LONDON: Romelu Lukaku opened his Champions League account for Chelsea when his strong header got a 1-0 winner who was not convincing over Zenit St Petersburg at Stamford Bridge in the opening of their group on Tuesday.
It was an uncomfortable night for the defending champion against a well-organized Russian team but in the 69th minute the big money striker Lukaku broke the deadlock with a direct header from the forward handbook.
The Chels! 👊 #CL | #Chezen https://t.co/OG3QCK0UQ3- Chelsea FC (@ClassEAFC) 1631652635000Chelsea is hardly convincing, however, and the Thomas Tuchel team doesn’t even manage the shot right on the first half of the pedestrian half.
They improved in the second period which was far more entertaining where Zenit seemed to be surprising.
The things you like.
🙌 https://t.co/inlgtGKLMD- Chelsea FC (@ClassEAFC) 1631654971000 But all that is important for the stamford bridge crowd that is exprised is that another European campaign begins with three points, maintaining an impressive start of the club for the season.
When Chelsea won the trophy for the first time in 2012 they suffered a shameful fall of grace a few months later when they became the first holder to bend on the group stage.
Mood.
💙 https://t.co/9i0jxhanok- Chelsea FC (@Chelseafc) 1631654760000 handled the group that looks comfortable this time it will be astonishing if they suffer the same fate, especially considering the power generation forces they have and the way they have it starting the new season .
After last season’s empty stadium, due to the restrictions of Covid-19, there was a feeling of celebration in the moist air before kickoff like Jorghinho, N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendey – Key Men in Chelsea’s Triumph last season – and manager Tuchel received an award from President UEFA Aleksander Ceferin.
🔵 Chelsea has maintained 10 clean sheets in 14 of their last Champions League matches opening 45 minutes because the game struggles to meet the appearance of pre-match fireworks.
A first failure ended with Zenit Guard Stanislav Kritsyuk did not even need to make Save as Chelsea struggling to get the ball to my isolated wins.
The Belgian goal view was a header that cleaned the bar while the first shot on the target came from the visitor because Jinak Yaroslav Rakits’ky’s efforts were easily collected by Mendey in the 38th minute.
🔵 Romelu Lukaku has now scored 4 goals in 4 matches for Chelsea.
Signing of the season? #Ucl https://t.co/1fdmo2fzti- UEFA Champions League (@CondionsLeague) 1631651963000Tuchel refused the desire to shake the package in the first half and Chelsea finally began to take the tempo with Judge Ziyech forced Kritsyuk to the center back before returning Antonio Rudiger ran past the middle before hit a wide shot.
It was not a one-way traffic and Rudiger showed his steps at the other end to get a very important toes to deny striker Zenit Sardar Azmoun.
Kai Havertz, Chelsea hero from last season’s final in Porto, got off the bench in the 63rd minute, replacing Ziyech.
It was the presence of Lukaku who proved to determine in the end when he showed the penalty region instincts who persuaded Chelsea to break their club’s transfer fees to bring them back.
For the first time the night he received the type of ball he gave and when Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross picked him up there was only one ballway walking when Lukaku made him 14 goals in 14 appearance of his last UEFA competition.
There was a final fear for Chelsea with a replacement for Zenit Artem Dzyuba, somehow failed to make contact because the ball was played in all areas, but everything was a quite efficient start to the Tuchel side.