Chelsea rounded off their Champions League group-stage campaign with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge this evening.
The Blues, who had already secured top spot in Group G prior to this game, were ahead after just eight minutes when Cesc Fabregas converted from the penalty spot following a challenge on Filipe Luis inside the area.
Andre Schurrle added a second shortly after, although Jonathan Silva's strike shortly after the half-time interval gave the Lions real hope of claiming something from the contest.
It was not to be in the end, though, with John Obi Mikel bagging a rare goal to secure the points and end Sporting's adventure in this competition at the same time.
You can relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the action below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League encounter between Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues may have already secured top spot in Group G, but they will be looking to return to winning ways this evening following a surprise first defeat of the campaign last time out. It is still all to play for as far as Sporting are concerned, meanwhile, with a point needed to guarantee their passage through to the knockout stages of the competition.
Kickoff at Stamford Bridge is less than an hour away, so let's begin by taking a look at how these two teams line up...
TEAM NEWS!
CHELSEA STARTING LINEUP: Cech, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Luis, Mikel, Matic, Schurrle, Fabregas, Salah, Costa
SPORTING LISBON STARTING XI: Patricio, Mauricio, Oliveira, Silva, Esgaio, Carvalho, Mario, Silva, Slimani, Capel, Carrillo
So Jose Mourinho has stuck to his word and freshened up his squad by introducing six new faces to the starting lineup this evening. The trio of John Terry, Willian and Eden Hazard have all been rested with the Blues' passage to the next round already secure, although this is still a strong Chelsea outfit.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill, John Obi Mikel, Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa all retain their places in the starting lineup from that 2-1 defeat at St James' Park on the weekend, while Petr Cech returns between the sticks for his third appearance in the Champions League this season. Fillipe Luis slots in at full-back in what is his 100th appearance in European competition, and Kurt Zouma has been given a chance to impress in the heart of defence.
Somewhat surprisingly, Costa, who has had his fair share of injury problems this term, is handed a start up top. Nemanja Matic was suspended last weekend so tonight's game will give him a chance to put some minutes under his belt, while alongside him Fabregas also starts in the knowledge that he will miss the weekend visit of Hull City through a suspension of his own.
In terms of the visitors, Cedric will sit this one out through suspension in one of four changes to the Sporting starting lineup. The big news is that on-loan Manchester United winger Nani misses out, and there is a further blow as Jefferson is also not fit enough for a place among the matchday squad.
Ricardo Esgaio and Jonathan Silva come into the side in place of Cedric and Jefferson, and Andre Carrillo has been given the task of filling in for Nani on the wing. The final player to be recalled to the Lions starting lineup is Diego Capel, who will be fielded on the opposite flank to Carrillo. There is some positive news elsewhere as Slimani is named among the starting XI, looking to build on six goals from his last eight starts.
BENCH WATCH!
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Beeney, Ivanovic, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Remy, Drogba
SPORTING LISBON SUBSTITUTES: Marcelo, Sarr, Geraldes, Martins, Rosell, Montero, Mane
Many expected 18-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek to start for the hosts this evening, although he has to make do with a place among the substitutes. There is plenty of experience among the backups in another sign that Jose Mourinho wants to win this game in order to rebuild some momentum, with Didier Drogba and Loic Remy providing the attacking threat from the bench.
The omen's are not good for Sporting coming into this one...
Well it's fair to say that this has been a near-perfect season for Chelsea thus far, sitting top of the Premier League table, top of their Champions League group, as well as having a League Cup quarter-final to look forward to. That defeat against Newcastle may have ended their unbeaten run of 23 games, but it will take more than that to kill off the Blues' momentum completely.
The key word there being "momentum", because that explains why Mourinho has named a fairly strong side for this one despite it being a dead-rubber from Chelsea's perspective. Regardless of results this evening, they will top Group G and therefore take on one of the second-placed sides in the Round of 16. A defeat tonight, though, and things will not look quite as rosy; victory, on the other hand, and the loss to Newcastle will be out of memory already with Hull City to come in a few days' time.
Chelsea don't boast a perfect record in the Champions League this term, despite their dominance of the standings heading into the final set of fixtures, sitting four points clear of second-placed Sporting and six clear of Schalke in third. Maribor currently prop up the group with three points from their five games, although one of those points did come against Mourinho's men don't forget.
The Premier League leaders also slipped up on the opening matchday against Shalke, but that aside it has been plain sailing. Six goals scored in the home meeting with Maribor, and five scored last time out at Schalke in the return meeting, highlights the attacking prowess that this side boasts. Tonight provides Chelsea with a chance to see out the group in a similarly convincing manner, in order to send another message out to fellow European heavyweights.
