Uefa Champions League Group C: Chelsea 3 Roma 3
EDEN Hazard admitted avoiding defeat was a priority for Chelsea in their 3-3 Champions League draw with Roma.
Chelsea came into the match on the back of consecutive Premier League defeats to Manchester City and Crystal Palace, and were facing a third straight loss after the Italians rallied from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 with 20 minutes to go.
But Hazard headed in a late equaliser to secure a draw which keeps Chelsea top of Group C ahead of their trip to Rome at the end of the month.
"We talked about this," Hazard said of the preceding defeats, "but we gave everything at the end of the game and we scored one (to equalise) and maybe we should score another one to win the game.
"But one point is enough today after two defeats, it's not easy to bounce back against a great team but we did."
David Luiz had fired Chelsea ahead before Hazard doubled their advantage but Roma stormed back, inspired by ex-Manchester City pair Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko.
Kolarov pulled one back with the help of a deflection before Dzeko scored a brace - the first a stunning volley.
Hazard's leveller means Chelsea top the group with seven points, two ahead of Roma, with three games left to play.
"It was a good result for both teams, but when you are 2-0 up at home you must win the game," Hazard added.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side had "suffered" and put it down to the enforced change in formation due to injury problems in midfield.
"I think we suffered with possession, it wasn't easy in the first half despite (the fact) we scored two goals," he said. "The change of the system, it wasn't good but when you are in a difficult situation you have to change sometimes, to improvise.
"I think in the second half we changed, we came back to 3-4-2-1 and the situation changed."
Luiz, employed in midfield in the absence of N'Golo Kante, was replaced early in the second half.
"(He has) a little problem in his calf," Conte said. "In this moment, I can't risk my players, because we are playing always the same players so it's very difficult now to risk someone and to lose him for many times."
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta (Rudiger 77), Fabregas, Luiz (Pedro 57), Bakayoko, Alonso, Morata, Hazard (Willian 80).
Subs Not Used: Caballero, Kenedy, Batshuayi, Scott.
Booked: Bakayoko.
Goals: Luiz 11, Hazard 37, 75.
Roma: Alisson, Bruno Peres, Fazio, Juan Jesus, Kolarov, Nainggolan, Gonalons, Strootman (Florenzi 83), Gerson (Lorenzo Pellegrini 73), Dzeko, Perotti (El Shaarawy 88).
Subs Not Used: Skorupski, Moreno, De Rossi, Under.
Goals: Kolarov 40, Dzeko 64, 70.
Ref: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
