Half-time: Sporting 0 Chelsea 1

Nemanja Matic’s superb looping header gave Chelsea a deserved lead in their second Champions League game of the season.

The former Benfica midfielder met a long, floated Cesc Fabregas cross at the back post and guided the ball into the far corner of the Sporting Lisbon net soon after the half-hour mark.

The lead was just reward for a dominant opening by the Blues, who could easily have been three goals ahead by that point.

Diego Costa, who started despite ongoing concerns about a hamstring injury, was denied an opener inside two minutes by a brilliant Rui Patricio block.

And the Sporting goalkeeper made a fine save to thwart Andre Schurrle, who also missed a glorious chance after being teed up by the excellent Eden Hazard.

Islam Slimani missed the home side’s beat chance, a downward header that was easily dealt with by Thibaut Courtois.

Filipe Luis started for the Blues, who left Willian and Cesar Azpilicueta on the bench.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa
Subs: Cech, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Mikel, Salah, Willian, Remy.

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