It should be remembered - and Mourinho has made a case of reminding reporters this at every given opportunity - that Chelsea face a run of six games in the next 18 days starting with this European clash tonight. Despite this, the chance to completely rotate his squad was clearly not an option for the Portuguese gaffer, with a quick return to winning ways clearly the key.
Switching attention to tonight's visitors now, and it is fair to say that Sporting have hardly set the Primeira Liga alight this season, sitting eight points adrift of leaders Benfica in fourth place. Their biggest downfall has been drawing games, picking up a solitary point on no fewer than five occasions in their 12 outings this campaign.
That said, the Lions head to Stamford Bridge on the back of a positive run of form, winning all of their last four games. In fact, Sporting have gone six games unbeaten in all competitions in a run of fixtures which includes their 3-1 triumph over Maribor last time out in this competition, which kept their European feat very much in their own hands.
While Chelsea have little to play for on the results front, Sporting's European fate is still up in the air heading into the final round of group-stage fixtures this evening...
I covered Sporting's meeting with Maribor a couple of weeks back in a match best remembered for an hour-long delay due to floodlight failure. On the pitch it was a fairly straightforward victory for the Portuguese outfit, bar a 10 minute spell when they were overrun, but they can surely expect a different type of contest at the Bridge tonight.
Just to go over the permutations in full - Chelsea will finish top regardless, while Sporting will join them in the final 16 should they pick up a point tonight. The outcome of the match at Stamford Bridge will matter little if Schalke fail to beat Maribor elsewhere, though, with the German club needing all three points at a minimum to advance.
DID YOU KNOW? Chelsea - who have topped their Champions League group for the ninth time in 12 seasons - have scored 21 goals in 22 games this season, with their only blank coming against Sunderland last month. That doesn't make good reading for Sporting, who need a point this evening if they are to not rely on results elsewhere.
HEAD-TO-HEAD! These sides have met on one occasion previously; Chelsea running out 1-0 winners earlier this season in Portugal courtesy of Matic's strike. Furthermore, the Blues have won their previous seven meetings with Portuguese opposition, each by a single-goal margin.
Kickoff in West London is now a little over five minutes away, meaning that there is still time to check out Jose Mourinho's pre-match comments coming into this one:
"We don't need a reaction [to Newcastle defeat]. We don't need to change things, our philosophy. [John] Terry, Willian and [Eden] Hazard are on holiday. I would like to give the whole squad tonight off because they are always playing. This game gives me the chance to rest at least three players."
PREDICTION: There is no denying that all the pressure this evening is on Sporting, who are looking to gain the point needed to take them through to the knockout stages. The fact that Chelsea have already secured top spot hasn't stopped Mourinho naming what is a strong starting lineup, despite the six changes from last time out, and I believe that their experience will see them through at Stamford Bridge tonight. 3-1.
Incidentally, Sporting have included six academy players among their starting lineup tonight, with key player Nani missing out. They have made four changes in all due to injuries and suspension. In terms of Chelsea, it appears as though Mikel will sit alongside Matic deep in midfield, while Fabregas will push higher up the pitch behind Costa in a central position.
KICK OFF! The visitors get proceedings underway in the English capital, sporting their all-yellow strip and backed by a vocal following of 3,000 supporters.
Chelsea are using these early stages to knock the ball around in defence, just weighing up their opponents before springing any sort of attack.
As expected, Matic and Mikel are alongside each other in defensive midfield to offer the back four some real protection. Fabregas is further advanced with Salah and Schurrle either side.
Chelsea have pushed into more advanced positions in the last couple of minutes, and Mikel managed to pick out the run of Salah with a ball over the top on the left. The wideman opted to have a strike on goal, but it would have needed something special to get the better of Patricio from there.
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 SPORTING LISBON (FABREGAS)
Ricardo Esgaio, one of Sporting's numerous academy graduates out on the field this evening, needlessly gives away a penalty by bundling over Luis inside the box. The Chelsea man was posing no danger a yard or so inside the area, but he was brought down which allowed Fabregas to tuck away the penalty right down the middle.
That's a disastrous start for Sporting, who really could have done with keeping this game tight until half time. Now Chelsea can sit back should they wish and invite their opponents onto them, which will no doubt open up gaps at the back.
Capel is given plenty of space on the left and lofts in a ball for Carrillo, who heads into the hands of Cech. It wasn't the greatest of openings, but a reminder that Chelsea are not going to walk over their opponents tonight; they must stay compact.
Moments before that Chelsea's two wingers almost combined as Salah looked to pick out Schurrle, narrowly missing his teammate with his cross into the box. A quick note on Mikel - the holding midfielder is looking far more attack minded tonight, hitting a few balls over the top in the opening 15 minutes rather than simple, sidewards passes.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 SPORTING LISBON (SCHURRLE)
Just as the visitors were looking to peg Chelsea back a little, Mourinho's men grab a second to put themselves well and truly command with less than a quarter of the game gone. This goal was all about Schurrle, who turned on the edge of the box and fired a shot beyond Patricio into the bottom corner of the net. Fine individual strike.
