The full-time whistle blows and Chelsea can reflect on a job well done!
90' +1
If only Maccabi could have demonstrated this level of intent earlier, we may well have had a contest! As it is, Chelsea are on easy street as we enter two minutes of stoppage time.
90'
Begovic's hopes of a clean sheet on Champions League debut are coming under threat late on. Cahill puts a Peretz cross behind for a corner, which is swiftly cleared.
88'
Radonjic lets out a howl of anguish after being fouled by Azpilicueta near the dugouts. The Maccabi forward is soon back up on his feet, however. Igiebor then wastes his side's best chance of the game, somehow lifting the ball high over the bar from a low right-wing cross.
86'
We are into the last five minutes of normal time and the game is now being played at something resembling testimonial pace.
84'
Zahavi is crowded out in a passage of play that rather sums up his evening. Aside from a missed header towards the end of the first half, he has barely had a sniff of goal. Traore clips an effort narrowly wide of Rajkovic's right-hand post as Chelsea go in search of a fifth.
82'
This victory provides a much-needed lift for Chelsea, but their next opponents are not enjoying such a pleasurable evening. Arsenal are 2-1 down to Dinamo Zagreb.
80'
While Chelsea have dominated this match, that was only their fifth shot on target. Rajkovic sprung one-handed to his right to deny Remy and can consider himself unlucky to have conceded on this occasion.
78'
Cesc Fàbregas has scored a goal for Chelsea!
GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Chelsea find themselves with four on two following a Maccabi attack. After Hazard switches the ball right for Remy, Rajkovic makes a good save to deny the Frenchman, but Fabregas is on hand to slot home the follow-up.
77'
B. Traoré enters the game and replaces R. Loftus-Cheek.
Hazard again provides a glimpse of his quality, beating his man on the left before breaking into the box. However, his final ball is poor and enables Maccabi to clear. Loftus-Cheek is the man to make way in Chelsea's final change as Bertrand Traore gets around 15 minutes to impress on debut.
Minute
Description
75'
Maccabi deal unconvincingly with a Chelsea set-piece, Rajkovic fisting away a cross-shot from Loftus-Cheek after Costa had been wrestled to the ground off the ball by Radonjic. Moments later, Radonjic is involved at the other end as he brings a comfortable save from Begovic.
73'
Baba Rahman surges into the Maccabi box, but is halted by the last man. Hazard then follows suit with a mazy dribble, yet his shot is blocked.
72'
Maccabi's final change sees Dor Peretz come on for Yuval Shpungin. Mourinho still has one substitution up his sleeve if he fancies giving someone a bit of extra rest ahead of the Arsenal fixture.
71'
Dor Peretz enters the game and replaces Yuval Shpungin.
Costa brings down a long diagonal ball and prepares to turn towards goal, only to be flagged offside. Radonjic is certainly putting himself about - he gives away a foul on this occasion, enabling Chelsea to enjoy another prolonged spell of possession that culminates in Ramires dragging a shot wide.
69'
To their credit, Maccabi's fans remain in good voice as their team slides to defeat. They are unlikely to have expected too much from this fixture.
68'
It is simply a question of how many for Chelsea now. Three points are very much secure. Cahill is a little fortunate to escape a yellow card after tugging back Radonjic near the halfway line.
66'
Dor Miha and Dejan Radonjic are introduced by Maccabi, while Chelsea also make a change, with Ramires entering the fray in place of Oscar.
65'
Ramires enters the game and replaces Oscar.
64'
D. Micha enters the game and replaces T. Ben Haim.
D. Radonjić enters the game and replaces A. Rikan.
Zahavi curls an effort over the bar as 'Stand up for the Special One' rings around Stamford Bridge. Mourinho acknowledges the support of Chelsea's fans. This scoreline is just what the doctor ordered for the Premier League champions.
62'
Nope. The Spaniard finds the wall and Chelsea remain three goals to the good. Maccabi are preparing to make their first change.
