Match ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.

Chelsea went top of the Premier League as they came from behind to beat Leeds United in their first game in front of fans for nine months.
Former Blues striker Patrick Bamford, who spent five years at Chelsea without making a senior appearance, gave Leeds an early lead at Stamford Bridge after getting between defender Kurt Zouma and keeper Edouard Mendy.
Timo Werner then somehow managed to miss from point-blank range after Olivier Giroud's flicked header from a corner, the Germany forward hitting the underside of the bar before Leeds cleared.
However, Giroud marked his first league start of the season with his fifth goal of the week, the scorer of all four of Chelsea's Champions League goals away to Sevilla in midweek poking home from five yards after Reece James' cross.
Chelsea, who welcomed 2,000 fans back to Stamford Bridge after coronavirus restrictions were eased, went ahead as Zouma headed in from Mason Mount's corner.
Substitute Christian Pulisic added a late third from Werner's pass, with the United States winger becoming the 13th different player to score for Chelsea in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea, who started the day third, are one point clear at the top.
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Chelsea welcome fans back in style
There were scenes of celebration after the final whistle as Blues boss Frank Lampard went over to applaud fans inside the ground, who gave the players a standing ovation while they headed for the dressing room.
One supporter held up a banner which read "It's great to be back" and Chelsea certainly relished the occasion as they turned on the style.
When they last moved to the summit after a win at Newcastle on 21 November, Lampard said he was not going to "get excited about being top for five minutes".
Within a few hours they had been replaced by Tottenham following a win over Manchester City later the same day.
Lampard's side will at least enjoy being top a while longer this time, although they could be overtaken by Tottenham and Liverpool on Sunday.
Nevertheless, this was a highly satisfactory victory.
While France's World Cup winner Giroud made the most of his first league start of 2020-21, Werner will wonder how on earth he did not score.
After his astonishing miss, Werner was thwarted on three occasions by Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, while Kai Havertz headed another chance over.
Unbeaten in nine top-flight games, Chelsea are handling the hectic Champions League-Premier League schedule well.
After securing top spot in their European group, Lampard's men are looking down on all the rest in England.
Bamford makes impact on return
Bamford arrived at Stamford Bridge with a point to prove - and, despite his team's defeat, left after once again demonstrating he belongs on the Premier League stage.
The 27-year-old was overlooked during his time at Chelsea, leaving for Middlesbrough in 2017 after five years in London without playing a competitive senior game.
In an extraordinary opening, and after the hosts had twice gone close in the first two minutes, Bamford got between Zouma and Mendy to connect with Jack Harrison's threaded pass to fire Leeds ahead.
It was another classy finish by Bamford, who is now level with Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in terms of top-flight goals in 2020-21.
Incredibly, seven of his eight league goals have come away from Elland Road, with Bamford scoring in five of Leeds' six away games this season.
His side, however, could not capitalise.
Having beaten former leaders Everton in their previous game, they were unable to stop Chelsea from going top.
Before this weekend only Liverpool had more attempts in the Premier League than Marcelo Bielsa's side.
They had another eight against Chelsea but could not respond once Zouma headed the hosts ahead.
'Defeats an opportunity to learn' - what they said
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard: "I was nervous of Leeds. They're a threat until the end if you don't get a cushion.
"They are pretty unique in their style and they're well coached. We knew it was a big task. Character-wise and performance-wise, on lots of levels, I'm absolutely delighted."
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa: "It was difficult for us to stop them playing out from the back with their centre-backs and [midfielder] N'Golo Kante.
"I never question the refereeing decisions and this game was not decided by the referee. He did not decide the game. Always defeats are an opportunity to learn something."
Vulnerable at set-pieces - the stats
- Leeds have conceded five goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) in the Premier League this season, only Leicester have conceded more from such situations (six).
- Oliver Giroud has become the first Chelsea player to score in six consecutive Premier League starts since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in October 2001. At 34 years and 66 days, he is the oldest player to score in six consecutive Premier League starts.
- Chelsea have won four of their past five Premier League games (drawn one) - indeed, no current Premier League side is on a longer unbeaten run than the Blues (nine - won five, drawn four).
