Kai Havertz - players.bio

Champions League: Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic earn Chelsea 2-0 win over Lille

Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic earned defending champions Chelsea a solid 2-0 first-leg victory over Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, but the London side will be concerned about injuries to key players. Germany forward Havertz, who had already had two attempts on goal early in the game, headed down a Hakim Ziyech corner in the eighth minute and the ball bounced high off the turf into the net. Chelsea left struggling striker Romelu Lukaku on the bench and it was American Pulisic who hit the second in the 63rd minute with a curling finish after N'Golo Kante's surging run and pinpoint pass. The action was at times frenetic as Ligue 1 champions Lille sought to take something from the game into the second leg at home on March 16. "They played good football and the first half was very difficult for us. Now it is halftime and the next game we have to win as well," Havertz told BT Sport.

Advantage Chelsea in Champions League tie

Title-holders Chelsea have cruised to a 2-0 victory over Lille in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie while Dusan Vlahovic had a dream start to his debut in the elite competition as Juventus drew 1-1 at Villarreal.

Chelsea Beat Lille 2-0 In Champions League Round Of 16 1st Leg Clash

Chelsea showed they can thrive without Romelu Lukaku as Kai Havertz scored after replacing the axed Belgium striker for the 2-0 Champions League last-16, first-leg win against Lille on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel's side took control of the tie thanks to Havertz's first-half header and Christian Pulisic's clinical finish after the break at Stamford Bridge. The holders will expect to complete their progress to the quarter-finals when they travel to France for the second leg on March 16. But Chelsea's sixth successive win in all competitions was more a referendum on their Lukaku conundrum than an indication of their chances of retaining the trophy.