Down the other end, Zappacosta is denied a chance to add a fifth by Etheridge, drilling his shot straight to the keeper.
87'
Is that a penalty shout? Paterson appears to be tripped by Luiz as he looks to chase a waylaid header in the Chelsea box but the referee waves him away to his disbelief.
84'
D. Zappacosta enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
Chelsea make their final change now; Davide Zappacosta hits the pitch to replace hat-trick hero Hazard.
83'
Willian has scored a goal for Chelsea!
WILLIAN MAKES IT 4-1 TO CHELSEA! The substitute gets his name on the scoresheet too as a cross aimed for Hazard in the middle of the box is deflected en-route by a back-heel from Ralls, only to fall at Willian's feet 18 yards out who duly lifts it into the top-right corner with a fast response. Cardiff don't deserve this result for their spirit today - but spirit doesn't win you games.
82'
A hero-to-zero moment for Bamba there after what has been a fine game for him individually - though he would be well within his rights to feel hard done by with that call against him.
80'
Penalty goal scored by E. Hazard for Chelsea!
HAZARD GETS THE HAT-TRICK! 3-1 TO CHELSEA! The Belgium man steps up calmly and blasts the ball in at the right post as Etheridge goes the wrong way. That'll most likely be the full three points for the Blues; Cardiff's wait for a win continues.
79'
Penalty to Chelsea! Chasing a long ball, Willian goes to ground under pressure from the pursuing Bamba in what looks like a 50-50 call. The referee points to the spot though and Hazard will have a chance to complete his hat-trick.
77'
G. Madine enters the game and replaces D. Ward.
Gary Madine is the final man to arrive for Cardiff, replacing Ward as the visitors look to throw themselves forward in the closing stages.
Minute
Description
75'
Cardiff seem split in two minds as the game lulls for a moment; they have the gutsy quality to go forward but seem afraid to do so in case Chelsea spark a blistering counter-move through Hazard, similar to the kind that helped pile on the pressure in the first half.
71'
C. Paterson enters the game and replaces B. De Cordova-Reid.
Cardiff respond with one of their own, bringing on Callum Paterson for Reid, just after the latter wins a free kick for a foul by Jorginho.
68'
Willian enters the game and replaces Pedro.
Chelsea make a second change now; Pedro is replaced by Willian for the final passage of this game.
67'
Down the other end, Reid goes close for Cardiff, stepping around Luiz on the left side of the box and attempting to curl a low shot in at the far post, just brushing the outside of the woodwork with his effort.
64'
A corner for Chelsea allows them to spend a spell leaning heavily on the Cardiff defence - but their intricate passing routines can't unlock their opponents this time.
62'
Pedro misses from 10 yards out! That will be one to forget for the Chelsea forward who is given a lovely cut-back pass to set himself up bang in front of the goal, only to put his shot wide to the left.
61'
Reid lopes off downfield seeking a towering long ball, and he neatly gets around Luiz in his pursuit. It's all for naught in the end as Kepa nips in to scoop up in the end before he can get there.
59'
Cardiff have - wisely - started this second half with a little more attacking intent than they ended the first but Chelsea now look relatively imperious with the ball at their feet; they still have three times as much possession as their visitors.
57'
Azpilicueta lobs a low cross into the Cardiff box seeking either Hazard or Giroud; neither are able to beat the bounce of the ball to Etheridge though who collects calmly under pressure.
52'
Cardiff win a throw-in on the right wing close to the Chelsea box which Morrison puts long. Kepa clears the first attempt back out for a second throw, which Ralls meets at the edge of the box and lashes wide of the left post.
50'
R. Barkley enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
Kovacic went down in back-play in the build-up to that move and he will play no further part in this game; Ross Barkley takes his place for Chelsea.
48'
Cardiff win themselves a free-kick just inside their own half and look to shuttle it wide to the left; however, strong defence from Rudiger holds off Reid and Chelsea win a free-kick.
46'
J. Richards enters the game and replaces H. Arter.
...Jazz Richards has been brought on by Cardiff to replace Arter.
We're back underway at Stamford Bridge and there's a change from the visitors...
45' +3
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 2-1 CARDIFF CITY
45'
Three added minutes incoming.
