LONDON: Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic seized the initiative in the absence of out-of-form Romelu Lukaku to lead Chelsea’s to a 2-0 Champions League second round first leg win over Lille at Stamford Bridge.

The night’s other tie saw Juventus draw 1-1 with Villarreal. New Juve signing Dusan Vlahovic scored after only 32 seconds.

Germany forward Havertz nodded in Hakim Ziyech’s fizzing corner, before Pulisic slotted home from N’Golo Kante’s threaded pass in a dominant last-16 first-leg victory.

Havertz impressed in the false nine role as £98m record signing Lukaku watched from the substitutes’ bench.

The Champions League holders are now firm favourites to reach the quarter-finals, with Sunday’s League Cup Final against Liverpool on the immediate horizon.

Chelsea will worry, however, about the fitness of Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic who both had to be substituted because of injuries.

Advantage Juve

Dusan Vlahovic scored the quickest Champions League debut goal ever before Juventus were pulled back to a 1-1 draw against Villarreal in Spain.

The 22-year-old Serb, a £58m signing from Fiorentina last month, ran onto Danilo’s long ball before a swivel and clever finish after 32 seconds.

Villarreal’s Giovani lo Celso sliced a shot off the outside of the post.

The leveller came when Dani Parejo ghosted in to finish from Etienne Capoue’s aerial ball into the box.

Juve were fortunate to end with 11 men as Adrien Rabiot was only booked for a dangerous foul on Samuel Chukwueze.

With the away goal rule scrapped this year the tie is level going into the second leg in Turin in three weeks.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve are unbeaten in 90 minutes since November but they were made to pay for their negativity at Estadio de la Ceramica.

They moved to a back five after scoring that first-minute goal and then switched off as Parejo was unmarked to fire in a leveller.

A Vlahovic shot from outside the box in the 85th minute was their only other shot on target.

Villarreal, who have never lost a home game in the Champions League knockout stages, pushed for a winner but definitely missed injured Spain striker Gerard Moreno.

Arnaut Danjuma, who has deputised up front and scored a hat-trick at Granada on Saturday, had a clever backheel shot saved in the first half.

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