Reece James Stars In Huge Chelsea Win, Madrid Maintain 100% UCL Record

Reece James put on a man of the match performance to steer Chelsea to an important 3-0 win against AC Milan at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Chelsea's Champions League campaign kicked into gear with an emphatic and fully deserved win to take them into second in Group E with 4 points, one behind leaders Salzburg.

Salzburg were 1-0 winners against Dinamo Zagreb earlier in the night courtesy of a second half Noah Okafor penalty.

New manager Graham Potter knew victory was essential after a poor start to their group phase with defeat away by Zagreb finishing Thomas Tuchel's reign before a draw at home to Salzburg.

Wesley Fofana scored his first goal for the club after 24 minutes when Milan failed to clear a corner, although the £70m defender's night was soon ended by injury.

It was a rare anxious moment and the second half belonged to Chelsea, and James in particular, the right-back demonstrating why he commands such faith at club level and from England manager Gareth Southgate.

James was the provider after 56 minutes when he crossed for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to apply a simple finish, then he was the finisher five minutes later with a powerful strike which flew high past Milan keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu at his near post.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid maintained their 100% record in the Champions League as they edged Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeau.

The holders' early dominance told as Rodrygo opened the scoring before Vinicius Jr extended the lead and Oleksandr Zubkov gave the Ukrainian visitors hope with a well-taken header.

However, Shakhtar could not find a leveller as the Spanish giants moved closer to securing their spot in the knockout rounds.

Shakhtar remain in second place with 4 points, after RB Leipzig beat Celtic 3-1 in the other Group F encounter of the night.