Patricio did actually manage to get a hand to the shot so he will feel as though he could have done better on that occasion, but let's not take anything away from Schurrle who is looking to send a message out tonight. This one is heading in a strangely familiar fashion to Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Galatasaray last time.
CLOSE! It's not all bad news for Sporting, who are still looking to get some men forward here, as with Schalke drawing against Maribor it is still the Portuguese outfit that will progress this evening. They are certainly not out of this one, mind, with Carrillo's chipped ball well cleared away by Zouma, before Slimani headed an effort wide in the next phase of play.
SAVE! Chelsea look as though they are going to score with each attack this evening. Azpilicueta was the creator down the right, picking out Schurrle inside the box with the German international's strike forcing Patricio into making a fine save down low.
They may be two goals behind, but Sporting have not looked all that bad in an attacking sense. Carrillo in particular has asked question of Chelsea's defence, both down the right and left, although so far they have been unable to truly test Cech. A goal from the visitors will change everything as far as this one is concerned.
Schurrle tries his luck from range as Chelsea once more break forward. The German had players on either side of him, though, and taking on the strike which deflected wide was the wrong choice in the end.
CHANCE! Matic, whose strike won the reverse fixture back in September, perhaps should have made it 3-0 at Stamford Bridge tonight. A loose ball fell nicely to him inside the area, but the Serbian could not find the target with his side-foot attempt.
Salah has been involved a fair bit in the last few moments on the left, but each time he couldn't quite pick out a teammate with his pass. Meanwhile, Costa has looked off the pace somewhat in the opening 30 minutes, which goes some way to explaining his inclusion tonight.
Sporting are knocking the ball around brilliantly in midfield, it must be said, with Slimani and star man so far Carrillo linking up to capitalise on Matic's sloppy pass. Jonathan Silva opted to shoot from long range at the end of the attack, which once more failed to test Cech.
A cross into the box is not dealt with at the back by Chelsea which leads to a right scramble six yards from goal. The Blues manage to clear away in the end thanks to the work of Cech, however, relieving the pressure for the time being. Much better from the Lions, who don't really deserve to find themselves two goals behind.
Costa has now come to life, using his strength to brush aside defenders and work his way towards goal, but in the end he failed to get a shot away having been challenged. Moments before that he did aim for goal, only for his shot at the end of Schurrle's pass to be blocked away by Oliveira.
Carrillo yet again proves a real threat with his direct running, this time down the right, and he swings in a dangerous ball in the direction of Slimani which is just about cleared away by the hosts.
A fine attacking move by Chelsea at the end of the first half which sums them up perfectly. Matic won the ball in a deep position, played a simple ball into the path of Fabregas, who in turn threads one through for Salah. The winger's cross was heading right for Costa's head if not for the intervention of Mauricio who was on hand to head behind.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 SPORTING LISBON
Referee Svein Addvar Maen brings what has been a fairly entertaining first half to a close at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea hold a two-goal lead at the interval, although in truth it has been a tighter contest than the scoreline suggests.
They biggest difference has been Chelsea's ability to care out real chances, highlighted by Schurrle's strike from the edge of the box and Matic's effort which really should have found the target. Sporting have threatened their opponents in advanced positions, particularly through Carrillo who has looked very lively throughout, although Cech has not had a great deal to do thus far.
Fabregas opened up the scoring from the spot after Esgaio needlessly brought down Luis a yard or so inside the area, and from that point on Chelsea have looked to mount numerous attacks. You get the feeling that a third goal will be needed if they are to be truly in command of things, but right now there can be no complaints from Mourinho.
UPDATE: Incidentally, it is still goalless in Schalke's meeting with Maribor, meaning that Sporting will progress with Chelsea to the last 16 as things stand. That can all change in the blink of an eye, of course.
Schurrle can be happy with his first-half showing at Stamford Bridge, which was capped by that strike beyond Patricio on the 16-minute mark...
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! No changes made at half time, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek having to wait a little while longer to be introduced. This is always a strange scoreline, with - to use a cliche - the next goal vital to how the game will unfold.
Paulo Oliveira brought Fabregas down around 25 yards from goal, which allowed Schurrle to have a pop at goal from the resulting free kick. The German wasn't too far wide with his effort, either, missing the target by a few inches.
GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 SPORTING LISBON (SILVA)
I said a short while ago that the next goal could be vital to the way this contest pans out, and it has gone the way of the visitors. Unsurprisingly it was Carrillo who made the goal, tearing Luis to bits down the right before getting a cross into the box. The ball was only half-cleared, with Silva chesting the ball down, composing himself and firing beyond Cech.
