Source: Daily_Mail
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE: Chelsea v Zilina and Braga v Arsenal - follow the action as it happens
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Champions League where Chelsea who have already qualified for the last 16 are looking for at least a draw at home to Zilina which will ensure they go through as group winners. Arsenal are also searching for at least a point away to Braga which will guarantee their progression into the next round. Both games kick-off at 7.45pm where you can email your thoughts on the action to me at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Champions LeagueBraga 2-0 Arsenal [LNB]Chelsea 2-1 Zilina[LNB]21.45: In summary, Chelsea's group is done and dusted as the Blues progress as group winners along with Marseille.[LNB]Arsenal lay second in their group three points behind Shakhtar and in front of Braga based on their head to head results.[LNB]Group is on a knife edge with all three sides in Shakhtar, Braga and Arsenal capable of progressing and all three sides still face the prospect of being eliminated.[LNB]I said tonight had potential and I don't think it has let us down. The good news is we do it all again tomorrow in the Champions League as Spurs host Werder Bremen and Manchester United face a tasty tie at Rangers.[LNB]Until then that is all from me, thank you for following.[LNB]21.41: That's before we get to that penalty. by the laws of the game there was contact on Vela but his theatrics in going down may have convinced the referee otherwise.[LNB]If Wenger was fuming after the Spurs game I would not like to see him now.[LNB]21.39: For Arsenal, that was a disaster. Not so much the result - a win against Belgrade at home will still see them qualify but the manner in which they have been beaten.[LNB]Another second half-collpase, injuries to Fabregas and Eboue and the fact that Shakhtar winning 3-0 in Belgrade means finishing top looks a very difficult task.[LNB]21.36: Job done for Chelsea, who go through as group winners no matter what happens at Marseille next week.[LNB]That's five wins from five now in the Champions League and the perfect springboard to go back into Premier League action this weekend.[LNB]21.34: Full-time: Chelsea 2-1 ZilinaFull-time: Braga 2-0 Arsenal[LNB] Despair: Arsenal players stand dejected after Matheus scores his and Braga's second[LNB]21.33: GOAL! BRAGA 2-0 Arsenal[LNB]Braga clear and break with Matheus running from the halfway-line.[LNB]As he reaches the box he seems to be outnumbered by three Arsenal players but he opens up an angle to goal and hits an unstoppable strike into the top corner. Again Fabianski helpless and that is the final action of the game.[LNB]21.33: Last chance for Arsenal they have a free-kick and everyone but Fabianski is forward for it.[LNB]21.32: Just time for a debut at Stamford Bridge as Jacob Mellis replaces McEachran who for me passed his test well tonight.[LNB]21.31: And four at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]21.30: Final minute in both games, 10 man Arsenal all out in attack and there is three minutes stoppage time there.[LNB] reach for the stars: Malouda completes Chelsea's comeback by pouncing to put them in front [LNB]21.27: GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 Zilina[LNB]The youngsters started the game, the veteran's finish it. Anelka's chipped ball in the box is nodded down by Drogba for Florent Malouda to slam home what is highly likely to be the winner.[LNB]21.25: And to make matters worse, Eboue was not faking it at all. He went off on a stretcher after what was on second looks a nasty tackle from behind on him.[LNB]No replacements- Arsenal have used all their subs.[LNB] Point to make: Matheus fires Braga into a late lead[LNB]21.22: GOAL! BRAGA 1-0 Arsenal[LNB]That is quite astonishing. Moments after Arsenal should have a penalty Braga hit a majestic long ball down the centre that Matheus from the halfway-line runs on to and finishes superbly past a helpless Fabianksi.[LNB]21.20: Ten minutes for Arsenal or Chelsea to find a winner.[LNB]What's going on in Portugal? People are getting hacked out left, right and centre.[LNB]First Jack Wilshere goes down in agony (before making a miraculous recovery) and now Eboue is slamming the floor in apparent agony.[LNB]21.18: Oh the irony. Vela is brought down in the box but after making a bit of a meal of it is booked for diving.[LNB]Would have been a slightly soft penalty but on the first couple of looks there does seem to be contact.[LNB]21.17: That's brilliant from Kieran Gibbs. he must be three men out on the left before cutting inside the box before seeing his cross blocked out.[LNB]Carlos Vela replaces Walcott.[LNB]21.15: Nicklas Bendtner is replaced in Braga with Marouane Chamakh coming on.[LNB]21.14: The goalscorer is off at Stamford Bridge with Sturridge replaced by Nicolas Anelka. I still can't understand how Chelsea are not in front.