9pm Chelsea news LIVE: Abraham injury LATEST, Valencia draw reaction, Man Utd in Havertz battle, Hudson-Odoi returns – The Sun
FRANK LAMPARD's side battled their way to a 2-2 draw against Valencia.
The Blues' six-game winning streak was ended by the champions at the Etihad, but Chelsea have their European fate in their own hands after an excellent point in Spain.
Meanwhile, Callum Hudson-Odoi is eyeing a return to action when they face West Ham in the Premier League.
And on the transfer front, Chelsea are among a host of teams chasing Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz, with Manchester United and Man City also interested.
Follow all the latest updates and transfer gossip from Stamford Bridge below…
TAMMY ABRAHAM was left in tears before having to be be carried off on a stretcher after a heavy fall during the Champions League clash with Valencia.
Thankfully, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard later confirmed that the injury is not as bad as was first feared.
After the 2-2 draw at the Mestalla, Lampard said: “He is in the dressing room now.
“A bang on the hip, it might not be as severe as we first thought.”
There had been reports in the immediate aftermath of the injury that Abraham was taken to hospital.
As a cross came in from the right, the striker leapt in the air but fell heavily onto defender Ezequiel Garay.
Abraham was on the ground for a lengthy period before getting treatment.
He could then barely walk off the pitch and eventually Chelsea medical staff called for a stretcher with the striker clearly in a lot of pain and distress.
Images showed the striker wrapped in blankets before being carried away by paramedics on a stretcher.
Abraham was replaced at half-time by Michy Batshuayi, who spent six months on loan at Valencia last season.
OUR BIG MATCH VERDICT
CHELSEA had no case for their defence as Valencia gave them a cross examination in Spain.
Two big balls into the box put the Blues' Champions League hopes in serious jeopardy.
Frank Lampard opted for Reece James on the right side of a back four, alongside two Maurizio Sarri rejects Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen, with Cesar Azpilicueta filling in on the left.
It was dodgy dot-and-dab wall of a defence — and you wouldn't hang a coathanger on it, let a lone your Champions League hopes.
There were square pegs in round holes everywhere — much like the barmy 4-4 draw at home to Ajax — and it showed.
Couple that with Valencia's tactics: get it to the wingers, cross the ball and get bodies in the box.But boy was it exciting for the neutral.
Their counter-attacking is well poised for European football, while their offensive build-up play — especially in the first half — was top class.
When Valencia got through their channels, the Blues were brutally exposed.
They were flashed a warning after 18 minutes when Maxi Gomez bizarrely missed the easiest tap-in the Mestalla has ever seen.
But the Blues were torn apart when the gap between Azpilicueta and Christensen was the size of the Mediterranean and Rodrigo exploded into it, but his square ball was criminally fluffed by the Uruguayan.
And when the home side took the lead, it had an air of inevitability about it.
Ready supplier Rodrigo whipped in another superb cross and it as N'Golo Kante who left Carlos Soler unattended as the Spaniard ghosted into the box to side-foot home.
Part of the problem is that Christensen and Zouma don't attack the ball like a John Terry or Ricardo Carvalho.
And uncomfortable Azpilicueta is not a left-back.
Thankfully, Chelsea have Kepa Arrizabalaga behind them — and his penalty save from Daniel Parejo was out of this world.
But with the Blues 2-1 up, Daniel Wass' ball whipped in from the right was designed for a man in the middle.
However, he mishit it… to perfection.The ball clattered off Kepa's far post and in, somehow.
Both sides simply thought: why stop there? Instead the game continued at its breathless end-to-end fashion and stoppage time was more of an ice hockey match than a football match.Having seen Gomez's miss earlier,
Rodrigo replicated the effort with a missed sitter that makes you realise why he has never been snapped up by Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Chelsea need to win against Lille in 13 days' time top guarantee progress.
CHELSEA target Jadon Sancho was sensationally dropped for Borussia Dortmund's Champions League trip to Barcelona.
And incredibly his manager Lucien Favre hinted the Engand winger – also eyed by Liverpool and Manchester United – was “not fully focused” for the game.
It comes as transfer speculation mounts that Sancho could move in January, with Barcelona themselves rumoured to be interested.
The Spanish clubs are among a host of Europe's biggest clubs chasing the former Manchester City youth player.
FULL-TIME!
It ends level in Spain, and on reflection, Chelsea are fortunate to go away with a point.
If Chelsea win against Lille next time out, they will qualify for the knockout stages.
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