Malmo 0-1 Chelsea: Ziyech strikes to help Blues secure 3 away pts

Chelsea moved a step closer to booking their place in the Champions League knockout stages as Hakim Ziyech's 56th-minute strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory over Malmo in southern Sweden.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' KICK-OFF! Who can win this match?

10' Malmo's chance stopped

13' Azpilicueta's shot denied

21' Ziyech's shot stopped

29' Havertz misses a good chance

36' CLOSE! Alonso's shot denied

46' Peña's shot inches wide

52' Rieks' shot wide out

55' GOAL! Malmo 0-1 Chelsea (Ziyech)

64' CHANCE! Rakip's shot flies high

68' Yellow Card! Thiago Silva booked

78' Havertz's golden chance missed

79' Yellow Card! Loftus-Cheek booked

86' Christensen's shot blocked

Match Report

Ziyech impressed as he made a case for more regular starting opportunities, scoring his first goal since the European Super Cup win over Villarreal in August as he tucked home from close range after good work from Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Malmo had lost their previous six Champions League games by an aggregate score of 28-0 so it was a very resolute display against the European champions, who still have work to do in order to qualify for the last 16.

Johan Dahlin twice denied Kai Havertz from point-blank range either side of the interval but the result means another victory for Chelsea without conceding.

Since Thomas Tuchel took over, they have conceded just 23 goals in 46 games, five in one game against West Brom. The Blues move level on points with Juventus in Group H, with the Serie A club hosting Zenit St Petersburg later on Tuesday night.

How Chelsea broke Malmo resistance

In front of a sell-out crowd of 20,000 supporters at the Swedbank Stadion, the hosts survived an early penalty appeal as Anel Ahmedhodzic left Havertz in a heap inside the box but referee Felix Brych was well placed to wave away the protests.

Chelsea last visited Malmo in 2019 en route to claiming the Europa League title, and they dominated possession as patient play involving Hudson-Odoi and Marcos Alonso resulted in Cesar Azpilicueta's low shot being fumbled around the post by goalkeeper Dahlin.

The Blues had lost only four of their last 23 games in Europe's premier cup competition, and Tuchel's men continued to probe as Dahlin was drawn into action once more when Havertz found Ziyech but his low shot was kept out by the feet of the Malmo stopper.

Malmo nullified Juventus in the opening 20 minutes during their one previous Group H home game so far, but three unanswered goals before the break ended their stubborn resistance. Chelsea were being frustrated throughout the opening period, however.

Dahlin was enjoying his night and his heroics kept Malmo level as Havertz collected Ruben Loftus-Cheek's perfectly-weighted pass but the forward's dinked effort was smothered by the onrushing goalkeeper.

Chelsea arrived having only conceded seven goals in 16 matches in all competitions this season, but Jon Dahl Tomasson's side were prickly and even occasionally threatened as Antonio-Mirko Colak shinned wide when picked out by Sergio Pena on the stroke of half-time.

You could see Malmo's belief growing as Brych blew for the restart.

There were faint cries for a penalty from the 1,000 Chelsea fans behind the goal when Alonso's header from Ziyech's near-post corner brushed the arm of Lasse Nielsen, but a minute later the Premier League side were ahead.

Tuchel's decision to switch wingers was vindicated as Havertz and Hudson-Odoi combined down the right to good effect before the latter's low cross was guided in by Ziyech at the far post.

You sensed the floodgates would open, but Malmo remained resolute with Erdal Rakip's speculative drive failing to trouble Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea did come close to a second when another Ziyech corner was met by Thiago Silva but cleared off the line brilliantly by Ahmedhodzic before Dahlin resumed his battle with Havertz to deny the forward from Loftus-Cheek's through ball.

There was time for Tuchel to introduce Christian Pulisic in the final 15 minutes for his first appearance since August and only his third for Chelsea this season as the visitors saw out the game with minimum fuss.

What's next?

Chelsea host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday before the international break. Tuchel's side take on Juventus in their next Champions League group-stage clash on Tuesday November 23; kick-off 8pm.

Line-ups

Malmo XI: J. Dahlin, S. Rieks, J. Berget, L. Nielsen, A. Čolak, S. Peña, E. Rakip, B. Innocent, F. Brorsson, A. Ahmedhodzic, S. Nanasi

Subs: Olsson, Moisander, E. Larsson, O. Lewicki, I. Diawara, V. Birmančević, A. Nalic, P. Gwargis, N. Eile, M. Abubakari, M. Ellborg

Chelsea XI: Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Jorginho, Rudiger, Christensen, E. Mendy, Ziyech, Loftus-Cheek, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi

Subs: Saul , Barkley, M. Bettinelli, Kepa, T. Chalobah, Chilwell, Pulisic, Sarr, Reece James, H. Vale