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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.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Mendy (7), James (7), Thiago Silva (8), Zouma (7),
Chilwell (7), Kante (7), Jorginho (7), Ziyech (7), Mount (7), Werner (8),
Abraham (7)
Subs: Giroud (6), Kovacic (6), Rudiger (6), Emerson (6),
Hudson-Odoi (N/A)
Rennes: Gomis (6), Traore (6), Da Silva (6), Aguerd (6),
Dalbert (5), Bourigeaud (6), Nzonzi (6), Lea-Siliki (6), Gboho (6), Guirassy
(6), Terrier (6)
Subs: Del Castillo (6), Hunou (6), Doku (6), Truffert (6)
Man of the Match: Thiago Silva
How Rennes paid the penalty
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.
Man of the match: Thiago Silva
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.
What the manager said
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."
Opta stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League group stage games (W5
D3), last going longer without such a defeat in the competition in November 2010
(13 games - W10 D3).
Werner has been directly involved in 13 goals (10 goals, three assists) in his
last 14 Champions League appearances, with each of his last five such goals
coming from the penalty spot.
Abraham is the first player to score in three consecutive Champions League
starts for Chelsea since Willian in 2015, and the first Englishman to do so
since Frank Lampard in 2008.
Chelsea's 3-0 victory is the biggest home win by a side under an English manager
in the UEFA Champions League since Harry Redknapp's Tottenham beat Werder Bremen
(3-0) in November 2010.
What's next?
Chelsea host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday at 5.30pm, live
on Sky Sports.
Click Here For UEFA Match Press Kit
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Mendy, James, Zouma, Silva (Rudiger 68), Chilwell
(Emerson 64), Mount, Kante (Kovacic 63), Jorginho (c), Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 75),
Abraham (Giroud 63), Werner
Subs Not Used Caballero, Ziger, Azpilicueta, Christensen,
Tomori, Alonso
Booked Kante, Ziyech, Jorginho, Kovacic
Goals Werner 10 (pen), 41 (pen), Abraham 50
Rennes Gomis, Traore, Da Silva (c), Aguerd, Dalbert,
Bourigeaud, Nzonzi (Grenier 63), Lea Siliki (Truffert 46), Gboho (Del Castillio
62), Guirassy (Hunou 76), Terrier (Doku 63)
Subs Not Used Salin, Bonet, Nyamsi, Assignon, Rutter, Omari,
Ugochukwu
Booked Dalbert, Del Castillo
Sent Off Dalbert
Goals
Attendance 0
Referee Felix Zwayer (GER)
VAR Sascha Stegermann (GER)