UEFA Champions League: Chelsea hammers Malmo 4-0, strikers Lukaku and Werner injured

Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 win over Sweden's Malmo on Wednesday in a one-sided contest settled by goals from Andreas Christensen and Kai Havertz and two penalties converted by Jorginho.

Published : Oct 21, 2021 08:38 IST , LONDON

Chelsea's Kai Havertz (Left) celebrates with teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi (Right) after scoring the third goal during the 4-0 Champions League win over Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz (Left) celebrates with teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi (Right) after scoring the third goal during the 4-0 Champions League win over Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
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Chelsea's Kai Havertz (Left) celebrates with teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi (Right) after scoring the third goal during the 4-0 Champions League win over Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 win over Sweden's Malmo in Group H of the Champions League on Wednesday in a one-sided contest settled by goals from Andreas Christensen and Kai Havertz and two penalties converted by Jorginho.

But the win came at a price for the European champion - which was seeking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat by Juventus in its previous group game - as strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner both hobbled off in the first half.

Christensen, playing his 137th game for Chelsea, scored his first goal for the club in the ninth minute when he volleyed home a cross from Thiago Silva.

Nine minutes later, Lukaku was felled in the box by Malmo's Lasse Nielsen - a challenge which led to the Belgian's substitution - and Jorginho made no mistake from the spot.

READ: UEFA Champions League: Relentless Bayern wins 4-0 against Benfica

Werner limped off shortly before halftime but there was no respite for the visitor as the second half got under way under pouring rain.

“We have a twist of the ankle for Romelu and muscle injury and hamstring for Timo," said Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel.

“They will be some time out.”

Callum Hudson-Odoi raced half the length of the pitch to set up fellow substitute Havertz to score with an angled shot that went in off the far post in the 48th minute.

Eight minutes later, Chelsea won another penalty when Eric Larsson barged into Antonio Rudiger as he was about to shoot and Jorginho scored again from 12 yards.

Tuchel took no chances with his selection, fielding a full-strength side with Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva back in defence, Jorginho restored to midfield and Mason Mount starting for the first time in over a month.

The coach who led Chelsea to Champions League glory against Manchester City last May and whose side is top of the Premier League had suggested before the game that some of his players might have lost a little motivation through playing too much.

He mentioned Lukaku in particular. “In this moment I feel like Romelu is a bit overplayed, he played too many games over the summer... It is difficult to judge if he really needs a break or if we need to keep him on the pitch,”

The win left Chelsea on six points, three points behind Group H leader Juventus who scored late to win 1-0 away at Zenit St Petersburg.

Malmo, which failed to register a shot on target against the Londoners, has yet to earn a point and has conceded 11 goals in three games so far, scoring none.

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