60'
Another chance for Chelsea now as Loftus-Cheek is brought down 20 yards out. Fabregas fancies this one ...
58'
Diego Costa has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Cesc Fàbregas.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!! AND IT'S A CRACKER FROM COSTA!! Cesc Fabregas floats over an angled cross from the right and Costa finds the top-right corner with a controlled volley on the turn. Did the ball perhaps come off his shin rather than his boot? Who cares!
57'
A reminder there of the defensive frailties that have plagued Chelsea so far this season. Maccabi really have not offered too much going forward, but they have nevertheless gone close on two occasions amid slack home defending.
56'
Shpungin goes down theatrically just outside the Chelsea box. His appeals for a foul are waved away and he remains on the floor as Maccabi come close to reducing their deficit. Rikan's volley at the far post flies narrowly wide, with Igiebor close to diverting the ball goalwards.
54'
Ben Haim is guilty of a clumsy foul, not for the first time. Costa breaks into the box again from the resulting free-kick but is once more unable to carve out a shooting opportunity. He then gets the ball caught under his feet as Chelsea seek to launch another attack.
52'
Hazard has looked short of his best form after blazing that early penalty over the bar. A goal could be just what the Belgian needs and he may well get another chance or two over the next 40 minutes or so.
50'
Loftus-Cheek plays in Costa in the area, but he is crowded out and Chelsea are forced to go back before they can go forward again. Their next attack ends with Baba Rahman overhitting a cross from the left.
49'
The corner comes to nothing as Zouma is penalised for a foul. Chelsea then break down the right with Remy, but the forward fails to read Oscar's intentions as the Brazilian plays a return pass into open space.
47'
The early signs are not encouraging for Slavisa Jokanovic. Chelsea are immediately on the front foot once again, winning a corner after 60 seconds.
46'
Away we go in the second half. Can Maccabi surprise us and fight back?
45' +5
And that will be that for the first half!
45' +4
Penalty goal scored by Oscar for Chelsea!
He will not! Oscar assumes penalty-taking duties this time, following a delay as Ben Harush receives some treatment, and the Brazilian coolly sends Rajkovic the wrong way. It's 2-0 and surely game over!
45' +2
T. Ben Haim gets yellow.
ANOTHER PENALTY FOR CHELSEA!! Costa is brought down by Ben Haim as he bears down on goal. Will Hazard step up again ??
45'
We will have two additional minutes at the end of the first half at Stamford Bridge. Baba Rahman has just gone on a fine solo run, but was eventually dispossessed.
44'
Seven attempts on goal for Chelsea thus far, but Willian's cross-cum-shot that opened the scoring remains the only one on target. Rajkovic is forced to sneak the ball away from the toes of Loftus-Cheek after the midfielder had surged into the area to collect a deft Hazard pass. Unlike earlier in the match, the goalkeeper got his challenge right on this occasion.
42'
To their credit, Maccabi are starting to make more of a game of this now. However, you get the feeling a second Chelsea goal would finish things off and the visitors do not exactly look rock-solid at the back. For the time being, Mourinho's men have defending to do, with Zouma in the right place to deal with a dangerous cross from the right.
41'
Zahavi is given time and space to try his luck from distance, but his effort is unimpressive and flies well wide. Igiebor is in some pain having been caught late by Hazard in the build-up to that chance.
39'
OSCAR HITS THE BAR ... BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE COUNTED ANYWAY! The ball found its way to the Brazilian as Costa failed to make clean contact with an attempted overhead kick. However, the referee penalised Chelsea's centre-forward for dangerous play - meaning Oscar's effort - which thundered back off the woodwork from close range - was meaningless.
37'
Another Chelsea corner and Rajkovic, never a man to catch the ball if the opportunity to flap is available, parries Fabregas' delivery clear. Baba Rahman is then guilty of an awful pass back towards his own box, but Maccabi cannot take advantage.
36'
Maccabi enjoy their longest spell in possession since the opening minutes, but their attacking efforts come to nothing. Remy, now operating on the right following Costa's introduction, subsequently earns Chelsea a corner that is cleared with ease.
