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Chelsea put four past Malmo but win overshadowed by injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner

Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea clutches his ankle after being fouled during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. - GETTY IMAGES
Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea clutches his ankle after being fouled during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. - GETTY IMAGES
  • Chelsea score early before Lukaku wins a penalty from a challenge that forces him off injured

  • Werner also limps off before half-time with a hamstring injury

  • Havertz scores third before Jorginho converts his second penalty of the night

Chelsea got their Champions League campaign back on track, but the victory came at a cost as strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner were both forced off with first-half injuries.

Goals from Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, twice from the penalty spot, and substitute Kai Havertz made sure Chelsea emphatically bounced back from Group H defeat to Juventus by thrashing Malmo.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel, though, was left sweating over how long he will be missing Chelsea’s record £97.5million signing Lukaku, who suffered an ankle injury, and Werner who went off holding his hamstring.

“We have a twist of the ankle for Romelu and a hamstring for Timo, so they will be some games out I guess,” said Tuchel. “We need time to do some examinations, but they will be out for some matches.

“We have a lot of games, a lot of competitions, so now we have to deal and find solutions, no excuses. Now we need to find solutions and guys who waited for their chance need to step up and score. The race is on, the guys who start against Norwich have our trust and we will try to find new solutions. We don't want these problems too often, but it happens during a season.”

The injuries did not cause Chelsea any problem against Malmo on Wednesday night, with Lukaku’s replacement Havertz getting on the scoresheet. And with fixtures to come against Norwich City, Southampton in the Carabao Cup and Newcastle United, the Premier League leaders may not miss Lukaku and Werner too much if they have to spend some time on the sidelines.

But the Malmo game, together with the forthcoming run of fixtures, had offered an opportunity for Lukaku and Werner to hit top form and rediscover some confidence.

Tuchel had spoken like a man who had toyed with the idea of resting Lukaku ahead of this game, claiming he had played too much for Belgium and that he was mentally, as well as physically, fatigued.

He might have wished he had given him the night off, when Lukaku had to be substituted in the 23rd minute with Chelsea already two goals up but Tuchel insisted he had no regrets over his selection.

“We spoke about the fact he carries a bit of mental fatigue, but he is our number nine and the best thing for him would be to score a goal,” said Tuchel. “I had a strong belief he could turn things around in terms of scoring and things like this can happen. I don’t regret it.”

Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea is embraced by Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea as he is substituted off during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England.  - GETTY IMAGES
Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea is embraced by Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea as he is substituted off during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

It was the challenge from which Lukaku won the penalty, scored by Jorginho, that ended the Belgian’s evening. He had twisted and turned his way into the area before being taken out by Lasse Nielsen.

Following treatment on his right ankle, Lukaku attempted to continue but, as Jorginho celebrated scoring from the spot, the striker signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced and Havertz was sent on.

Lukaku had clearly sensed that this had been an opportunity for him to break his goal drought that had stretched over six Chelsea games before the visit of Malmo.

It only took five minutes for Lukaku to put the ball on a plate for Werner at the front post, but the German side-footed wide from a couple of yards. The flag went up for offside, but replays suggested the goal would have stood had Werner hit the target.

Malmo goalkeeper Johan Dhalin was then called into action to tip a shot from Lukaku wide that had taken a heavy deflection and it seemed like a matter of time before the Inter Milan man would find the back of the net.

The first Chelsea goal came in the ninth minute, courtesy of the most unlikely source as Christensen netted his first-ever Chelsea goal. The provider was just as surprising, as it was Thiago Silva who sent in the cross from which the Dane found the back of the net.

Chelsea's Andreas Christensen scores their side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League, Group H match at Stamford Bridge, London. - PA
Chelsea's Andreas Christensen scores their side's first goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League, Group H match at Stamford Bridge, London. - PA

Jorginho felt he should have been awarded a spot kick after going down under a challenge from Nielsen, before the foul on Lukaku that left French referee Francois Letexier in no doubt.

