Chelsea vs Newcastle Match Analysis

Chelsea Starting XI: Cech (c); Ivan, Cahill, D Luiz, Cole; Mik, Meir; Mata, Hazard, Bert; Torres.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

First Half:

Commentator “thing about Chelsea is they only put one person in the box when Lampd's not playing”

Good play between Bertrand and Mata

Bertrand trying the early ball but Torres outnumbered

Chelsea is dominating possession

Newcastle dangerous in the counter attack but haven't had the chance

10 Min

Cahill-Luiz pair looks solid so far

Hazard has been working his usual magic centrally, Mata alright on the wing

18 min: Torres with lay-off to Bertrand nearly a goal

20 min

Player tracking

21 min: Torres wins a PK

22 min: GOAL Hazard; scores

CFC 1-0 Newcastle

Hazard's first goal for Chelsea

Commentator says Hazard is the first player who isn't Drogba or Lampard to score a PK (outside of a shout-out) since Ballack in 2008

30 min

Torres not showing the drive to beat the last defender; Seems more content to lay it off

38 min: Chelsea with 60% possession so far; 88% passing to Newcastle's 83%

40 min

4 added minutes

45+3 min: GOAL Torres from out of box to the top right; Hazard assist

CFC 2-0 Newcastle

HALF TIME:

• Hazard is best man on the pitch again with 96% passing, 1 shot, 1 assist
• Torres counters his yellow with an extra time goal
• Hazard-Torres our best 10-9 partnership at the moment
• Chelsea beginning to form a trend of good passing, less pressure on the defense
• Mikel with 100% on aerials won, 100% pass accuracy which means what is sometimes a weak DM area is somewhat secure
• Interesting point floating around Twitter: Torres fouled, Hazard scores PK then Hazard assists and Torres scores

Second Half:

Chelsea are winning the midfield battle; more passing, more aerials won

50 min

52 min: Ben Arfa gets his first shot off but not even on target; one of only 3 shots Newcastle has had

Complacency beginning to show as per usual; possession is more equal

60 min

Cheeky attempted pass by Torres as his confidence is looking to return

67 min: Ramires IN Mata OUT

70 min

Much calmer second half

80 min: Bertrand having a go from outside and winning a corner

88 min: Lampard ON Meireles OFF

89 min: Luiz head collides with Ba

90 min

4 min added when play continues

Game is being closed out. No ambition left for Newcastle

FULL TIME: CFC 2-0 Newcastle

Positives

• Hazard looks the best behind Torres in this formation
• Solid Mikel performance meant top of the box wasn't as vulnberable
• Luiz-Cahill pairing was also pretty solid; Cahill particularly put in a very good performance
• Clean sheet against a team that generally scores on a lot of teams

Negatives

• No real shining negatives this match

MOTM: Fernando Torres

• Stats:
  • 67% Pass Accuracy
  • 70% Aerials Won
  • 45 Touches
  • 1 shot (1 goal)
  • 2 Dribbles Won
• Hazard could just as easily gotten this too (Barclay's MOTM). Maybe he actually should be. No actually Hazard should be but I wanted to give some credit to Torres. In my opinion, this could be marked as the start of the Torres revival. He still needs to try and beat the last defender more than he does but his assertiveness led to a penalty and a goal. Great movement.
  
  
  

Hazard Watch (Actual MOTM)

• Barclay's MOTM
• Stats (this match)
  • 89% Pass Accuracy
  • 67 touches
  • 4 shots (1 goal)
  • 2 Dribbles Won
• Stats (season)
  • 3 Apps
  • 1 Goal
  • 4 Assists