Chelsea continues their impressive run in all the competitions, especially in the Champions League as they defeated Ligue 1 side, Rennes 3-0 in their Champions League group stage game at Stamford Bridge. The game had controversial decisions courtesy to VAR going in favour of Chelsea.
The Blues had drawn 0-0 with Spanish Giant, Sevilla in their opening fixture of UCL, and thrashed unknown Russian side, Krasnodar 4-0 in the previous week. Lampard’s side was tipped to win against their French opponents and they did so with the German striker, Werner netting home from the spot in the 10th minute of the game following the foul made by Rennes player, Dalbert.
Chelsea’s former defender, Frank Sinclair’s predictions came true when none other than Werner scored the first goal of the Blues, which was earlier predicted by him. This gave the west London side a perfect start to go on to beat their opponents at home and helped them to retain their top spot of the group table.
There was disagreement with the opponents and the referee when at around 37th minute, Chelsea’s young striker, Tammy Abrahams’s strike hit the arms of Dalbert, a Rennes player, and totally change the picture of the game. The match referee Felix Zwayer gave Chelsea a second penalty of the game after his consultation with the pitchside VAR monitor and made his decision to send off the Rennes player. Dalbert received the first yellow for the foul he committed on Werner in the first half to give away the penalty and it was his second yellow which sent him off the field.
Jorginho who is the regular penalty taker was absent so the responsibility fell on Timo’s shoulders. The German striker kept his cool from the 12 yards and fired the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net for his and the team’s second goal.
The match went into the control of the Lamaprd’s team as both the decisions regarding the penalty went in the way of the West London club. Unfortunate for the Inter Milan Loanee, Dalbert Henrique as he was involved in both the situations.
Werner secured both the goals from the penalty spot taking the responsibility of an efficient spot-kick taker and the dismissal of Dalbert made it very difficult for Rennes to make a comeback in the match.
Chelsea was without their expensive German winger, Kai Havertz as he was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus before the pre-match. Abraham got a chance in the game and took it well to score his goal and a third for Chelsea. Chelsea’ Reece James from the right found Tammy Abraham in the opposition penalty box and it was just tap in from his cross just six yards away for him.
Moroccan playmaker, Hakim Ziyech blazed a half-volley shot from about eight yards away before Abraham netted the third to put Chelsea 3-0 in lead. Olivier Giroud who came in as a substitute also tried to put a cherry on the cake but his effort was prevented by the Rennes keeper late in the match.
Chelsea has now gone 5 five straight games without conceding with Mendy in goal becoming the 1st Chelsea keeper to keep 5 clean sheets in a row
Burnley 0-3 Chelsea
Krasnodar 0-4 Chelsea
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea 0-0 Sevilla
Chelsea 3-0 Rennes#CHEREN #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/wXLd7rHVgQ— Richard Mofe-Damijo ➐ (@OfficialRMD_) November 4, 2020
The game also saw Chelsea making a fifth consecutive clean sheet and seems like all the problems plaguing the defensive department since last season has vanished. It was a proud moment for Edouard Mendy who is proving to be a boon for the Chelsea team as he has just conceded a single goal in all competitions until now.
It was a comfortable victory for Lampard and his boys and this made Chelsea retain the top of the table with the same points as Sevilla but leading on goal difference and three matches to be played.
