Match report as Timo Werner has now been directly involved in 13 goals in last 14 Champions League starts; Edouard Mendy keeps his sixth straight clean sheet
Thursday 5 November 2020 08:01, UK
Timo Werner scored two penalties as Chelsea made it three wins on the bounce without conceding when easing past 10-man Rennes 3-0.
Taking over the spot-kick duties from Jorginho, who has missed two this season, the German flashed home both efforts from 12 yards. Dalbert was the culprit for Rennes on both occasions, tripping Werner for the first and then adjudged to have handled when he knew little about it for the second, which drew a second yellow card for the full-back after a VAR review.
Chelsea played smartly with the extra man, using the full width of the pitch, and Tammy Abraham grabbed the third when finishing from a fine Reece James cross as Chelsea took control of Group E.
The result means another clean sheet for Edouard Mendy, who was faultless but largely untested against his former club. It's now 540 minutes since he conceded across all competitions as Chelsea have kept five straight clean sheets for the first time since 2010.
Krasnodar, Burnley and now the French side have been dispatched by an aggregate score of 10-0 in the Blues' last three games as Frank Lampard seems to be finding the right balance with his talented squad.
In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, it was Chelsea that began brightly with Hakim Ziyech almost scoring for the third game running when looping a skilful volley just over the crossbar.
Chelsea did grab the lead on 10 minutes when Werner tricked the unfortunate Dalbert into felling him in the box.
After an embrace from Jorginho, who missed his second penalty of the season in Krasnodar, Werner coolly slotted the penalty away into the corner of the net.
Benjamin Bourigeaud whipped a free-kick across the face of the Chelsea goal that Mendy was relieved to watch fly wide of the post.
But it was Chelsea that carried the greater threat. Although, the penalty award for their second goal was littered with controversy. Abraham's shot ricocheted off Dalbert's legs and onto his raised arm, and initially both sides thought the issue had been waved away.
But then the referee was called to the pitchside monitor, and first the official awarded the penalty, and then he harshly dismissed Dalbert for a second yellow card.
Werner stepped up and rifled another perfect penalty into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Lampard sent his troops out with serious intent after the break to get an early third and his players answered the call. Reece James' fine low cross begged for a near-post finish and Abraham delivered in some style, flicking home to extend the hosts' lead.
Chelsea coasted home but still needed Mendy to pull off a smart save from Clement Grenier, to preserve his latest clean sheet.
The arrival of Mendy looks to be a gamechanger for Lampard but don't underestimate the importance of Silva, whose leadership and ability to snuff out danger was on full show once again. Since making a hash of his debut against West Brom, Silva has now been part of five straight clean sheets across all competitions.
At the age of 36, the Brazilian has eradicated any fears that perhaps his lack of pace will find him out at elite level. When you read the game as well as this guy, pace is irrelevant especially when you have a partner alongside you in Kurt Zouma who doesn't lack in that department. The trio of Mendy, Silva and Zouma are an exciting defensive unit.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard: "The red card and the penalty at 2-0 obviously makes it more comfortable, I think we dealt with the early parts of the second half really well. It's not always easy against 10 men, when they've had a bit of time to talk and arrange themselves.
"We kept the ball moving in the early parts of the second half. So the professional elements of our game were really good today, good opposition as well. Tough game, we couldn't underrate them. We saw that with 11 v 11, they're a physical, technical team. And we won pretty well."
Chelsea host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday at 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports.
