Eden Hazard rescues Chelsea after Roma roar back at Stamford Bridge

Eden Hazard scored twice as Chelsea battled to a 3-3 draw with Roma to stay top of Champions League Group C.

Hazard’s first goal of the season followed David Luiz’s opener but Aleksandar Kolarov halved the deficit before fellow former Manchester City player Edin Dzeko scored twice.

But Hazard headed in to prevent Antonio Conte’s side slipping to a third straight loss for the first time under the Italian’s stewardship.

Full-time: Chelsea 3-3 Roma.

What a game. #CHEROM pic.twitter.com/9QzQ5AnbDM

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 18, 2017

Tweet of the match

Dzeko… that is an unreal volley, watched all the way over the shoulder on to the left peg and straight in the onion bag ????????????????????????

— Charlie Austin (@chazaustin10) October 18, 2017

Star man – Edin Dzeko

Chelsea looked on course for a comfortable victory when Eden Hazard made it 2-0 but Roma – spearheaded by Bosnia and Herzegovina international Dzeko – battled back to take a precious point back to the Italian capital. The striker smashed in a superb second Giallorossi goal before grabbing another with a predatory header from Aleksander Kolarov’s whipped free-kick.

Moment of the match

He may not have scored against Chelsea before, but he has now. Fazio's Fabregas-like pass and Dzeko with a stunning volley

— Matt McGeehan (@mattmcgeehan) October 18, 2017

David Luiz opened the scoring with a sumptuous strike from distance but his goal was eclipsed in the second half by Dzeko. The former Manchester City man peeled off Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen before connecting perfectly with Federico Fazio’s chipped pass to crash a volley into the roof of Thibaut Courtois’ net and level the contest at 2-2.

Data point

3 – This is the first time that a team managed by Antonio Conte has conceded three goals in a Champions League game. Shellshocked. pic.twitter.com/81rh5ygISc

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2017

Ratings

Chelsea: Thibaut Courtois 7, Cesar Azpilicueta 5, Andreas Christensen 5, Gary Cahill 6, Davide Zappacosta 6, Cesc Fabregas 6, David Luiz 7, Tiemoue Bakayoko 6, Marcos Alonso 6, Eden Hazard 8, Alvaro Morata 6. Substitutes: Pedro (for Luiz, 57) 6, Antonio Rudiger (for Zappacosta, 77) 5, Willian (on for Hazard, 80) 5.

Roma: Alisson 6, Bruno Peres 5, Federico Fazio 7, Juan Jesus 5, Aleksandar Kolarov 7, Radja Nainggolan 7, Maxime Gonalons 6, Kevin Strootman 6, Gerson 5, Diego Perotti 6, Edin Dzeko 8. Substitutes: Lorenzo Pellegrini (for Gerson, 74) 6, Alessandro Florenzi (for Strootman, 83) 6, Stephan El Shaarawy (for Perotti, 88) 5.

Who’s up next?

Chelsea v Watford (Premier League, October 21)

Torino v Roma (Serie A, October 22)

Source: By PA Sport Staff

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