes way for Ross Barkley, which means Willian is now operating as a false nine with Mount on the left.
The camera cuts to Michy Batshuayi, who looks dismayed not to be coming on today.
(SUBS)
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mins: for Change for Leicester.
Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Vardy.
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mins: CHANCE! Barnes misses! Barnes misses)
Vardy races down the right and crosses for Barnes, who somehow drags his shot wide.
What a chance. Not sure how he isn’t celebrating with the home fans there.
2920779 – 19 – (T) : : ) (Z)
mins: SITTER! Evans had to score!
Oh dear, he won’t want to watch that one again.
It’s a super corner from Maddison and Evans escapes Christensen. He’s all alone, but somehow skews his header wide.
YELLOW CARD – – (T) : : (Z
mins: Perez takes a brilliant touch to cut inside Rudiger and Kovacic, with his first contribution to the game, brings him down with a sliding challenge.
Yellow card for the Croatian.
(SUBS)
– 15 – (T) : : 0 Z
(mins:) Pedro sadly hasn’t made much of an impact today and he’s been replaced by Willian .
Jorginho, who has been booked, is replaced by Mateo Kovacic. Positive changes from Lampard.
(GOAL!) – – (T) : : (Z)
Leicester 2-2 Chelsea | Antonio Rudiger 78 ‘
What a header! It’s a teasing free-kick from Mount and Rudiger leaps high to head into the top corner from 24 yards out.
He’s on a hat-trick! A crazy second half here.
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mins: Leicester have got their tails up and are looking to kill this game off as Tielemans strikes from yards and this time, Caballero makes a decent stop /.
(GOAL!) (-) – (T) : 72: (Z)
Leicester 2-1 Chelsea | Ben Chilwell 77 ‘
A defensive nightmare for Chelsea. Caballero makes a crazy decision to come off his line and it’s a low cross from Tielemans that finds Chilwell at the far post, who finishes very smartly for a left-back.
Not sure what the goalkeeper was doing there.
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76 mins: Maddison lunges in on James with no attempt made for the ball and picks up a yellow card.
James was happy about the challenge itself and has a word with his fellow Englishman.
Free-kick in a dangerous area now for Chelsea, but Mount makes a hash of the delivery.
YELLOW CARD 01575879 – – (T) : (Z)
71 mins: Jorginho goes into the book for a cynical foul on Maddison.
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Lampard on Caballero’s display
“I thought his performance was pretty good because he made some good saves, he was comfortable with his feet. “I was right behind the Barnes goal and it took a deflection and was pretty much in. There was much he could do for either goal. “
. “It probably doesn’t matter what I say, we were underdogs at start of the season. No one gave us a top four slot as a given and I understand why, that’s just where we’re at.
“It’s probably the same now, but we’ve shown .. . we were six points clear before this game, we’ve come to Leicester – where everyone’s raving about them and quite rightly because they’re a really good team – and we’ve got a well-fought draw, so we move on.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard gives his verdict to BT Sport:
“I thought it was an even game. I felt we were the better team in the first half. Maybe not in terms of chances, we gifted them opportunities, but in terms of our pressing and how we moved the ball at times.
We had some gilt-edged chances ourselves. In the second half we weren’t so fluid, they had clear chances on goal, so I thought it was pretty even. ”
Rudiger goals / performance
“We want to score more goals from set pieces, we work on them a lot and to get two through Toni was great particularly in games like this because you know you’re up against top quality opposition.
“Yeah he was, a lot of them were [good] , Christensen as well, he was struggling a fever but his first half performance was really good. I was pleased with him. “
Willy Caballero speaks to BT Sport after being chosen ahead of Kepa today:
“It is hard as a goalkeeper when we don’t have the opportunity to play , we have to keep the faith, keep training well and when the opportunity arrives you have to be ready for it.
” This is a lesson for every goalkeeper in the world, we must be ready at any time. ”
Antonio Rudiger speaks to BT Sport after his two-goal haul:
“At the end of the day, it’s a six-pointer so we could not lose. After we score, they were pushing, we were a bit sloppy and gave them chances. It was a difficult game. “
“I was going naturally by my side. The ball touched, yes, but it was not my intention. We have VAR for this, so it’s not my business. “
No celebration?
“I’m happy with the spirit we showed after going 2-1 down. There was still time to win the game and I wanted to push everyone, wake everyone up. ”
Very much as you were for both sides.
Leicester stay eight points clear of Chelsea in third, but the Blues are now seven clear of nearest challengers Manchester United.
As we saw in the previous gameweek, a point can prove to be very handy when your rivals are struggling.
(FULL TIME) 91305 – 016 – (T) : 40: . (Z
FULL TIME | Leicester 2-2 Chelsea
A thrilling second half comes to a close as Rudiger’s brace salvages a point for the Blues.
It really could have been 4- 4 or 5-5. A brilliant game of football.
(VAR)
(4 mins: Penalty ??) Barnes races down the left-hand side and tries to find Maddison in the box. It does appear to hit Rudiger’s hand but it looked accidental.
VAR agrees – no penalty.
mins: (There will be FIVE minutes of added time.
Enough time for a winner? After four second-half goals, it can’t be ruled out.
mins: Some concern here for Chelsea.
Hudson -Odoi looks in some pain after being caught by Chilwell. Chelsea have made all three substitutes, just to remind you.
(SUBS)
mins: (Final change for Chelsea – and it’s a strange one.
Abraham makes way for Ross Barkley, which means Willian is now operating as a false nine with Mount on the left.
The camera cuts to Michy Batshuayi, who looks dismayed not to be coming on today.
(SUBS)
mins: for Change for Leicester.
Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Vardy.
mins: CHANCE! Barnes misses! Barnes misses)
Vardy races down the right and crosses for Barnes, who somehow drags his shot wide.
What a chance. Not sure how he isn’t celebrating with the home fans there.
mins: SITTER! Evans had to score!
Oh dear, he won’t want to watch that one again.
It’s a super corner from Maddison and Evans escapes Christensen. He’s all alone, but somehow skews his header wide.
YELLOW CARD – – (T) : : (Z
mins: Perez takes a brilliant touch to cut inside Rudiger and Kovacic, with his first contribution to the game, brings him down with a sliding challenge.
Yellow card for the Croatian.
(SUBS)
– 15 – (T) : : 0 Z
(mins:) Pedro sadly hasn’t made much of an impact today and he’s been replaced by Willian .
Jorginho, who has been booked, is replaced by Mateo Kovacic. Positive changes from Lampard.
(GOAL!) – – (T) : :
What a header! It’s a teasing free-kick from Mount and Rudiger leaps high to head into the top corner from 24 yards out.
He’s on a hat-trick! A crazy second half here.
mins: Leicester have got their tails up and are looking to kill this game off as Tielemans strikes from yards and this time, Caballero makes a decent stop /.
(GOAL!) (-) – (T) : 72:
Leicester 2-1 Chelsea | Ben Chilwell 77 ‘
A defensive nightmare for Chelsea. Caballero makes a crazy decision to come off his line and it’s a low cross from Tielemans that finds Chilwell at the far post, who finishes very smartly for a left-back.
Not sure what the goalkeeper was doing there.
– – (T) : : (Z)
76 mins: Maddison lunges in on James with no attempt made for the ball and picks up a yellow card.
James was happy about the challenge itself and has a word with his fellow Englishman.
Free-kick in a dangerous area now for Chelsea, but Mount makes a hash of the delivery.
YELLOW CARD 01575879 – – (T) : (Z)
71 mins: Jorginho goes into the book for a cynical foul on Maddison.
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