34'
A third yellow card of the opening half and this time it is Igiebor punished for a hack at Azpilicueta. Chelsea's level has dipped in the last five minutes and they will be eager to regain total control.
33'
N. Igiebor gets yellow.
32'
The delivery is excellent, but Zahavi heads over from 12 yards having been left completely unmarked. That was a real chance.
31'
Rajkovic flamboyantly punches away a cross from Remy that he could easily have caught. The Maccabi goalkeeper has not exactly covered himself in glory so far. A foul from Baba Rahman gives the visitors a chance to test Begovic from a set-piece.
29'
A jinking run from Hazard is brought to an end in crude fashion as he is fouled by not one, but two Maccabi players! Alberman and Igiebor combine to trip up the Belgian, before Baba Rahman sends the resulting set-piece in the direction of Hazard's earlier penalty.
27'
Chelsea have had more than 60 per cent possession so far, but they are given a brief scare as Kurt Zouma makes a last-ditch intervention to deny Zahavi the chance to get a shot away. The ball breaks to Begovic, who clears in the nick of time with another Maccabi player closing in.
25'
An offside flag halts Maccabi as they finally hint at offering a threat of their own. Normal service is soon resumed as Costa wins a corner, from which Cahill heads over.
23'
Diego Costa enters the game and replaces Willian.
The pressure on Maccabi grows as Chelsea push and probe in the final third. It appears Willian's race may be run after that earlier injury, however. Diego Costa is preparing to come on.
Here comes Costa. Willian was the best player on the pitch in the first quarter and opened the scoring, but he now makes an early exit. Mourinho will hope the Brazilian is able to recover for the weekend clash with Arsenal.
21'
Maccabi are struggling to get out of their own half and this could well prove a long night for the Israeli team. Chelsea have only lost one of their last 35 matches at Stamford Bridge in the group stage of the competition and that proud record is on course to be improved upon.
19'
There is concern for Chelsea as Willian goes to ground, seemingly in some pain. It looks as though he may have hurt his right thigh, but after brief treatment he is able to continue.
17'
Willian may well claim that he meant to score there, but I'm fairly sure that ball was intended to find a Chelsea head. Poor old Rajkovic looks nervy again as he punches away a Hazard cross and all of a sudden things are looking much brighter for Mourinho and co.
15'
Willian has scored a goal for Chelsea!
GOAL FOR CHELSEA!!! Willian makes the breakthrough, but with a hint of fortune! After Chelsea win a free-kick on the left, some 35 yards from goal, Willian swings over a cross and Rajkovic is left flat-footed as the ball evades everyone and nestles in the far corner.
14'
At the other end of the field, this is a big night for Asmir Begovic - who is making his Champions League bow. The Bosnia-Herzegovina stopper left Stoke City in the close-season to join Chelsea and is set to enjoy a prolonged run in the first team with Thibaut Courtois out injured. Unsurprisingly, Begovic has been a virtual spectator so far.
13'
Willian has looked lively on. He finds space on the right and delivers a cross that Rajkovic fumbles at the near post, before gratefully pouching the ball at the second attempt. After giving away an early penalty, Maccabi's goalkeeper is likely to be feeling a little edgy.
12'
Oscar steps up to take the free-kick, but the Brazilian curls his shot tamely into the wall. Chelsea come again, only for Hazard to give the ball away sloppily.
11'
Chelsea have dominated possession since spurning that golden opportunity to open the scoring. And another chance comes their way now as Oscar is clumsily felled by Ben Haim on the edge of the box in a central position.
8'
That really was an atrocious penalty. Mourinho was seen applauding on the touchline after the miss, in a bid to encourage his team, but Hazard's blunder will do little to ease any Chelsea nerves. Rajkovic was booked for his foul, by the way. He clattered Willian and can have few complaints.
6'
BUT HAZARD BLAZES THE PENALTY HIGH OVER THE BAR!! My goodness, that was abysmal! The usually super-cool Belgian sends the ball 20 rows back and the score remains 0-0!