Having seen his penalty saved in the final of the European Championships against England for Italy, Jorginho made no mistake this time to score his first goal of the season.

Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England.  - GETTY IMAGES
Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates after scoring their team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

Havertz, who scored Chelsea’s winning goal in last season’s final of the Champions League, should have netted a third for Chelsea after being sent through by N’Golo Kante.

Werner had made his way into the six-yard box when Havertz’s shot was saved, but in doing so the forward pulled up in the goalmouth and had to hobble off holding his hamstring.

Timo Werner of Chelsea is helped off the pitch after receiving medical treatment during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England.  - GETTY IMAGES
Timo Werner of Chelsea is helped off the pitch after receiving medical treatment during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2021 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

Callum Hudson-Odoi immediately replaced Werner and all of a sudden Chelsea, who had started with two forwards on the pitch, did not have an out-and-out striker in their team - not that it mattered too much against Malmo.

Tuchel was heartened by the fact that his replacements for Lukaku and Werner combined to extend Chelsea’s lead just three minutes after the restart.

Hudson-Odoi slipped a well-timed pass through for Havertz, who beat Malmo’s substitute goalkeeper Ismael Diawara by chipping the ball over him.

And Diawara was helpless to stop Jorginho scoring his second penalty of the night after Antonio Rudiger had been fouled by Eric Larsson, who pushed the defender in the back as he lined up a shot.


Chelsea vs Malmo, as it happened:


09:15 PM

That's all from me...

But read Matt Law's match report for a full recap of Chelsea's win.


08:54 PM

Juventus scored late to take three points

In the other match in this group, Juventus defeated Zenit 1-0.


08:53 PM

FULL-TIME: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Diawara stays down after a one-on-one save from Havertz who then collided with him. Corner to Chelsea. The keeper is ok to continue. Silva has a free header but guides it over the bar.

And that is that. It was extremely comprehensive. Quality performance from Chelsea tonight.


08:49 PM

90 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Malmo clip a free kick towards the Chelsea box but it is headed clear. There will be two minutes of added time.


08:47 PM

88 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Havertz executes some nifty footwork before being tripped 15 yards away from the Malmo box. Rudiger hammers the free kick towards goal after a lay off - it lands 20 rows back... He probably would not have taken that if it wasn't 4-0.


08:44 PM

86 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Chelsea continue to move the ball around, content with their considerable lead.


08:42 PM

83 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Elsewhere in the group, Zenit and Juventus are currently drawing 0-0 with five minutes to go. Handy for Chelsea, that.


08:40 PM

81 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Mount breaks into the box and wins his side a corner. The corner reaches Mount, who is lurking at the back post, but he can only put it wide.


08:38 PM

79 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Malmo are sitting deep, attempting to stop a fifth going in. Chelsea are spreading the ball from side to side, patiently looking for an opening.


08:34 PM

75 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

James breaks into the Malmo box, winning a corner for his side. It is taken short before a cross is put into the box. Alonso rises highest but cannot really latch onto the ball.


08:30 PM

72 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Hudson-Odoi cuts in from the left wing but his pass is intercepted.


08:28 PM

69 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Malmo send a cross into the Chelsea box but Abubakari cannot latch onto it.


08:26 PM

67 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Changes for Chelsea; Saul on for Kante, James on for Azpilicueta and Alonso on for Chilwell. That's the lot with the two enforced first half substitutions.


08:23 PM

64 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Malmo win a corner as chants of 'Champions of Europe, we know what we are' echo around Stamford Bridge. The corner brings another. It is headed away and Larsson sends his shot well over the bar.


08:20 PM

62 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Mount switches the ball to the left flank. Chilwell has a dart towards the Malmo box but is dispossessed by a sliding challenge. The ball falls to Hudson-Odoi who unleashes a shot which is punched away. Kante hits the rebound first time but it does not trouble the keeper Diawara.


