Holders Chelsea Thrash Malmo Despite Injuries, Bayern Rout Benfica

21st October 2021

Thomas Tuchel confirmed Chelsea will face a period without Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner after they were rocked by their forwards’ injury problems in the win

Chelsea's Jorginho (left) celebrates with Ben Chilwell after scoring their side's fourth goal of the game from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League, Group H match at Stamford Bridge, London. PHOTO | Alamy
Chelsea's Jorginho (left) celebrates with Ben Chilwell after scoring their side's fourth goal of the game from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League, Group H match at Stamford Bridge, London. PHOTO | Alamy
SUMMARY
  • European champions Chelsea continued to declare their quest to retain the title with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Malmo on Wednesday
  • Tuchel’s side brushed aside the Swedish minnows at Stamford Bridge thanks to Jorginho’s penalty brace and goals from Andreas Christensen and Kai Havertz
  • Elsewhere, Leroy Sane struck twice in the second half to inspire Bayern Munich to a 4-0 win at Benfica on Wednesday, as the German giants maintained their perfect record in the Champions League group stage this season

European champions Chelsea continued to declare their quest to retain the title with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Malmo on Wednesday.

Thomas Tuchel confirmed Chelsea will face a period without Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner after they were rocked by their forwards’ injury problems in the win.

Tuchel’s side brushed aside the Swedish minnows at Stamford Bridge thanks to Jorginho’s penalty brace and goals from Andreas Christensen and Kai Havertz.

But Chelsea’s second Group H victory, after losing to Juventus in their previous match, was significantly tarnished by the ankle injury suffered by Belgium striker Lukaku and a hamstring issue for Germany forward Werner.

Both had to come off in the first half and Chelsea boss Tuchel will be waiting nervously to see how quickly they can return.

"We have a twist of the ankle for Romelu, and muscle injury and hamstring for Timo, so they will be some days out I guess.

"We have a lot of games, so now we have to find solutions, no excuses," Tuchel stated.

It would be a major blow if the pair are sidelined for a long period in the midst of a hectic schedule as Chelsea try to retain their position at the top of the Premier League, while pushing to qualify for the last 16.

The Belgium striker has now gone seven Chelsea games without a goal after starting with four in four following his £98 million club record move from Inter Milan.

Elsewhere, Leroy Sane struck twice in the second half to inspire Bayern Munich to a 4-0 win at Benfica on Wednesday, as the German giants maintained their perfect record in the Champions League group stage this season.

Bayern have now won three games in three without conceding a goal and have one foot in the next round with a five-point lead at the top of Group E.

The six-time European Cup winners were twice denied the lead by VAR in a hard-fought first hour, before Sane finally broke Benfica’s defences with a fizzing direct free-kick 20 minutes from time.

The German international added another goal and an assist in the closing stages as the hosts collapsed and Bayern cruised to yet another comfortable Champions League win this season.