44'
HAZARD MAKES IT 2-1 TO CHELSEA! An utterly delightful piece of play from the Blues puts them into the lead for the first time in this game as the break approaches. Alonso releases Pedro into the box, who cuts back a pass between defenders from the left to find Giroud in the middle, who immediately plays it back to Hazard who tucks in a finish at the near post that takes a lucky bounce off Morrison to beat Etheridge. The hosts are in front.
Take nothing away from the play of Chelsea there but were it not for the lucky bounce off Morrison, Etheridge would have most likely seen that attempt off. The Cardiff keeper has been excellent today so far.
43'
E. Hazard has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by O. Giroud.
41'
Another delay for injury in this match, with Cardiff's Arter the man this time needing the touch of the magic sponge.
37'
E. Hazard has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by O. Giroud.
HAZARD LEVELS FOR CHELSEA! 1-1! The Belgium forward puts his side back onto level pegging with a rather typical finish by his standard; meeting a square pass from Giroud on the right flank, eluding a weak tackle from Bennett before turning the ball across Etheridge to nestle it in the bottom-left corner. The Blues resume normal service.
Giroud, lacking that killer instinct in front of goal today, turns provider with an unselfish assist that rode its luck as Bennett made a rather lacking challenge on Hazard. Maurizio Sarri will be relieved.
36'
A second chance for Pedro in the space of three minutes; this time however, he is even further off the mark, looking to turn a one-touch finish in from Azpilicueta's cross, only to put it somewhere into the stand behind.
33'
Pedro goes close again with a lovely floated shot from the edge of the Cardiff penalty area, after he foxes two defenders and sends them the wrong way. Etheridge leaps to tip it over but the ball ghosts past his fingers and the crossbar to land on the netted roof.
31'
Danger for Cardiff now as Arter trips Hazard on the edge of the box following the set-piece, with Chelsea poised nicely to take their 20-yard free-kick. Alas, Alonso cannot get the angle to curl the ball back in upon itself around the defensive wall and he pushes it wide at the left post.
30'
Bamba is playing a blinder in attack and defence today; he cuts sharply across another Azpilicueta cross thumped in from the right wing for Giroud, putting it out for a corner.
28'
There's a delay in play now at Stamford Bridge with Ward down injured after what appeared to be some attention to the face from Rudiger.
26'
Hazard attempts to lift a cross to the right post from out on the left wing, seeking Pedro; he just gets a little too much distance on it though and finds the roof of the net.
24'
Pedro! From 15 yards out, the Chelsea man turns in the Cardiff box to step around Bennett and chips a shot inches wide of the left post. The hosts are throwing everything they've got at their visitors to level things up.
22'
Again, Chelsea can't keep up the pressure from the corner and Morrison is able to release Arter, who speeds away from any danger with the ball at his feet.
20'
Another strike for Giroud, another miss. The Frenchman is released through a swift counter-attack from halfway, and looks to be one-on-one with Etheridge, only for Bamba to fly across with a wonderful slide tackle to deny him.
18'
Chelsea spoon the corner in but can't get another shot away, and then Kante clips Reid down to concede the free-kick. Cardiff are given a moment to breathe.
17'
Chelsea look to make an instant response and almost do, as Kovacic flies off into the Cardiff box following a superb long delivery; the quick legs of Etheridge deflect his shot though and see it over the crossbar.
16'
S. Bamba has scored a goal for Cardiff City! Assist by S. Morrison.
What a free-kick from Ralls and what a header from Morrison. Chelsea's defence was set up firmly there, but they didn't quite catch Bamba tearing away from them in time to meet the header.
SOL BAMBA FOR CARDIFF! 1-0 TO THE VISITORS! It's a deserved lead for Neil Warnock's side as Ralls floats in a wonderful crossfield kick that finds captain Morrison on the left edge of the box. He heads back inside to the centre and Bamba lands a flying kick to tuck it past Kepa. Lovely stuff from the Welsh outfit.
15'
Cardiff pick up a free-kick just inside the own half after Luiz manhandles Ward with a rough challenge. Ralls to take...
12'
Cardiff win themselves another corner out on the right flank and duly swing it into the six-yard box. Bamba meets it before everyone else; his downward header takes a sharper angle than intended however and is skewed wide of the far post.
