A Blue Up North reviews Chelsea’s trip to Sweden as they took on Malmö FF.
Thursday evening saw Chelsea return to European action as they traveled to Sweden to face Malmö FF. It was the first time the club’s have ever played each other in competition and was the first leg of their last 32 clash.
The Blues are still unbeaten in this season’s Europa League after 5 wins and a draw in the group stage, while it is the first time Malmö FF have ever qualified for the latter stages of this competition.
The hosts have a reputation of playing quite open entertaining football within the Swedish League, but with their season not even starting until April, they opted for a more pragmatic approach. A narrow set up and hard hitting in the tackle, the Swedes were as robust and dogmatic as they could be.
Chelsea were still smarting from their dreadful defeat away at Manchester City. Maurizio Sarri made 5 changes as he rested a few keys players. However he was wary of the damage that another defeat would inflict on his team and so resisted starting with too many youngsters in what was quite a passionate cauldron.
Andreas Christensen was included, but partly thanks to Antonio Rudiger taking a knock and not being risked. Emerson Palmieri, Mateo Kovacic, Willian and Olivier Giroud were all called up.
However it was the hosts who started on the front foot. In a rousing atmosphere they went straight for Chelsea’s goal. 2 corners and a Jorginho block inside the first couple of minutes showed the Swedish Blues’s intent.
Chelsea looked nervous and took a while to settle. The hosts were doing their best to pressurise Chelsea’s possession and The Blues struggled to gain full control on the match. And so Chelsea’s opening goal was fairly unexpected. Pedro’s run and Ross Barkley’s finish seemed to give the team more belief and their confidence started to grow.
The hosts continued to press their illustrious visitors and only a David Luiz deflection and 2 Barkley defensive headers kept Chelsea’s lead intact. But The Blues slowly gained momentum and Giroud’s clever finish doubled the lead and suddenly there were thoughts that this could end with a heavy loss for the Swedes.
The Blues pressed forward in their attempts to gain more of an advantage, but curiously as the hosts were tiring after their earlier efforts, they pulled a deserved goal back. Yes some of Chelsea’s players were hesitant but Christiansen’s late goal was very well taken.
It only served to increase the volume of the home support and the nerves of the visitors. Chelsea could and should have extended their 2 goal lead , but instead needed to be vigilant at the back to ensure they finished the leg ahead.
The players and manager Sarri showed some signs of recovering from their heavy loss on Sunday, but this was no huge overpowering of a smaller foe. Questions remain throughout the team and in the Italian’s management. Most puzzling of which was the introduction of Eden Hazard on 71 minutes. With a massive FA Cup tie against Manchester United looming next, the Belgian wizard needed all the rest and protection he could receive.
Fortunately The Blues held on to a strong away victory which eases their pressure in the return home leg a week later. They suffered no significant injury scares as they now turn their attentions to domestic cup competitions.
This win will have improved the mood amongst the squad, but in truth it could have been so much more. We can only hope the belief and confidence has been lifted enough that The Blues can go on to victory on Monday evening:
Written by Jon Ellis, home and away season ticket holder. Follow him on Twitter @ClitheroeBlue
