Chelsea 4-0 Malmo: Player ratings as Blues cruise to victory

Chelsea eased past Malmo
Chelsea eased past Malmo / Clive Rose/GettyImages
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Chelsea returned to winning ways in the Champions League with a 4-0 victory at home to Malmo, but were dealt with two massive blows as Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner were brought off with first-half injuries.

The Blues eased past the Swedish champions, who failed to lay a glove on the reigning champions of Europe at Stamford Bridge and remain rooted to the foot of Group H.

Chelsea were on top of their visitors from the off. Malmo failed to deal with the early press, with Mason Mount winning the ball high up the pitch and releasing Lukaku. He picked out Werner with a low cross, but it bounced off the German's heel and he missed from mere yards out.

Lukaku had a deflected effort well saved by Johan Dahlin, but the Blues didn't have to wait too long as Andreas Christensen opened his Chelsea account after nine minutes, volleying home from Thiago Silva's cross.

Chelsea had appeals for a penalty dismissed when Jorginho was brought down, but did get one soon after when Lasse Nielsen fouled Lukaku minutes later, and the Italy international hop, skipped and jumped his way onto the scoresheet from the spot.

But that was the end of the Belgian's night as he limped off with an ankle injury. His replacement, Kai Havertz nearly added a third for the Blues just before half-time but the angle was too tight to squeeze it in at Dahlin's near post.

Werner also had to be subbed for Callum Hudson-Odoi following an injury of his own, and the two subs combined to add a third for Chelsea almost immediately after half-time. The winger slipped through Havertz to chip over replacement goalkeeper Ismael Diawara, with his effort cooly rolling in off the post.

Antonio Rudiger was shoved over by Eric Larsson from close range just before the hour mark and Chelsea were awarded another penalty, with Jorginho making no mistake to grab his brace.

Thomas Tuchel's side controlled the ball for the remainder of the game without ever creating much more, but didn't need to as the job was completed long before the final whistle.


Chelsea player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Thiago Silva
Silva returned to the starting lineup / James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages

Edouard Mendy (GK) - 5/10 - Was busy at Brentford at the weekend. Not so much here.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - 8/10 - Superbly taken first goal for Chelsea. Not to be mistaken with Malmo's Anders Christiansen.

Thiago Silva (CB) - 8/10 - Calm and collected as always, plus an outrageous assist to boot.

Antonio Rudiger (CB) - 7/10 - Won the penalty for Chelsea's fourth, ensuring all three starting centre-backs were involved among the goals someway or another.

2. Midfielders

Jorginho, Ben Chilwell
Jorginho grabbed a brace / Catherine Ivill/GettyImages

Cesar Azpilicueta (RM) - 6/10 - Didn't do too much but didn't need to. Showed up, tucked his shirt in, went home.

N'Golo Kante (CM) - 7/10 - Your standard box-to-box performance from Chelsea's main man.

Jorginho (CM) - 8/10 - Scored two penalties but notably got outpaced by the referee, again. All in a day's work for Jorginho.

Ben Chilwell (LM) - 6/10 - Similar to Azpilicueta but without his shirt tucked in. Fix up, Ben.

3. Forwards

Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Tuchel
Lukaku was forced off with injury / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Mason Mount (RW) - 7/10 - Roamed around the final third probing with intensity.

Romelu Lukaku (CF) - 7/10 - Bullied the Malmo defenders in the 20 or so minutes he was on the pitch.

Timo Werner (LW) - 6/10 - Was always a threat but couldn't find the net.

4. Substitutes

Kai Havertz (CF) - 8/10 - Relished playing as a central striker, which he'll probably have to do a lot more of now.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (LW) - 8/10 - Made the most of a rare 45 minutes of action.

Saul Niguez (CM) - 6/10

Reece James (RM) - 6/10

Marcos Alonso (LM) - 5/10