- Leeds have lost three of their past five Premier League games (won one, drawn one), conceding three or more goals in all three defeats.
- Marcelo Bielsa's side faced 23 shots in this match, their joint-most in a Premier League game this season (also 23 against Manchester City).
What's next?
Chelsea, who have already sealed top spot, host Russian side Krasnodar in their sixth and final Champions League Group E game on Tuesday (20:00 GMT), while Leeds are back in Premier League action next Friday against West Ham at Elland Road (20:00).
Player of the match
GiroudOlivier Giroud
Chelsea
Avg
- Squad number18Player nameGiroudAverage rating
7.64
- Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
7.47
- Squad number24Player nameJamesAverage rating
7.46
- Squad number15Player nameZoumaAverage rating
7.38
- Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating
7.38
- Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
7.28
- Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
7.15
- Squad number21Player nameChilwellAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number17Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number11Player nameWernerAverage rating
6.78
- Squad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
6.56
- Squad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number9Player nameAbrahamAverage rating
6.11
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
5.93
Leeds United
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameMeslierAverage rating
6.63
- Squad number9Player nameBamfordAverage rating
6.33
- Squad number23Player namePhillipsAverage rating
6.01
- Squad number7Player namePoveda-OcampoAverage rating
5.74
- Squad number2Player nameAylingAverage rating
5.63
- Squad number18Player nameRaphinhaAverage rating
5.60
- Squad number15Player nameDallasAverage rating
5.54
- Squad number20Player nameRodrigoAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number43Player nameKlichAverage rating
5.47
- Squad number6Player nameCooperAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number14Player nameLlorenteAverage rating
5.41
- Squad number10Player nameAlioskiAverage rating
5.36
- Squad number5Player nameKochAverage rating
5.19
- Squad number22Player nameHarrisonAverage rating
5.19
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Mendy
- 24James
- 15Zouma
- 6Thiago Silva
- 21Chilwell
- 29HavertzSubstituted forKovacicat 67'minutes
- 7Kanté
- 19Mount
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forPulisicat 30'minutes
- 18GiroudSubstituted forAbrahamat 79'minutes
- 11Werner
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 2Rüdiger
- 5Jorginho
- 9Abraham
- 10Pulisic
- 17Kovacic
- 28Azpilicueta
Leeds
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Meslier
- 2Ayling
- 5KochSubstituted forLlorenteat 9'minutesBooked at 74mins
- 6Cooper
- 10AlioskiSubstituted forRodrigoat 69'minutes
- 18Dias BelloliBooked at 90mins
- 15Dallas
- 23Phillips
- 22HarrisonSubstituted forPoveda-Ocampoat 57'minutes
- 43Klich
- 9Bamford
Substitutes
- 7Poveda-Ocampo
- 11Roberts
- 13Casilla
- 14Llorente
- 17Hélder Costa
- 20Rodrigo
- 21Struijk
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 2,000
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home23
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1.
Booking
Raphinha (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Raphinha (Leeds United).
Post update
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Goal!
Goal! Chelsea 3, Leeds United 1. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Timo Werner following a fast break.
Post update
Foul by Mateusz Klich (Leeds United).
Post update
Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Timo Werner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Timo Werner.
Post update
Offside, Leeds United. Stuart Dallas tries a through ball, but Ian Poveda-Ocampo is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Reece James (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Liam Cooper.
Post update
Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Tammy Abraham replaces Olivier Giroud.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Illan Meslier.
Post update
Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Mount.

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Comments
Join the conversation
“That's why Giroud starts for France!
I never understood why Arsenal let him go.
He may not light up the league, but his consistency and work-rate are second-to-none.”
Dare I say but he is Chelsea's best player at the moment.
A good performance yes and top tonight, but Werner needs to sharpen his finishing and Havertz just needs to start turning up basically. RLC at his best looks twice the player. No luck Leeds.
In those immortal words "It's all gone quiet over there"
Well done to him.👏👏
Liverpool.....nope.
Man Utd....nope.
1970 Chelsea v Leeds. 👍
Great 3 points, top of the league and fans back at the Bridge. Good night all round.