[LNB]21.12: Wow the post is still rocking! Chelsea's Patrick van Annholt lets fly just outside the box and it zips across goal and smacks the post full on before bouncing out to safety.[LNB]I'm pretty sure we would have needed a new net if that had been just a little bit more inside the post.[LNB]21.11: Bad news for Arsenal, Fabregas is slightly struggling with his hamstring and he has been replaced by Samir Nasri.[LNB]21.09: Another incentive for Chelsea? InfoStradaLive strike again telling us that It has been three years since an English club won a Champions League home match in which they were losing at half-time.[LNB] Top save: Martin Dubravka deflects Drogba's free-kick onto the post[LNB]21.07: Interesting that scoreline at Belgrade seems to have made its way to Portugal as Braga start to show more intent going forward, Arsenal having to keep an eye out at the back now.[LNB]21.03: Drogba denied! The striker hits a stunning free-kick across goal 25 yards out which Dubravka does well to palm onto the post. This is about as dominant as you can be in a football match for the home side.[LNB]21.01: In fact they are nearly behind! Luis Aguiar's half-volley on the edge of the box flies agonisingly wide of Fabianski's low left hand post. Best chance of the game, not that it says much.[LNB]20.59: Shakhtar have taken the lead against Partizan in Belgrade, meaning Arsenal will have to win if they want to keep finishing on top of this group in their own hands.[LNB]20.58: Some warning signs for Arsenal despite them being the superior side.[LNB]Braga break and Matheus unmarked on the left hand side of the box shoots across goal that whips just wide of the post.[LNB]20.55: What a strike that is! Zilina clear the ball but with it loose 30 yards out Ramires clouts it with the outside of his right foot with the powerful effort just curling away from the goal. Very unlucky.[LNB]20.54: Chelsea should be in front. Drogba receives a ball across goal eight yards out but his first touch is poor and Martin Dubravka can easily scoop the ball up in the Zilina goal.[LNB]20.53: Still all quiet in Portugal, Arsenal to their credit are trying to go forward but Braga seem almost happy with a point and are defending very well.[LNB] Saving face: Sturridge equalises for Chelsea[LNB]20.51: GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 Zilina[LNB]Still as statues at the back, Kalou's ball in takes a slight deflection but only Daniel Sturridge reacts stabbing home at the far post, now that has been coming and it's going to be a long 40 minutes for the Slovakians.[LNB]20.49: Still all Chelsea, the impressive Josh McEachran chips the ball in the box and although it just evades Branislav Ivanovic it does take a defelction out for a corner which Zilina this time survive.[LNB]20.48: Dear me that's awful defending! Stanislav Angelovic passes the ball straight to Kalou on the edge of the box instead of simply clearing i, but the striker gets under it too much as he clears the crossbar with his effort.[LNB]If Zilina continue like this I have no doubt chelsea will win let alone just grab an equaliser.[LNB]20.46: And in Braga too.[LNB]20.45: Zilina get us back underway at Chelsea and Kalou does indeed replace Kakuta.[LNB]20.38: Signs that Ancelotti is running out of patience with his young side? It looks like Salomon Kalou is going to replace Gael kakuta for the second-half.[LNB]20.36: Better news for Arsenal is the group's other game between Partizan Belgrade and Shakhtar Donetsk is 0-0.[LNB]If that stays the same it means an Arsenal win tonight will see them advance as group winners regardless of the final round of matches.[LNB]20.33: Not a great half for the English sides, Chelsea at this rate will still have to avoid a convincing defeat in France in their last match to top the group.[LNB]But defeat to Zilina will also be a huge embarrassment regardless of the young side out there tonight.[LNB]20.30: Half-time: Chelsea 0-1 ZilinaHalf-time: Braga 0-0 Arsenal[LNB]20.27: Chelsea are dominating at Stamford Bridge and look close and closer to scoring, at Braga we are still waiting for it to come to life.[LNB]20.24: Chelsea knocking on the door. Some awful defending from Zilina sees a defensive header fall straight for Sturridge who eight yards out has difficulty in controlling the ball before volleying over. Shoud at least hit the target.[LNB]20.22: Eboue is booked for a sliding tackle on Matheus on the left byline, seems a bit harsh but Matheus' reaction probably done the trick to get the full-back booked. The Portugese side do like to go down in dramatic fashion.[LNB]Denied: Braga keeper Felipe reacted well to prevent Walcott from putting Arsenal in front[LNB]20.20: That is about as close as we have come. Walcott is through on goal but Felipe is quick off his line to fumble the English winger.