5'
P. Rajković gets yellow.
PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Maccabi gift Chelsea possession and Willian is set free down the right channel. Goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic bundles him over and Eden Hazard has the chance to give the home team the lead.
4'
Maccabi's fans are making themselves heard, to the extent that loud boos ring around Stamford Bridge when the hosts are in possession. Loftus-Cheek shows a better side of his game with a powerful run into opposition territory before Remy is penalised for a foul in the Maccabi box.
2'
Loftus-Cheek wastes little time in making an impression - earning a yellow card almost immediately as he goes in on Mitrovic with studs showing. The young midfielder will need to be careful now!
1'
R. Loftus-Cheek gets yellow.
And we're off! Chelsea get us started.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE text commentary on Chelsea's Champions League clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Jose Mourinho's side have endured a dismal start to the Premier League season. Can they find some much-needed momentum this evening? We're about to find out.
Defeat to Everton at the weekend left Chelsea with just four points from their first five league matches - and an 11-point gap to early leaders Manchester City. With that in mind, it is perhaps no surprise that Mourinho has rung the changes for this opening Group G fixture - making six alterations to his starting XI. Let's take a look at the teams.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Baba Rahman; Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy.
Chelsea substitutes: Blackman, Terry, Ivanovic, Ramires, Matic, Traore, Costa.
Maccabi Tel Aviv substitutes: Lifshitz, Carlos Garcia, Miha, Vermouth, Peretz, Itzhaki, Radonjic.
Maccabi Tel Aviv (4-1-4-1): Rajkovic; Shpungin, Ben Haim, Tibi, Ben Harush; Alberman; Ben Haim, Mitrovic, Igiebor, Rikan; Zahavi.
So, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa all have to make do with places on the bench for the hosts. Abdul Baba Rahman is handed a Chelsea debut, while the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Loic Remy will be eager to capitalise on rare opportunities to impress.
And what of Maccabi? Well, the Israeli side claimed a surprise victory over Basel in the play-off round to book their place in the group stage for the first time since 2004. Maccabi are coached by a former Chelsea player in Slavisa Jokanovic and have another ex-Blue, Tal Ben Haim, in their team. Skipper Eran Zahavi, meanwhile, is a prolific goalscorer and can be expected to provide the visitors' primary threat.
Mourinho has dismissed suggestions he is under pressure as a result of Chelsea's poor form, but it is safe to say the Portuguese will be looking for a major improvement from his players. If Maccabi can keep things tight early on, there could well be some nervous faces inside Stamford Bridge.
We are almost ready to go in London. The two teams take to the field - with Gary Cahill leading Chelsea in Terry's absence - and the action will be under way after a quick blast of the famous Champions League anthem!
Eden Hazard's early penalty miss was not what Chelsea needed, but they are in control at the break with a two-goal lead. Willian opened the scoring before being withdrawn through injury and Oscar converted a second home spot-kick to leave Maccabi with a mountain to climb.
With a huge game against Arsenal coming up on Saturday, Mourinho will surely be eager for his side to ease through the remainder of this fixture with as little fuss as possible. I wonder if the likes of Terry and Matic will be recalled at the weekend?
Jose Mourinho's men sorely needed a win tonight and they have claimed one with a degree of comfort. After Eden Hazard's early blunder from the penalty spot, goals from Willian (who subsequently went off injured), Oscar, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas ensured there would be no shock at Stamford Bridge.
So it's a winning start in Group G of the Champions League for Chelsea, who will now turn their attentions to a weekend meeting with Arsenal that already shapes as something of a must-win match. Arsenal have lost in Zagreb this evening.
Next up in the Champions League for Chelsea is a trip to a familiar venue for Mourinho, as his men visit Porto. Maccabi will look to get off the mark in the competition at home to Dynamo Kiev, who drew 2-2 with Porto tonight. Anyway, that's all from us. Thanks for reading our live text and we hope to see you again soon.
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