08:18 PM

59 mins: Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Hudson-Odoi has been lively since he came on, he presses the Malmo defence and Chelsea win the ball back in a good position.


08:15 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Jorginho) Chelsea 4 Malmo 0

Jorginho steps up for his second penalty of the night. He puts it down the middle again!


08:14 PM

PENALTY TO CHELSEA!

Havertz puts it on a plate for Rudiger who is knocked over as he is about to shoot. Penalty is given! Very clumsy indeed.


08:13 PM

54 mins: Chelsea 3 Malmo 0

Christiansen is booked for chopping down Kante in the Malmo half. It is just about in range to go for goal. Mount does strike it, but cannot beat the wall.

The rain is starting to come down heavily at Stamford Bridge.


08:09 PM

50 mins: Chelsea 3 Malmo 0

Kante and Mount link up once more before Mount fires a cross into the box. It is a dangerous ball but no one latches onto the end of it.


08:07 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAL! (Havertz) Chelsea 3 Malmo 0

Hudson-Odoi comes inside and then plays Havertz in who dinks it over the keeper. Lovely goal, superb work by the two substitutes.


08:06 PM

47 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Mount and Kante link up nicely before a loose pass from the Frenchman. Malmo break down the right but Hudson-Odoi does well to break up the play and counter down the left.


08:04 PM

The players are back out on the pitch

Two changes for Malmo; the keeper Dahlin off for Diawara, Abubakari on for Birmancevic.


07:49 PM

Injuries overshadow impressive half for Chelsea

Chelsea have been superb but losing both Lukaku and Werner to injury could be devastating. Lukaku injured his ankle winning a penalty while Werner's hamstring went while sprinting in behind.


07:48 PM

HALF-TIME: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

It has been all Chelsea so far. Malmo started with lots of energy but that has dipped as the half went on.

That's the half.


07:45 PM

45 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Hudson-Odoi is on for the injured Werner, who limped down the tunnel after coming off.

Havertz spins and fires a shot into the stands. He is now playing up front.

There are three minutes of added time.


07:43 PM

43 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Double bad news for Chelsea! Werner is now injured and coming off - joining Lukaku who already got injured. The German limps off holding his hamstring. This is turning into a terrible night for Tuchel.

Chelsea's corner is headed clear.


07:40 PM

41 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Werner finds space on the edge of the Malmo box, but he takes a shade too long to unleash his shot and it is blocked before threatening the goal.

Havertz breaks into the right side of the box but his shot is tipped behind by Dahlin. Sharp save.


07:38 PM

38 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Havertz and Azpilicueta attempt a one-two on the edge of the Malmo box but the German trips over the return pass.


07:36 PM

36 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Chelsea win a corner. It beats everyone. Werner dinks a cross back into the box from the other side but Malmo scramble it clear.

The Swedish side have offered very little going forward.


07:32 PM

33 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Mount rolls the ball to Chilwell on the edge of the box who curls a tame effort with his right foot straight at the keeper.

Havertz runs in behind, missing a one-on-one from a tight angle. The offside flag then goes up - he was just inches offside.


07:30 PM

31 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

A cross finds Chilwell at the back post who acrobatically scissor-kicks it over the bar. Impressive effort from the in-form wing back.


07:27 PM

28 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Malmo has their first chance. The ball over the top finds Colak who half-volleys the ball well over the bar.


07:25 PM

Christensen took his time to score...


07:25 PM

25 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Lukaku went straight down the tunnel after coming off...


07:22 PM

22 mins: Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Bad news for Chelsea; Lukaku is coming off! He limps to the sideline and is replaced by Havertz.


07:21 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Jorginho) Chelsea 2 Malmo 0

Lukaku has stayed down after that challenge. He is receiving medical treatment. Lukaku is now up, but he is limping around.

Jorginho steps up and slots the penalty down the middle. Never in doubt...


