Chelsea 4-0 Malmo: Chelsea outclasses Malmo as Jorginho scores two penalties | UCL 2021-22

Jorginho of Chelsea checks on Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea
Jorginho of Chelsea checks on Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea

Chelsea continued their UCL title defence with a 4-0 win over Malmo in their third group match of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League season on Wednesday.

Thomas Tuchel’s side produced a complete display at Stamford Bridge, dominating their visitors from Sweden from start to finish.First-half goals from Andre Christensen and Jorginho gave the hosts a commanding lead in the first half, before  Kai Havertz and another Jorginho goal completed the rout for Tuchel. 

However, the game was not all plain sailing for the London side, who lost Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injuries in the first half.

After losing to Juventus in their last UCL game, Chelsea needed a win here to ensure that they kept their chances of qualifying from this group alive. With that in mind, the home team began the game with purpose, fashioning out many chances early in the game.

It didn’t take long before they were ahead through Andre Christensen who headed home from a corner. Their second goal of the evening came in the 21st minute through a Jorginho penalty after Lukaku had been fouled in the box. 

But the tackle on the Belgian was worse than feared as he could no longer continue the game and had to be replaced by Kai Havertz. However, soon after Lukaku’s injury, Timo Werner had to be replaced by Callum Hudson-Odoi after the German had picked up what appeared to be a knock. 

But Chelsea did not allow their setback to affect them and they 3-0 up just after the restart, with substitute Kai Havertz finishing a quick counter. 

Jorginho made it four for Chelsea in the 58th minute after a foul on Ridiger in the Malmo box. 

Chelsea is back to their attacking best 

Chelsea did not go into this tie just in need of a only win–they went in intending to produce a commanding performance.

The Blues had not lit up the Champions League this season and had only Lukaku’s goal in the opening game against Zenit to show this term. Their lucky win against Brentford over the weekend had fans worried that they had been found out. 

But against Malmo on Tuesday, they proved that they remain a solid side, as they produced a good attacking football filled with goals. 

Thomas Tuchel will now hope that his side can reproduce this form in their next run of fixtures beginning with Norwich on Saturday.

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Injury headache for Tuchel

Although Tuchel would be glad his side won this game, he’ll be disappointed with the cost he had to pay to win.

The German lost both of his strikers Lukaku and Werner to injuries. After suggesting that he might rest Lukaku for this tie due to the striker playing over 64 games this year alone, Tuchel decided to start his star man, only for the Belgian to limp out injured.

He will be hoping that the injury isn’t so serious and will not keep Lukaku for long in the treatment room, while he will also be praying that Werner returns to the side soonest. 

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Malmo’s poor run continues 

Malmo are looking like a doomed team. Their loss to Chelsea extended their losing run in the group stage of the competition to three games, condemning them to the bottom of the group. 

To be fair to them, few expected them to progress in this difficult group, with the other teams in the group stronger than them. 

But the manner of their losses will leave their fans embarrassed and asking why they came to the tournament.

In three group games, the Swedish side have conceded eleven times and are yet to score. 

If they continue at this rate, it will not be long before they are eliminated from Europe.