Chelsea and Juventus won their respective matches in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. In Group H, manager Thomas Tuchel’s team was 1-0 too strong for Zenit Saint Petersburg thanks to a good header from Romelu Lukaku. Hakim Ziyech got a starting spot, but he failed to impress from the left. At the same time, la Vecchia Signora, with Matthijs de Ligt in the base, in the same group with Malmö FF, which already faced a significant deficit halfway through but kept the damage limited after the break: 0-3.
Chelsea – Zenit Saint Petersburg 1-0
The first half was certainly not a feast for the eyes for the spectators present, who did not get a single London goal attempt. After the break Chelsea decided to tighten the thumbscrews. The first ball between the posts of the Blues came from the foot of Ziyech. The attacking midfielder took possession of the ball just outside the box and sought the bottom right corner with a low slide, but the shot was a prey for goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk. The next chance in the second half was for Antonio Rüdiger. The center defender was given plenty of space to break through from the center line to the edge of the box; the shot that followed, however, went just wide.
??????? ??????? ???? It seems so normal already, but once again it is Romelu Lukaku who opens the scoring for Chelsea ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #CHEZEN pic.twitter.com/l39MKYHnpO
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 14, 2021
In the 63rd minute, Tuchel made a substitution for Ziyech, who was taken off in favor of Kai Havertz. More than five minutes later Chelsea took the lead. From the right, César Azpilicueta had a measured pass to Lukaku, who towered over everyone at the far post and headed in the short corner: 1-0. Ten minutes later, Zenit should have tied the score. After a dribble down the right flank, Sardar Azmoun gave substitute Artem Dzyuba an unmissable opportunity, but from close range the striker unfortunately missed the target. In the end, the Londoners managed to pull off the minimal victory.
Malmo FF – Juventus 0-3
In contrast to the lost duel with Napoli (2-1), trainer Massimiliano Allegri was able to use the South American names this time. Due to their respective international matches, they returned to the club too late to be prepared for the Serie A game. The presence of Alex Sandro, among other things, turned out to be very welcome, as the Brazilian opened the score in the 23rd minute. From the right side of the field, Juan Cuadrado put the ball on the edge of the five-meter area, where the incoming Sandro nodded in falling: 0-2. It was the first Champions League goal in 68 appearances for the Juventus left back. Malmö would definitely go under before halftime.
Midway through the first half, Juventus take the lead in Sweden ???? Cuadrado crosses, Alex Sandro heads in: 0-1.#ZiggoSport #UCL #MALJUV pic.twitter.com/sInkhRPrrS
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 14, 2021
After a foul by Lasse Nielsen on Álvaro Morata inside the penalty area, referee Artur Soares Dias decided to put the ball on the spot. Paulo Dybala was allowed to score for the penalty and shot through the middle: 0-2. Within a minute after the second goal, Juventus also found the 0-3. Via Adrien Rabiot and Dybala, Morata got the leather at the height of the penalty spot, after which the striker successfully printed. In the second act, Juventus took the foot off the accelerator. Morata tried to make his second of the evening, but found goalkeeper Ismael Diawara in his way. Substitute Moise Kean thought to put his name on the scoreboard twenty minutes before the end; however, his goal was disallowed for offside.