07:18 PM

PENALTY TO CHELSEA!

Lukaku is hacked down as he holds off Nielsen while breaking into the six-yard box. Easy decision this time.


07:17 PM

18 mins: Chelsea 1 Malmo 0

The replay shows Jorginho went down rather easily - perhaps it was the right call...

Werner finds some space in the box but cannot bring the ball under control.


07:16 PM

16 mins: Chelsea 1 Malmo 0

Jorginho bursts into the Malmo box and goes down under a challenge. It looks like a penalty but no decision comes from the referee! It looked like there was some contact...


07:15 PM

15 mins: Chelsea 1 Malmo 0

Mount takes the free kick but balloons it over the bar and into the stands. What a waste.


07:12 PM

13 mins: Chelsea 1 Malmo 0

It has been all Chelsea so far. Malmo cannot maintain possession. Another attack from Tuchel's side is launched but the final pass has too much on it. Chelsea attack once more and Kante is fouled on the edge of the box. Great position for a free kick, this.


07:10 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAL! (Christensen) Chelsea 1 Malmo 0

The corner is cleared, as is the second ball, but the third ball finds Christensen who volleys the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box. Superb finish from the defender!


07:08 PM

9 mins: Chelsea 0 Malmo 0

Werner drives forward before passing the ball to the right. The cross into the box is deflected into the path of Lukaku who hits it first time. The shot takes a deflection and almost wrong-foots the keeper who tips it out for a corner.


07:06 PM

7 mins: Chelsea 0 Malmo 0

Lukaku peels in behind, squaring the ball to Werner who misses from three yards out! The offside flag then goes up but the replay shows he was onside... A big miss for the German.


07:04 PM

4 mins: Chelsea 0 Malmo 0

Chelsea launch an attack down the right before a pass it cut back to Jorginho. The midfielder crosses into the box first time and Chilwell directs a header at the back post off target. The hosts come again, but Lukaku fails to control the box on the edge of the Malmo box.

Rudiger gives away a free kick after a clumsy challenge on half-way.


07:01 PM

2 mins: Chelsea 0 Malmo 0

Malmo press high up the pitch as Chelsea dominate the opening minutes. Good intent from the visitors.


06:59 PM

Here we go!

Malmo get us under way.


06:56 PM

The players are out onto the pitch

A decent crowd is starting to build at Stamford Bridge.


06:46 PM

Thomas Tuchel speaks before kick-off

"It is a strong team. We want to be at our top level, there is no other way to win in Europe. It is important to start strong and impose intensity, play our game in the opponents half.

"We want five or six players in the box at the end of our attacks."


06:37 PM

Chelsea and Malmo have met before

Chelsea and Malmo faced each other in the last 32 of the Europa League in 2018-19, with the English side winning both games and 5-1 on aggregate (2-1 away, 3-0 home).


06:26 PM

Chelsea could do with three points tonight

Having lost to Juventus last time out, the reigning champions will feel they need a win tonight to get them back on track for their trophy defence.

They are overwhelming favourites, but we have seen a number of upsets in Europe already this season.


06:16 PM

It has been a while since an English team met a Swedish team in the Champions League...

This is the first meeting between English and Swedish teams in the Champions League since the first group stage in 1999-2000, when Arsenal played AIK and beat them twice. Malmo’s only previous meeting in the European Cup with an English team was in the 1979 final, losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in Munich.


06:05 PM

Team news recap

Jorginho, Antonio Rudiger and Thiago Silva all start while Mason Mount is restored to the Chelsea starting XI too, following Saturday's gritty 1-0 Premier League win at Brentford.

Thomas Tuchel had spoken of tiredness for the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, but both men start as Chelsea looked to have switched back to their regular 3-4-3 formation.


06:00 PM

And here is the Chelsea side - Lukaku starts!


