• CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 6: Stroll in the park for the Senegalese goalkeeper as Malmo failed to register a single shot on target or even remotely look like scoring. EPA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 6: Stroll in the park for the Senegalese goalkeeper as Malmo failed to register a single shot on target or even remotely look like scoring. EPA
  • Andreas Christensen - 8: Memorable night for the Dane as he volleyed home his first goal for Chelsea after nine minutes. AP
    Andreas Christensen - 8: Memorable night for the Dane as he volleyed home his first goal for Chelsea after nine minutes. AP
  • Thiago Silva - 7: Picked out defensive colleague Christensen with cross for Chelsea opener and had little problem dealing with Malmo’s powder-puff attack at other end. PA
    Thiago Silva - 7: Picked out defensive colleague Christensen with cross for Chelsea opener and had little problem dealing with Malmo’s powder-puff attack at other end. PA
  • Antonio Rudiger - 7: Swing and a miss with early opportunity in Malmo box. Caught out by one ball over top but Antonio Colak blazed wildly over bar. Bundled over in box to earn Chelsea their second penalty. Smashed one free-kick about 20 metres high and wide in last few minutes. Getty
    Antonio Rudiger - 7: Swing and a miss with early opportunity in Malmo box. Caught out by one ball over top but Antonio Colak blazed wildly over bar. Bundled over in box to earn Chelsea their second penalty. Smashed one free-kick about 20 metres high and wide in last few minutes. Getty
  • Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Had freedom to attack down right with little attacking threat from Malmo coming the other way. A comfortable night’s work for the Spaniard. AP
    Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Had freedom to attack down right with little attacking threat from Malmo coming the other way. A comfortable night’s work for the Spaniard. AP
  • N’Golo Kante - 8: Usual industrious self in midfield, always making himself available to teammates, tidying up in front of defence and not giving Malmo players any time on ball. Top quality. AFP
    N’Golo Kante - 8: Usual industrious self in midfield, always making himself available to teammates, tidying up in front of defence and not giving Malmo players any time on ball. Top quality. AFP
  • Jorginho - 8: Went down in box after 15 minutes claiming penalty – but rightly turned down. Drilled home from spot minutes later, anyway, after Lukaku was hacked down in box. Second penalty dispatched just as confidently early in second half. AFP
    Jorginho - 8: Went down in box after 15 minutes claiming penalty – but rightly turned down. Drilled home from spot minutes later, anyway, after Lukaku was hacked down in box. Second penalty dispatched just as confidently early in second half. AFP
  • Ben Chilwell - 7: Wingback was looking to continue recent three-game scoring run, heading an early chance over bar and firing shot straight at keeper Johan Dahlin in first half. No joy this time, though. EPA
    Ben Chilwell - 7: Wingback was looking to continue recent three-game scoring run, heading an early chance over bar and firing shot straight at keeper Johan Dahlin in first half. No joy this time, though. EPA
  • Mason Mount - 7: Fizzed one fine low ball across six-yard box that somehow missed all his teammates and beautiful flick to Kante on edge of box later in first half. Half chance later in game from corner but couldn’t keep header down. AFP
    Mason Mount - 7: Fizzed one fine low ball across six-yard box that somehow missed all his teammates and beautiful flick to Kante on edge of box later in first half. Half chance later in game from corner but couldn’t keep header down. AFP
  • Timo Werner - 6: Bad early miss – given offside but would have counted after VAR check - suggested it could be another one of those days for German. And, low and behold, looked like his hamstring went just before break and it was game over. Getty
    Timo Werner - 6: Bad early miss – given offside but would have counted after VAR check - suggested it could be another one of those days for German. And, low and behold, looked like his hamstring went just before break and it was game over. Getty
  • Romelu Lukaku 7 – Scythed down in box by Lasse Nielsen before he looked set to end scoring drought to earn Jorginho’s penalty. Hurt ankle in process and couldn’t continue. Had started game well and injuries to his two key attackers will be major concern for Thomas Tuchel. AFP
    Romelu Lukaku 7 – Scythed down in box by Lasse Nielsen before he looked set to end scoring drought to earn Jorginho’s penalty. Hurt ankle in process and couldn’t continue. Had started game well and injuries to his two key attackers will be major concern for Thomas Tuchel. AFP
  • SUBS: Kai Havertz – (On for Lukaku 23’) 7: Tried to catch out Dahlin with near-post shot but keeper saved well and clipped another shot over bar before half-time. No mistake just after break with third attempt – a lovely dinked finish over Malmo’s substitute keeper and into net off inside of post. AFP
    SUBS: Kai Havertz – (On for Lukaku 23’) 7: Tried to catch out Dahlin with near-post shot but keeper saved well and clipped another shot over bar before half-time. No mistake just after break with third attempt – a lovely dinked finish over Malmo’s substitute keeper and into net off inside of post. AFP
  • Callum Hudson-Odoi – (On for Werner 44’) 7: Surging run from deep and nice ball through to set up Havertz’s goal. Almost had one himself but curled shot too close to keeper. EPA
    Callum Hudson-Odoi – (On for Werner 44’) 7: Surging run from deep and nice ball through to set up Havertz’s goal. Almost had one himself but curled shot too close to keeper. EPA
  • Saul Niguez – (On for Kante 65’) 6: No opportunity for the Spaniard to make his mark. PA
    Saul Niguez – (On for Kante 65’) 6: No opportunity for the Spaniard to make his mark. PA
  • Reece James – (On for Azpilicueta 65’) 6: Immediately looking to get involved with Chelsea attacks with team already settled in cruise control. EPA
    Reece James – (On for Azpilicueta 65’) 6: Immediately looking to get involved with Chelsea attacks with team already settled in cruise control. EPA
  • Marcos Alonso – (On for Chilwell 66’) 6: First contribution to game was being nutmegged in impressive fashion. Getty
    Marcos Alonso – (On for Chilwell 66’) 6: First contribution to game was being nutmegged in impressive fashion. Getty

