Chelsea shines with a great squad

Lacking brightness, the London team showed that it has a great squad. A goal in the first half and three in the last 15 minutes, when the Russians were pushing harder, were enough to secure the three points.

Ziyech, signed this season from Ajax, was the best player of the match. The interventions of the Moroccan lefty were the only positive thing about Frank Lampard's team throughout the game.

The English coach still has a lot of work ahead to make the machine of a team that made a multimillion-dollar investment this summer work smoothly.

Krasnodar arrived with important absences in their starting eleven: the Swede Claesson, the Frenchman Cabella, and the Brazilian Wanderson.

Meanwhile, Lampard had options to choose from. Compared to the draw in the first match against Sevilla, he made four changes: Thiago Silva stayed in London, while Kante, Pulisic, and James started on the bench.

The "bulls" did not back down and went for the game from the initial whistle. Mendy, who has established himself as the starting goalkeeper ahead of Kepa, had to make a great save with his fingertips at the three-minute mark to deflect Utkin's well-placed shot that was heading for the net.

It is evident that the English have a goal problem. But wasting a penalty was not part of Chelsea's plan.

A silly penalty committed by Kaio on Werner gave the visitors the opportunity to take the lead. Jorginho took the penalty with a jump before shooting, just like Bruno Fernandes, but the ball hit the post and after hitting Safónov's back, it was cleared by the Russian defense. (min.14)

Chelsea bored with many horizontal passes and only Ziyech tried his luck from the left with certain danger.

Meanwhile, the hosts launched several well-intentioned counterattacks, but they lacking accuracy in the final pass.

The goal came from an isolated play. Once again, the Moroccan lefty, raised in the Netherlands, initiated the play, the ball reached Hudson-Odoi, whose weak shot inexplicably slipped through Safónov's hands, who is considered the future goalkeeper of the Russian national team. (min.37)

Chelsea did not feel more comfortable with the lead. In the second half, the Russians continued to push forward, while Lampard shouted from the sideline.

Gazinsky could have scored in a play initiated by Ramírez and, after a corner kick, the Russian midfielder hit the crossbar.

The Russians cornered the London team. The only thing left was to get past Mendy. The Senegalese goalkeeper kept his team alive.

In the middle of the second half, Lampard lost his patience and made a Russian-style change. Three substitutions at once, two of them attacking: Mount and Pulisic.

The changes had an immediate impact. A shot from the young English international, Mount, was blocked with the hand by Martinóvich. Clear penalty.

Jorginho did not want to take the responsibility from the spot. Werner, who had barely participated in the game, did not miss. (min.76)

From there, the home team collapsed. Lampard's pupils took advantage to seal the game. Werner penetrated the penalty area, passed the ball to Ziyech, the best player of the night, who fooled the Russian defense and scored the third goal (min.80).

Substitute Pulisic hammered the final nail in Krasnodar's coffin with a goal in the 90th minute assisted by Abraham. Chelsea takes the lead in Group E, waiting for the match between Sevilla and Rennes.

Technical sheet:

0 - Krasnodar: Safónov; Smólnikov, Martinóvich, Kaio, Chernov; Gazinsky, Olsson (Spertsyan, min.82), Ramirez, Vilhena, Utkin (Suleimánov, min.74); and Berg (Berg, min.87).

4 - Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Rüdiger, Zouma, Chilwell (Emerson, min.81); Jorginho (Kante, min.71), Kovacic (Pulisic, min.71), Ziyech (Abraham, min.81), Havertz, Hudson-Odoi (Mount, min.71); and Werner.

Goals: 0-1, min.37: Hudson-Odoi. 0-2, min.76: Werner (penalty). 0-3, min.79: Ziyech. 0-4, min.90: Pulisic.

Referee: Ali Palabiyik (TUR). Booked Olsson and Martinóvich.

Notes: match corresponding to the second round of the Champions League played at the Krasnodar stadium before several thousand spectators.