SAVE! Very nearly an instant reply from Chelsea, with Salah's low shot being turned behind by Patricio. There's a lot of noise coming from the away end right now at Stamford Bridge.
Costa is drifting into wide zones now looking to get the better of Sporting's full-backs, but ideally Chelsea need him inside the box. The Blues have enjoyed a sustained spell of possession since conceding, looking as though they have a third goal in their system.
GOAL! CHELSEA 3-1 SPORTING LISBON (MIKEL)
Right on cue, Chelsea regain their two-goal lead to take control once more. It's a rare goal for Mikel, who has been impressive tonight in his deep-lying role, but he could hardly miss from a matter of inches out. Fabregas's cross was headed towards the back post by Cahill, and the Nigerian was on hand to tap home with Matic also standing by.
YELLOW CARD! William Carvalho is shown the game's first yellow card from bringing down Fabregas.
Costa looked to be in on goal having been played in on goal by Fabregas over the top, but he didn't fancy taking the shot on with Patricio closing the angle down, instead taking an extra touch and looking to perhaps pick out a better-placed teammate. In the end the move died down, however, although the touch to create that chance was trademark Costa.
DOUBLE SPORTING SUBSTITUTION: Carlos Mane and Montero have been introduced by the visitors, with Carvalho and Capel making way. It's a case of all-out attack for the visitors now, because Schalke have just edged ahead against Maribor. That means that for the first time tonight, the Lions are heading out of the competition as things stand.
SAVE! Slimani's towering header - having outjumped Luis - looks for all the world as though it is going to hit the back of the net, although Cech made a save right on his line to deny the in-form striker.
Slimani's free kick is fizzed in right across the face of goal, but there is no player in yellow to tap it home. Great cross, just a shame about the end product. The pressure is really on Marco Silva's men now following Schalke's goal against Maribor.
SPORTING SUB: The visitors roll the dice for the final time tonight, introducing Martins in place of Mario. Can he make the desired impact in the final 20 minutes or so?
CHELSEA SUB: Salah's night draws to a close as Loic Remy enters the fray. He offers Chelsea a different type of option now, and like the man he has replaced he will be keen to make an impact.
CHELSEA SUB: There has been no flow to this game whatsoever since the home side's third goal, which in large is down to the regular breaks for substitutions. Chelsea won't mind, of course, as Ramires comes on in place of Schurrle.
Sporting need two goals as things stand if they are to progress, but they have not done a great deal to alter the scoreline ever since that third Chelsea goal. It had been an entertaining contest up until that point, although chances have been limited since.
YELLOW CARD! Costa looks to lead a Chelsea counter-attack before blatantly being tugged back by Adrien Silva, which earns the Sporting man a caution.
Silva looks to have a shot on goal, but his effort from range was always rising and failed to trouble Cech. The Lions have run out of ideas, failing to create any chances other than the move which led to their opening goal.
A promising move for the visitors ends when substitute Montero lofts the ball into the welcoming hands of Cech. He could have shot, he could have played in a teammate, but in the end he did neither.
YELLOW CARD! Silva is the latest Sporting player to enter the referee's book, this time for a tackle from behind on Ramires.
CHELSEA SUB: As promised by Mourinho pre-match, 18-year-old Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been introduced for his Chelsea debut, entering the field in place of Fabregas with a little over six minutes to go.
Schalke are still holding onto their slender advantage away at Maribor, meaning that Sporting are heading for the exit. That is, of course, unless they can find two more goals in the next four minutes in West London.
CHANCE! Sporting have squandered a brilliant chance to give themselves a late lifeline. Carrillo, who has been quiet in the last 30 minutes or so, carved out the opening with some nice footwork inside the box and pulled it back for Silva to fire goalwards. Cahill was not willing to concede another goal, though, and dived in the way of the ball to block the shot.
YELLOW CARD! Azpilicueta is shown a yellow following his challenge on Silva. Just one minute to go at Stamford Bridge.
Cahill is again needed to block away a shot on the edge of the box, with Carrillo this time the man taking fire. He has been brilliant tonight.
YELLOW CARD! Loftus-Cheek shows great desire to win the ball in midfield and burst forward, before being clattered by Oliveira which leads to the visiting player being shown a yellow.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 3-1 SPORTING LISBON
Referee Svein Oddvar Moen blows his full-time whistle to bring the contest at Stamford Bridge to an end. It was an entertaining match at times, although Sporting were unable to fight back following Chelsea's third strike which wrapped up the victory in the end.
The bad news for Sporting is that this defeat, combined with Schalke's victory over Maribor, spells the end of their Champions League campaign. There's no such problem for Chelsea, however, whose passage through to the last 16 has long since been confirmed.
Thanks for joining me this evening for live text coverage of this Champions League clash. Be sure to stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match report, player ratings and analysis from West London.
