6 December 2053 — Stadio Olimpico, Rome. On a night that began in frustration, Chelsea emerged roaring from the shadows of the Olimpico to rout Roma 4-1 and confirm their place atop the UEFA Champions League League Phase.
⚡ Jairzinho the Game-Changer
Chelsea were dealt an early blow when Agustin Figueroa capitalised on a lapse by Facundo Quiroga to put Roma ahead on 4 minutes. The night looked to be turning sour when Joseph Haigh hobbled off with a hamstring injury before the half-hour mark.
But football games are often defined by substitutions. Jairzinho, thrown into the fray after 32 minutes, turned the tide. His relentless movement and directness opened space for Chelsea’s forward line, and in the 41st minute, Júnior punished Marvin Klaasen’s poor touch with a composed finish from close range.
🧠 Set-Piece Mastery, Relentless Finish
The second half was all Chelsea. McKauley Cizvelis climbed highest on 67 minutes to head home a pinpoint delivery and put the Blues ahead. From that moment, they never looked back.
With Roma pushing, Johnny Jenkins struck in the 93rd minute — a low drive that took a wicked deflection and left the keeper stranded. Then, with virtually the last kick, Jairzinho got the reward he deserved, tucking home from 12 yards to complete the demolition job in the 95th.
📊 Match Stats
- Shots: Roma 5 / Chelsea 25
- xG: Roma 0.66 / Chelsea 3.28
- Possession: Roma 42% / Chelsea 58%
- Pass Accuracy: Roma 83% / Chelsea 88%
- Headers Won: Roma 38% / Chelsea 57%
Player of the Match: Johnny Jenkins – 8.4 Match Rating
Attendance: 67,650
🏆 League Phase Dominance
Chelsea now top the League Phase standings with 6 wins from 6, scoring 22 and conceding just 6. Liverpool and OL trail behind, while former giants Ajax and RB Leipzig sit adrift near the bottom.
| Pos | Team | PL | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chelsea |
6 | +16 | 18 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 6 | +10 | 14 |
| 3 | OL | 6 | +4 | 12 |
| 4 | AC Milan | 6 | +2 | 11 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 6 | +2 | 10 |
💬 Manager Reaction
“That was about resilience,” said Chelsea boss Calin Dimario. “The injury to Haigh, the early goal — we could have folded. But we responded with maturity, aggression, and quality. That’s the Chelsea I want.”
🚀 What’s Next?
With qualification already secured, Chelsea can rotate in their final matchday and focus on a gruelling Premier League December that includes clashes with Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Previous Champions League report:
→ 3-0 vs Wolves (Premier League)