Chelsea 0-0 Sevilla: Frank Lampard’s side held to a goalless draw by the Europa League holders

Frank Lampard was at pains to dismiss suggestions of a Chelsea defensive crisis on Monday.

Judging by this, he has a point. A clean sheet in the Champions League isn’t to be sniffed at, particularly for a Chelsea side who have been leaky at best in recent months.

There is no escaping, of course, that this was a completely uninspiring start to Chelsea’s European campaign. 

Chelsea forward Timo Werner could not convert in the first half after being presented with a good chance against Sevilla

Chelsea summer signing Edouard Mendy started for the Blues and made a superb save to deny the visitors in the first half 

Kai Havertz tries to advance with the ball while under pressure from Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj in the first half at the Bridge

Blues midfielder Jorginho battles for the ball with Sevilla’s Ivan Rakitic, who returned to the club in the summer from Barca

Summer signing Hakim Ziyech was introduced in the second half but could not create a goal in the closing stages of the game

But for a team who conceded seven in two games against eventual winners Bayern Munich during their previous outing in this competition, this result will come with an understandable degree of optimism.

So, too, for Lampard – this the first goalless draw he’s overseen in 63 games as Chelsea manager.

Lampard will hope this result, as dull as it was, can be the trigger point for a team who have clearly struggled at the back.

Indeed, when the Blues boss reviews the video of this draw, he’ll be heartened by the way his team withstood a humbling opening 45 minutes against a well-oiled Sevilla side who kept the ball for fun.

Chelsea stood firm when in recent weeks they have buckled. That will mean the world to the Lampard.

‘Clean sheets are something you strive for always. Against a very good team, it was a very good defensive performance from us,’ said Lampard.

Having delivered a thinly-veiled dig at Kepa Arrizabalaga in his pre-match press conference, the Chelsea manager did nothing to repair his beleaguered goalkeeper’s shot confidence by dropping him for Edouard Mendy, who’d trained just twice ahead of Tuesday night’s clash after recovering from injury.

It’s clear Lampard is pinning his hopes on Mendy solving a problem that’s been bugging him for almost 12 months, the Senegalese evidently Chelsea’s new No 1.

On this evidence, he appears a far safer option than Arrizabalaga. His handling was secure, his distribution encouraging and shot-stopping promising.

Bigger tests lie ahead, though, starting at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Likewise, the return of Thiago Silva into the heart of the Blues’ rearguard another calculated selection decision Lampard got spot on.

Rich in Champions League pedigree, the Brazilian reached the final with Paris Saint-Germain last season, if anyone knows how to negotiate the early stages of this competition then it’s Silva.

The veteran central defender was poetry in motion on Tuesday night, but at 36-years-old how often can Lampard get him out on the pitch?

Werner attempts to get a shot off on the edge of the box while under pressure from three Sevilla defenders in the first period

Havertz started and was influential on his Champions League debut for Chelsea on Tuesday night in the group stages

Lampard should wrap the South American in cotton wool in between games if this performance is anything to go by.

But while Chelsea’s defence finally got their act together, their attacking play lacked rhythm particularly during a largely uneventful first half.

Sevilla were fluent; entirely comfortable in possession. The Blues, in contrast, were hurried and flat as Ivan Rakitic, in his own consummate fashion, controlled the midfield for Sevilla.

Yet for all their possession, Sevilla had nothing tangible to show for their impressive opening – though Mendy did make decent saves from Sergi Gomez and Lucas Ocampos.

It was almost as if Sevilla were the home side and Lampard was clearly agitated by Chelsea’s failure to gain any semblance of control.

Mendy looked composed on his European bow for the Blues, replacing under-fire keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in the starting XI

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard looks on as his side open their Champions League campaign against the LaLiga side 

But despite their hardships, the Blues boss would have been quietly satisfied with the first-half – if not with the overall performance, then certainly with their resilience in defence.

Sevilla ended the first-half with 56 percent possession, but their concerns were clear – keeping Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic quiet for the entire 90 minutes was an unlikely scenario.

But it was Kurt Zouma who should have opened the scoring in the 48th minute, his free header from Ben Chilwell’s corner saved by Yassine Bounou.

Suddenly, Chelsea had burst in life. They were full of purpose – everything they weren’t in the first half.

Sevilla had no choice but to retreat as Chelsea, finally, asserted themselves. Werner fired a vicious low curling effort that Bounou did well to hold in the 56th minute as Chelsea continued to press.

Lampard, though, would not have been oblivious to the dangers of their more expansive start to the second half – his side’s defensive frailties testament to that.

Indeed, Sevilla gradually regained their composure to threaten again, Joan Jordan rippling the roof of Chelsea’s net with a brilliantly executed volley.

But the Londoners – led by the brilliant Silva – were in no mood to capitulate this time.

Julen Lopetegui led Sevilla to the Europa League crown last season and they are the top seeds in Group E this season

Reece James tries to win the ball from Sevilla’s Oliver Torres in the second-half as both sides hunt for a winning goal