05:58 PM

Here is how the visitors line up tonight


04:43 PM

Good evening and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of Chelsea-Malmo

Tuchel believes Lukaku is drained from Belgium’s failures

By Matt Law

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is drained from Belgium’s failures in the European Championship and the Nations League and that the mental fatigue is impacting him at club level.

Lukaku started his Chelsea return brilliantly with four goals in his first four games, but he is now six club games without a goal since he last scored against Zenit St Petersburg on September 14.

Tonight’s Champions League game against Malmo and Saturday’s visit of Norwich City offer Lukaku the chance to get back among the goals and Tuchel believes Chelsea’s club record £97.5million signing has suffered from his busy schedule with Belgium.

Lukaku was part of the Belgium team that suffered a disappointing Euros, being knocked out by Italy in the quarter-finals, and finished fourth in the finals of the Nations League, losing to France and Italy.

“We are in the process of adapting to each other,” said Chelsea head coach Tuchel. “At this moment it is my opinion, I feel Romelu is a bit overplayed. I think he played in too many competitions over the summer.

“Too many competitions with his country. He played in the Nations League and he is a fantastic athlete and such a competitive guy that he never takes it easy.”

Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 68 goals and Tuchel added: “He wants to be out there and win. He wanted to have a good outcome for the European Championship with Belgium and now in the Nations League it was a huge match for him, it meant a lot personally to play for his country so he takes it seriously.

“If that does not work well he always puts it on his shoulders. He reflects about it and I feel him mentally tired. Not that we have a huge concern just that he does not fully enjoy playing without a second thought. He is overplayed a little bit. This is the key point, once he finds his rhythm and once he finds it a bit easier. It is difficult to judge whether he needs a break or is it better to keep him on the pitch?”

Romelu Lukaku. - REUTERS
Romelu Lukaku. - REUTERS

Tuchel rested both Mason Mount and Jorginho for the victory over Brentford last weekend. Like Lukaku, the pair played through the summer at the European Championships for England and Italy.

“The next national break is coming but I feel for him (Lukaku) and for others like Mason and Jorginho, they struggle,” said Tuchel. “They have a lot of weight to carry for their countries. They take it and they love it. But it can become a bit heavy and this is what I feel between the lines with them.”

Tuchel confirmed that Christian Pulisic will once again be missing for Chelsea against Malmo in Group H, with the Blues needing to win after losing to Juventus, with an ankle injury.

The American has only managed to start one game for Chelsea so far this season and Tuchel said: “There is nothing to worry about in terms of details or that we are hiding details. I cannot give you all of the details because I am not a doctor, but at the moment he has had some setbacks from pain.

“Not from a major injury or complications. It is simply the pain in the ankle that disturbs him. Once these players with quick movements like Christian, once they feel this pain and they are not free in the movement the recovery is not happening.

“You start all over again and you start all over again, and you reach a certain point and the pain comes back. And you have to do a little pause and start all over again.

“So right now we are very, very close. He was so close to coming to team training last week and had a little setback and reaction, by pain. Nothing serious. From there on we go.

“He is very impatient, of course, and he does everything and we can see him suffer in every meeting and every time we meet him here [at the training ground] he is really suffering and he wants to be on the pitch and help us. Everybody is doing his very best. Unfortunately the injury takes its time.”

Chelsea right-back Reece James has revealed he is yet to receive any encouragement that he will retrieve his Champions League winners’ medal that was one of the items that were stolen when his house was burgled last month.

The break-in happened while James was playing for Chelsea against Zenit and, when asked for an update, the 21-year-old said: “There’s no update or leads from the police or anyone. It is tough to take people breaking into my house to take such valuable items. At this moment, there’s nothing I can do but take it and move on.”

James insisted the burglary will not affect his focus while he is playing for Chelsea, adding: “No one wants to lose medals. They mean a lot to every player. Winning a trophy is hard to do so when it gets taken away from you it is tough. It happened and it may well happen again. No one knows but it doesn’t affect how I prepare for a game. I still have the same mentality and mindset.”