Chelsea player ratings v Malmo: Jorginho 8, Kai Havertz 7, Timo Werner 6


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Chelsea strolled to a 4-0 Champions League win over Malmo on Wednesday, outclassing their Swedish opponents from start to finish.

But the victory was overshadowed by the first-half injuries to key attackers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.

The Premier League club's first goal at Stamford Bridge came from an unlikely source. Nine minutes in, Thiago Silva curled over a fine cross into the middle where fellow defender Andreas Christensen was on hand to volley home his first goal for the club.

Goal No 2 arrived 11 minutes later - but at a cost. Belgium striker Lukaku - who manager Thomas Tuchel had described the previous day as having been "overplayed" by his country during the summer - was hacked down in the box, allowing Jorginho the chance to put Chelsea two-up from the spot.

Lukaku, though, had been injured by Lasse Nielsen's poor challenge and limped gingerly off the pitch after failing to run off what looked like an ankle problem.

Germany's Werner then joined his attacking teammate on the sidelines after pulling up just before half-time with what looked like a hamstring problem.

The third goal came after a galloping run forward by Callum Hudson-Odoi who then put fellow substitute Kai Havertz through on goal and the German produced a beautiful dinked finish over the Malmo goalkeeper.

Antonio Rudiger was then shoved over in the 57th minute to give Chelsea their second penalty and Jorginho again made no mistake from the spot to complete the night's scoring.

The result leaves Chelsea second in Group H, three points behind leaders Juventus, who won 1-0 at Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday, thanks to a late Dejan Kulusevski goal.

So the reigning European champions are on course to reach the knockout stage again this season, but the injuries to Lukaku and Werner will be a big worry for manager Thomas Tuchel.

Player ratings for Chelsea can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Updated: October 21, 2021, 3:59 AM