Latest: Basel 0 Chelsea 0 – Blues more solid and Hazard is on

Chelsea have lost Samuel Eto’o to what looked like a nasty injury and been forced to withstand spells of pressure in the Champions League clash in Switzerland, where a point would seal their place in the knockout phase.

Keeper Petr Cech, making his 450th Chelsea appearance, had to be alert to punch Taulant Xhaka’s early free-kick clear and dealt with several other deliveries into the danger area in the first half.

And Basel, who won at Stamford Bridge in these teams’ opening Group E match, would have gone ahead had John Obi Mikel not been on hand to clear off the line after a corner had dropped to Ivan Ivanov.

The home side continued to press and Cech was called into action again, this time keeping out a shot from Mohammad Salah, who sent another effort wastefully wide.

Chelsea then had to make a change when Eto’o was stretchered from the pitch with what appeared to be a groin injury and was replaced by the fit-again Fernando Torres.

Eto’o was hurt while stretching for the ball 40 yards from goal and immediately crumpled to the ground in pain.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho again left out Juan Mata, who was named among the substitutes along with Torres and Eden Hazard.

With his team having looked much more solid in the opening stages of the second half, Mourinho replaced Oscar with Hazard on 55 minutes.

Chelsea: Cech Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Lampard, Ramires; Oscar (Hazard 55), Willian, Eto’o (Torres 43).
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Mata, De Bruyne, Schurrle.

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