Krasnodar 0-4 Chelsea: 5 Talking Points as the Blues register their first European win of the season| UEFA Champions League 2020-21

Chelsea
Chelsea

#3 Chelsea get a third clean sheet in a row

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has changed the fortunes of Chelsea FC since joining from Rennes.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has changed the fortunes of Chelsea FC since joining from Rennes.

Reece James and Thiago Silva, who started against Manchester United last weekend, were rested by Frank Lampard for the game against Krasnodar. This meant that Chelsea were playing with a totally new defensive line as Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta came in.

This was Rudiger's first appearance of the season after the transfer window closed. The German has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea after the arrival of Thiago Silva from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. Azplicueta took the captain's armband for the night.

After successive goalless draws against Sevilla and Manchester United, the first for Lampard in his managerial stint with the Blues, the onus fell on a new-look Chelsea backline to deliver another clean sheet against modest Krasnodar. Though Chelsea's defence looked a bit shaky at times during the game, it stood up to the task.

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can continue their brilliant defensive run against Burnley this weekend in the Premier League.


#2 Matvey Safonov had a mixed outing for Krasnodar

Matfey Safonov instructing his teammates during a Chelsea corner.
Matfey Safonov instructing his teammates during a Chelsea corner.

In an interesting turn of events in the first half, Krasnodar stopper Matvey Safonov was the player in the spotlight as he made a huge error that led to Chelsea’s first goal just eight minutes from half-time. This was after ten minutes of seeing Jorginho miss from the spot.

In the 37th minute, new Chelsea signings Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz combined well at the edge of the penalty box, only for the German to slide an inch-perfect pass to Callum Hudson-Odoi. The English teenager, who has attracted interest from European Champions Bayern Munich in the past, took his chance by attempting a shot at Safonov.

However, the Russian keeper couldn’t hold on to the ball as it squirmed under his hands and ended up in the back of the net. It was the last thing that Krasnodar needed just a few minutes before half-time. Unfortunately for Safonov, his misery on the night didn't end there.

Chelsea's fourth goal of the game in the 90th minute saw American international Christian Pulisic take a shot at the near post from a very acute angle which Safonov was expected to save. However, the 21-year-old keeper couldn't keep the shot out and conceded his fourth goal of the night to round up a poor night for the young stopper in the Champions League.


#1 Chelsea's expensive attacking unit finally delivers

Hakim Ziyech scored his first goal for Chelsea after joining from Ajax this summer.
Hakim Ziyech scored his first goal for Chelsea after joining from Ajax this summer.

Krasnodar were at the receiving end as Frank Lampard unleashed his impressive array of attacking talent during the game. Chelsea had made a few record-breaking signings in the transfer market this summer.

While Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz started the game for the Blues, substitutions in the second half saw Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount come to the fray to keep up the pressure on Krasnodar.

The move paid off for the English gaffer, as all of Chelsea's new signings, as well as the talented young duo of Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic, had direct goal contributions in the 4-0 win.

Despite the one-sided result, the first half and the opening period of the second saw a poor display from the Blues, who were clearly the superior of the two sides at the Stadion FK Krasnodar.

It is still very early into the new season to pass a judgement on Chelsea, but their expensive summer acquisitions have meant that the Blues will be under some pressure to deliver silverware this season.

With Chelsea likely to finish top of their group, they fly back to London for an exciting Premier League game that awaits them this weekend.

Quick Links