9'
It's not Giroud's day in front of goal as he crashes onto a short pass inside from the left wing courtesy of Alonso and smothers it wide of the near post by some margin.
8'
A second great chance in as many minutes for Chelsea as they break from halfway with Hazard zipping down the left wing. He turns a square pass in for Kante who lofts a half-volley in for Giroud to meet with a header - but the latter's touch takes the edge off the ball and Etheridge claims it with ease.
6'
The Blues go close with their first serious attack of the game; Giroud steers a header just wide to the upper right post from the centre of the box as he meets Azpilicueta's cross.
5'
Hoilett picks up a free-kick just inside his own half on the left flank following a foul from Kante.
4'
Manga wins Cardiff the first corner of the game as Alonso deflects out his cross, but the visitors can't seriously trouble the goalkeeper at the set-piece, with Rudiger the man to eventually clear from the defensive line.
3'
The hosts skip a long ball downfield, seeking Kante in the forward position; it eludes him though and Etheridge claims on the edge of his box.
1'
We are underway at Stamford Bridge in this Premier League tie between Chelsea and Cardiff City! The visitors push first, and go down the right wing - but under pressure, Camarasa fudges his cross and puts the ball out for a goal-kick.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2018-19 Premier League as unbeaten Chelsea square off against winless Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge. Maurizio Sarri's side are undefeated four games into the new season - but will Neil Warnock's outfit be able to spring a big surprise as they look to pick up their first victory of the campaign?
With the international break concluded, it's back to business as usual in English football - and for Chelsea, that means keeping touch with league leaders Liverpool, who made it five wins from five earlier today against Tottenham. As for Cardiff, with only two draws keeping them off the bottom, they need to kick-start themselves to avoid a near-certain relegation battle - can they do so against the odds in London?
Team news now and the Blues make just the two swaps from their win a fortnight ago against Bournemouth; Pedro and Oliver Giroud are handed starts having missed the first-choice XI last time around.
As for Cardiff, they have no changes whatsoever in their starting XI - and on the bench, only Jazz Richards joins the matchday party.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz; N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho; Pedro, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard.
Subs: Davide Zappacosta, Willy Caballero, Andreas Christensen, Daniel Drinkwater, Alvaro Morata, Ross Barkley, Willian.
Subs: Brian Murphy, Greg Cunningham, Jazz Richards, Kenneth Zohore, Callum Paterson, Lee Peltier, Gary Madine.
CARDIFF CITY (4-4-1-1): Neil Etheridge; Sean Morrison, Joe Bennett, Sol Bamba, Bruno Ecuele Manga; Joe Ralls, Víctor Camarasa, David Junior Hoilett, Harry Arter; Bobby Reid; Danny Ward.
Chelsea have won 10 of their last 12 league meetings with Cardiff (D1 L1), including both previous Premier League meetings in the 2013-14 campaign.
The teams are out and we're moments away from kick-off.
A brace for Eden Hazard has turned an engaging contest on its head at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea overcome Sol Bamba's wonderful finish to put themselves in front at the break. The visitors' early lead was well-deserved but the Blues have been knocking on the door ever since with an overwhelming 76 percent possession - and with two goals from their Belgian superstar, they have put themselves in pole position to make it five wins from five. At half-time, it's Chelsea 2-1 Cardiff City.
10 minutes before the whistle, both team talks would have told a different story - but now, Neil Warnock must motivate his men to pull themselves back into this game. As for Maurizio Sarri, he will want more of the same folllowing his side's slow start - and he will expect them to deliver.
It hung in the balance for 80 minutes, but in the end, Eden Hazard's hat-trick penalty and Willian's late effort ensure that Chelsea make it five wins from five in the 2018-19 Premier League against a spirited Cardiff City. Neil Warnock's side will see the end scoreline as something of an affront given the effort they exerted throughout - but Maurizio Sarri will be content to take the three points in engaging fashion once more. Full-time at Stamford Bridge, it finishes Chelsea 4-1 Cardiff City.
Cardiff's hunt for a win doesn't get any easier next week; they face champions Manchester City at home seven days from now. As for Chelsea, they have a London derby to contest, with West Ham United. Until then however, thank you for joining us - and have a good weekend!
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