Chelsea 3 Rennes 0: New taker Timo Werner scores twice from the spot as Blues ease past ten-man French side
THERE may have been a serious level of assistance from a haplessBrazilian defender and an over-zealous German referee.
But Frank Lampard’s new-look Chelsea are gelling, they are clicking,and they are starting to swagger.
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Timo Werner scored two penalties as Chelsea beat Rennes 3-0Credit: Reuters
Dalbert was sent off after giving away the second penaltyCredit: EPA
Rennes defender Dalbert was harshly sent off by ref Felix Zwayer aftergiving away two penalties before half-time – both converted by TimoWerner.
Tammy Abraham added a third soon after the break as the Blues werepropelled towards the Champions League knock-out stage.
Chelsea have done well out of Rennes in recent weeks – signing theirkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has now kept six clean sheets in a row, inplace of the bullet-ridden Kepa Arrizabalaga.
A lockdown and a blue wall. Chelsea are seriously topical right now.
Despite the scoreline, Rennes will feel majorly aggrieved about theofficiating after they’d held their own until Dalbert’s dismissal.
But as central London thronged with drinkers in last-chase saloons,Chelsea had been ahead of the game when it came to pulling down theshutters – seven and a half hours have now passed since they lastconceded.
Tammy Abraham swept Chelsea into a 3-0 leadCredit: EPA
The Blues are top of Group E at the halfway stageCredit: EPA
The past eight days have brought ten goals too – albeit againstBurnley, the Russians of Krasnodar and now these French ChampionsLeague rookies.
It is tough to make too many hard and fast judgements about that run offixtures but Chelsea are now getting it right at both ends of thepitch, a balance they had struggled to strike in the early weeks ofthe season.
Lampard had to do without Kai Havertz, after the German testedpositive for coronavirus, meaning he will still be in isolation forSaturday’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
Yet the other five of Chelsea’s summer signings all started and theyhad been improving – vastly so in defence.
Chelsea’s new-look strikeforce did the business this eveningCredit: EPA
The Blues had been largely unconvincing in the Champions League underLampard, squeezing through their group last year, only to be gubbed byBayern Munich in the last 16 and held here by Sevilla in their opener.
Indeed, Chelsea have failed to make the quarter-finals of thiscompetition in the last six seasons. But they are close to gettinganother stab at making there, after this.
Rennes had a loud but unconvincing penalty appeal for handball againstKurt Zouma turned down before Chelsea won their spot-kick.
As Werner turned, his heel was clipped by Dalbert, and the German -who has taken over penalty responsibilities from Jorginho – drilledhome his sixth goal in eight games.
Jorginho had missed twice this season, having been flawless from thespot last term, but Werner is unlikely to give up the job any timesoon.
And besides, Lampard is old enough to remember the days when Germanefficiency from the penalty spot was a cast-iron certainty.
Edouard Mendy offered a reliable presence in goal for the Blues against his former clubCredit: AFP or llicensors AFP or Licensors
Rennes were dominating possession but failing to test their old mateMendy – although when Hakim Ziyech was booked for a foul on Dalbert,Benjamin Bourigeaud whipped a free-kick narrowly wide across goal.
But then came the decisive moment as Tammy Abraham had a shot blockedby Dalbert, with his arms raised.
Some time later, VAR intervened and Zwayer had a peek at the pitchsidemonitor before he pointed at the spot and showed poor old Dalbert themeanest of second yellows.
Werner did the business from 12 yards once more and the Blues wentinto the break with big cigars on.
Chelsea began the second half in overdrive, Ziyech firing over fromclose range before Reece James whipped in a cross to the near postwhich Abraham spanked home first time.
Abraham soon made way for Olivier Giroud, who was denied by Renneskeeper Alfred Gomis.
Rennes refused to capsize, and they forced a comfortable of saves fromMendy – routine saves, yet even that variety had seemed beyond Kepabefore he was put out of his misery.
Late on, Mendy made a very good stop to thwart Clement Grenier beforea follow-up effort was disallowed for offside.
Lampard’s side will not always benefit from such generous defending orrefereeing and they remain a work in progress.
But progress has been swift of late and, after £220million was spent,the promise is suitably rich.
Chelsea star Kai Havertz tests positive for coronavirus and will miss Champions League clash with Rennes More
