Barkley scored Chelsea's opening goal against Malmo
Thursday 14 February 2019 22:41, UK
Chelsea eased the pressure on head coach Maurizio Sarri with a 2-1 win away to Malmo in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.
Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud were on target for Chelsea, with Anders Christiansen pulling a goal back for Malmo in the closing stages.
The victory was just what the Blues needed after Sunday's 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City and gives them a much-needed boost ahead of Monday's FA Cup tie with Manchester United.
Maurizio Sarri's future was thrown into doubt by that dismal result at the Etihad Stadium. It was Chelsea's worst defeat in the Premier League era and the Italian admitted he was unsure whether he would be sacked in the aftermath.
This win will not guarantee his future, of course, but it does at least provide him with some welcome relief. Chelsea dominated possession in a hostile environment and after a few too many sterile performances recently, there was some encouraging attacking football, too.
Barkley's opener arrived on the half-hour mark as he poked home Pedro's cross, and Giroud got the second after the break, flicking a smart finish into the net from close-range from Willian's cut-back. Christiansen's late goal took some of the gloss off the result, but it was still a positive night.
It comes ahead of a crucial period, too. Chelsea's Premier League campaign has been disappointing. They find themselves in sixth place and a point off the Champions League places, but they are still involved in all three cup competitions, meaning a difficult campaign could yet end on a high.
Monday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Manchester United is the next challenge, and after that they will prepare for the second leg against Malmo knowing they have already taken a big step towards the Europa League last 16.
Soon after that, of course, comes the Carabao Cup final with Manchester City. The game is a daunting prospect after what happened at the Etihad on Sunday, but it is an opportunity nonetheless. With this victory over Malmo, Sarri is already in a better place than he was just a few days ago.
Barkley was probably the pick of the performers for Chelsea. The midfielder was slightly fortunate to keep Pedro's cross under control for the opening goal, but he recovered well to poke home his finish. It was his first goal since he scored in a 4-0 win against Burnley in October.
It has been a difficult period for Barkley since that bright start to the season, with his performances coming under scrutiny as Chelsea's form faltered, but the goal seemed to boost his confidence.
He went on to play a key role in the second goal, charging forward on the counter-attack and timing his pass to the onrushing Willian perfectly. From there, the Brazilian beat his man and fired the ball across goal for Giroud to apply the finish.
Barkley was unfortunate not to add a third goal later in the second half when he played a smart one-two with Giroud before his goalbound shot was brilliantly saved by Malmo goalkeeper John Dahlin.
The statistics showed Barkley had three shots in total - putting him second to Giroud among Chelsea players - and he used the ball well, too, registering a 90 per cent passing accuracy and creating several openings for his team-mates. At the other end, there were also important interceptions and clearances.
Barkley did provoke Sarri's ire in the dying moments when he was robbed of possession on the halfway line, but it was a rare moment of complacency in an otherwise excellent performance. The challenge now, both for him and for Chelsea, is to build on it.
