Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses fire Blues to victory in the ‘battle of the champions’
Antonio Conte’s side romp home to comfortable victory in a sad return to Stamford Bridge for Claudio Ranieri
IN Saturday lunch-time’s battle of the past two Premier League champions, it was Chelsea who ran out convincing winners, thanks to goals from Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses.
Costa got the Blues off to a flying start at Stamford Bridge, left completely unmarked from a seveth-minute corner to rifle home a left-foot shot.
Just after the half-hour mark, Hazard pounced on a defensive mix-up to round Kasper Schmeichel and fire the ball into the back of the net to double the lead.
With ten minutes left on the clock, Nathaniel Chalobah beautifully set up Moses with a backheel for the Nigerian to slot home a simple third.
STATS, FACTS, GOALS & LOLS
THERE was an old picture in the Chelsea programme of two former stars with wet hair. The caption read: “David Webb and Peter Osgood got spruced up at Vidal Sasoon’s salon ahead of the 1972 League Cup final after the Chelsea-supporting hairdresser promised every player and their wives a free hair-do if they reached Wembley.” It probably wouldn’t happen now as most Chelsea players could afford to buy their own salon.
CHELSEA’S players wore black armbands in tribute to Willian’s mother who died this week. Leicester’s player wore black armbands due to the death of the King of Thailand. Oscar has also flown home to Brazil due to a family illness.
CLAUDIO RANIERI applauded Leicester’s fans who sang his name. Fair play to Chelsea’s supporters who then responded by giving an ovation to their former manager.
N’GOLO KANTE, in contrast, was jeered by Leicester’s travelling support every time he touched the ball in the first half.
LEICESTER’S title win last season was thanks to some brilliant defending. But there was nothing brilliant about the way they dealt with Eden Hazard’s corner leaving Diego Costa unmarked to score. His seventh goal of the season came in the seventh minute and Leicester’s defending was just as bad for Hazard’s second.
LEICESTER should have been given a penalty at the start of the second half when Victor Moses fouled Jeffrey Schlupp.
DAVID LUIZ did his best to score the own goal of the season but his effort hit the post.
NATHANIEL CHALOBAH got a warm reception when he was introduced as a sub for his first Premier League appearance at Stamford Bridge. His brilliant backheel set up Moses for Chelsea’s third.
JAMIE VARDY did not have much service but his lack of form is still a worry. He has now gone eight game without a goal for club and country.
RIYAD MAHREZ and Islam Slimani both came on for Leicester but you can be sure they will both start in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday. A win will virtually guarantee them a place in the last 16.