[LNB]Moments later Lima pulls the trigger from 25 yards out which flies just wide of Lukasz Fabianski's post.[LNB]A few inches to the right and we would have been looking at a stunning goal as the Arsenal keeper was well beaten.[LNB]20.19: Drogba seems to have recovered anyway, he is having a quiet night though. [LNB]20.18: Chance for Arsenal too, as they win a free-kick central 18 yards out.[LNB]Fabregas' free-kick though is comfortably tipped over by a cautious Felipe.[LNB]20.17: Close to two for Zilina. Tomas Majtan gets behind the defence, charging into the penalty box from the right.[LNB]At an acute angle his shot is well blocked by Turnbull with Jeffrey Bruma on hand to sweep up any rebound attempt.[LNB]20.16: That sums up Arsenal...and Braga too for that matter. Theo Walcott storms down the right wing holding off defenders before whipping a ball across the penalty area where not one attacker is there to attack it.[LNB]20.14: Better from Chelsea, Sturridge cuts in from the right to shake off the attention from two defenders before dragging his left foot shot wide of the near post.[LNB]20.12: I know it has all been about Chelsea past few minutes but nothing is happening in Portugal except almost 100 per cent possession from Arsenal.[LNB]20.10: Robert Jez every man watching feels your pain. Daniel Sturridge unleashes a thunderbolt outside the box which cannons straight into the defender's crown jewels. [LNB]He is back up now but he was down in agaony for a minute or two there, we (most of us) have all been there.[LNB] Shock: Babatounde Bello fires Zilina into the lead against Chelsea[LNB]20.08: Chelsea heading for four defeats in five? To be fair the Birmingham result was very unlucky but it's hard to argue against this as Zilina have done well to work their way back into it.[LNB]20.05: GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 ZILINA[LNB]And there is the other, It's a fantastic move to be fair. Babtounde Bello plays a neat one-two receiving the ball back just inside the penalty box where he stabs it first time past Turnbull. Not the keeper's finest hour but that is a top move.[LNB]20.02: One of the worse scenarios that could happen this evening, Didier Drogba is suffering, he keeps reaching down to his left hamstring and is definately not 100 per cent.[LNB]20.01: Arsenal have much of the possession again as Braga drop slightly deeper. Still twiddling my thumbs in that one though.[LNB]19.59: A warning for Chelsea but nothing more, Tomas Oravec looks to latch on to a ball over the top of the defence but he just fails to reach it.[LNB]Had he controlled it he would have been left with a simple finish past Turnbull.[LNB]19.57: We are still awaiting our first proper shot on target in either game, very slow so far.[LNB]19.55: Zilina growing in confidence and Babatounde Bello's half volley on the edge of the box is blocked out for a corner...well I thought it had until gone out Ross Turnbull came storming out his goal to palm it out for a throw in.[LNB]19.53: Braga have setlled and a free-kick on the left after Emmanuel Eboue is harshly penalised for a foul on Matheus.[LNB]The ball in the box is met by Moises but his header is over the bar.[LNB]19.51: Still no chances in either game but Chelsea still have a little keep-ball session and Arsenal the more attacking side in Portugal.[LNB]19.49: Chelsea are all over Zilina but are in no urgent hurry to score as they patiently knock it around in the visitors half.[LNB]19.47: My eyes are slightly confused in Braga, the home side have a kit which looks almost identical to the Arsenal's red and white strip.[LNB]19.45: Both games kick-off within seconds of each other and we are underway.[LNB]19.43: As we listen to the anthem I just wonder the risk in starting Cesc Fabregas tonight in Portugal, he is carrying a slight strain and surely the Gunners can do the job without him?[LNB]19.40: Players are out at Stamford Bridge, still waiting for them to abseil down the rocks in Portugal...come on you would not be surprised.[LNB]19.36: For those that have not seen Braga's stadium it is one of the most stunning my eyes have gazed upon.[LNB]Not because it holds something silly like 80million people but because of its unique back drop in being built into a mountain.[LNB]Some of you may remember it from the group stages at Euro 2004. Can't seen anything like it happening in this country, unless we build into the Lake District and no doubt Spurs will register an instant interest in taking it.[LNB] Rocking atmosphere: Braga will host Arsenal at the Municipal Stadium[LNB]19.34: InfoStradaLive at the double! Chelsea's starting line-up this evening is the club's youngest ever in the Champions League (average: 24years-164days)[LNB]19.32: While our friends at InfoStradaLive tell us that this is Chelsea's 100th Champions League game, the fourth Premier League side to achieve this.