Leeds United 0-0 Chelsea
This may have been a Premier League stalemate but it was no bore draw.
In front of England manager Gareth Southgate, there was no shortage of action nor commitment in an entertaining encounter which left the home side largely satisfied in midtable and ever closer to their minimum target of survival.
Chelsea, while a little frustrated, remain in a decent position in fourth spot and unbeaten since a change of manager in January.
Highlights of the game
Leeds were without their captain Liam Cooper but did receive a boost with Pascal Struijk, who was thought to be injured himself, replacing him.
Elsewhere, Ezgjan Alioski came in for Helder Costa and Jack Harrison replaced Mateusz Klich.
There was also a 100th Leeds United appearance for Patrick Bamford, taking on his former side and trying to inflict a first defeat on Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel took charge.
Tuchel mixed up his team even more, ringing the changes with an attacking front pairing of Hatem Ziyech and Christian Pulisic supporting Kai Havertz.
Antonio Rudiger returned to the defence in place of Kurt Zouma, N’Golo Kante started in midfield and Ben Chilwell was given the nod over Marcus Alonso at left-back.
The German manager is certainly not worried about upsetting his players by admonishing them during games and has already shown his ruthless side when he substituted Callum Hudson-Odoi on and off during Chelsea’s draw with Southampton last month.
What he would have made of the relentless end-to-end opening is unknown but certainly a match-up like this would have benefited enormously from two sets of supporters of clubs who have an historical animosity.
Even Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted this week he misses fans.
Elland Road would have been a cacophony of sound no doubt during a blistering start in which both sides hit the woodwork inside the opening quarter of an hour of Premier League highlights.
First Luke Ayling smacked a clearance against team-mate Diego Llorente and the ball looped over goalkeeper Illan Meslier before hitting the bar and landing back in the custodian’s grateful arms.
Then, at the other end, Tyler Roberts and Bamford linked up before Roberts chipped a shot against the crossbar – replays later showed Edouard Mendy got his fingertips to produce a superb save.
The home side suffered a blow shortly after the half hour when Bamford went down after a challenge from Rudiger and, while he attempted to carry on, had to be replaced by club record signing Rodrigo.
The relentless nature of the contest continued and, although Chelsea controlled spells of possession as you would expect, Leeds harried and refused to let their opponents have time on the ball in dangerous areas.
With the weather producing sunshine then showers ad infinitum, it was hard to know what to expect next as both sides headed down the tunnel at half-time.
Into the second half and Chelsea retained the edge but the outcome remained in the balance.
Big money signing Kai Havertz had time and space in the box shortly after the break but his right-footed shot was tipped over before Pulisic fired at Meslier.
Yet it wasn’t one way and the impressive Mendy was alert to expertly keep out an effort from the Brazilian Raphinha.
No goals then but plenty of attacking intent and a result which both sides will look to build on as we enter the final third of the campaign.
Key statistics
Tuchel is unbeaten in all 12 of his games in charge of Chelsea in all competitions (won eight, drawn four), conceding just two goals. It is the joint-longest unbeaten start by a manager in the club’s history (Felipe Scolari also 12).
By conceding just two goals in their 10 Premier League games under Tuchel – no manager has conceded fewer in their first 10 games in charge in the competition’s history (level with José Mourinho in 2004-05).
Chelsea have drawn three of their 10 Premier League games 0-0, more than they did in 57 under previous manager Frank Lampard (2).
They have kept four consecutive Premier League clean sheets for the first time since December 2017.
Leeds have failed to score in the first half of any of their past six league fixtures.
What’s next?
Check out the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds as Leeds go to basement battlers Fulham on Friday night (Match 19). They then have two weeks before their next fixture – at home to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United on Easter Saturday.
This was Chelsea’s final league game for three weeks but they have a big week ahead.
Atletico Madrid come to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Wednesday with the Londoners holding a one-goal advantage from the last-16 first leg tie. They then entertain Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarter-finals next Sunday.
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