[LNB]I'm guessing Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are the others. Surely.[LNB]19.30: Time for a stat attack. Opta inform us that Arsenal have never won away in Portugal in any competition, losing two and drawing three matches.[LNB]19.28: Any of those familiar with following your team abroad may have a few horror stories to tell, whether it be a nightmare journey or a thumping away defeat (heaven forbid both.)[LNB]It looks like it happens to all of us as Simon Cass here explains how trying to get to tonight's Arsenal game saw him land in a different country. [LNB]19.26: One place where 'it is over' is in Moscow where Marseille have stunned Spartak Moscow by winning 3-0 and booking their place in the next round.[LNB]A draw would have meant Chelsea would already be group winners but the result means the French side can still finish top providing Chelsea lose tonight and they beat the English champions on the last matchday.[LNB]19.24: Chelsea have made a host of changes for tonight's Champions League clash with MSK Zilina at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Youngsters Gael Kakuta and Patrick van Aanholt are included in the starting XI while 17-year-old Josh McEachran makes his full debut as a holding midfielder following nine appearances from the bench.[LNB]Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma is handed his first game in the Champions League while goalkeeper Ross Turnbull also starts as Chelsea went after the point they required to win Group F.[LNB]Slovakian outfit Zilina will again rely on the influence of Robert Jez in midfield while Thomas Majtan, Babatounde Bello and Tomas Oravec led their attack.[LNB]19.22: And from Stamford Bridge:[LNB]Chelsea v MSK ZilinaChelsea: Turnbull, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Bruma, Van Aanholt, Ramires, McEachran, Malouda, Sturridge, Drogba, Kakuta. Subs: Hilario, Mikel, Kalou, Anelka, Clifford, Mellis, Sala.MSK Zilina: Dubravka, Angelovic, Pecalka, Piacek, Gergel, Jez, Guldan, Babatounde, Vladavic, Majtan, Oravec. Subs: Krnac, Leitner, Rilke, Ceesay, Poliacek, Sourek, Zosak.Referee: Robert Schorgenhofer (Austria)[LNB]19.20: Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will shrug off concerns over his hamstring injury to start tonight's Champions League Group H clash in Braga.[LNB]Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has made seven changes from the team which threw away a 2-0 lead as they lost Saturday's north London derby at home to Tottenham.[LNB]Jack Wilshere, who missed England's friendly with France because of a back problem, starts in midfield, along with winger Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott, while Emmanuel Eboue, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou start in defence.[LNB]Nicklas Bendtner, who had hit out at a lack of opportunities, returns to lead the Arsenal attack with Samir Nasri joining nine-goal Marouane Chamakh on the bench, while Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin have both been left behind in London to work on fitness.[LNB]Braga were thrashed 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium on matchday one but are now only three points behind Group H leaders Arsenal. Former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana iss among their substitutes.[LNB]19.17: From Braga:[LNB]Braga v ArsenalBraga: Felipe, Miguel Garcia, Moises, Rodriguez, Echiejile, Vandinho, Leandro Salino, Alan, Aguiar, Matheus, Lima. Subs: Artur Moraes, Mossoro, Madrid, Silvio, Hugo Viana, Anibal, Elton.Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs, Walcott, Denilson, Wilshere, Rosicky, Fabregas, Bendtner. Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Nasri, Vela, Song, Chamakh.Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)[LNB]19.15: I admit, on paper these games are virtually dead rubbers.[LNB]Chelsea are already through and Arsenal are on the very cusp but these two games have a slightly different meaning.[LNB]But three defeats in four have Chelsea rocking and although Carlo Ancelotti will give youth a chance, they could do with a morale boosting win, as well as securing top spot.[LNB]Arsenal on the other hand are slightly less comfortable and with the added north London derby defeat to Spurs last weekend, could do with kick-start themselves.[LNB]A draw will seal qualification but defeat will leave them in a likely position of having to win their final game against Partizan Belgrade.[LNB]In the words of Lenny Kravitz, 'It ain't over 'til it's over.'[LNB]Good evening folks, team news on the way...[LNB] Bounce back: Samir Nasri (centre) will look to put last weekend's derby disappointment behind him by firing Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League[LNB] On the road with Arsenal.... Landing in a different country to the game, now that is a new oneChelsea bank on the kids as they aim to seal spot in knockout stageALL CHELSEA FC
