Chelsea found Malmo a much tougher nut to crack than they had when beating them 4-0 a fortnight ago, but they eventually found the goal that keeps them in the hunt for first place in their Champions League group.
They could have helped their cause even more by running up their goal difference, but despite creating several clear chances against a dogged opponent, their margin of victory was ultimately slender.
The match was notable for a fine performance by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has shown signs of recapturing his very best form in recent weeks. Deployed in the double pivot alongside Jorginho, but with licence to drive forward, he produced some sublime touches and was unlucky not to finish with an assist. In the end, the decisive contribution was made by Callum Hudson-Odoi, whose glorious cross presented Hakim Ziyech with a chance he could hardly miss.
“We had a lot of shots and touches in the first half but we were not clinical enough and couldn’t score,” Thomas Tuchel said. “Then in the moment of highest pressure, we were able to use the one moment with precision.”
Of Loftus-Cheek, the Chelsea manager added: “He wants to dominate opponents, not just to be a part of the game, because I think he is too talented to just be a part of the group. The next step is to show consistency and to push himself because his limit can be constantly pushed, he has so much potential.”
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Amid a raucous atmosphere on a chilly night, Chelsea began to warm to their task. A slow, intricate passing move on the left ended with Marcos Alonso cutting the ball back to César Azpilicueta, whose low shot squirmed awkwardly out of Johan Dahlin’s grasp and behind for a corner. Kai Havertz played in Ziyech in the inside-right channel, only for Dahlin to rush proactively off his line and smother the shot. Loftus-Cheek sent a flick header wide from Ziyech’s cross.
Loftus-Cheek was having an excellent first half, that early lapse notwithstanding. His ability to drop his shoulder and glide away from the midfield zone allowed him to surge into the space between Malmo’s deep defence and their midfield. When Chelsea built one sequence from deep in their own half, the move concluded with Loftus-Cheek striding upfield and releasing a beautifully weighted diagonal pass that put Havertz through on goal. Once again, Dahlin came out quickly and Havertz could not lift his shot over him.
Dahlin spilt a long-range Andreas Christensen shot and Alonso almost snaffled the rebound but the goalkeeper recovered. The Spanish wing back was enjoying plenty of space, with Malmo defending in a narrow block, and had another opportunity shortly afterwards, testing Dahlin low down with a crisp drive.
Just before half-time, Malmo demonstrated the quality that lurks within their ranks. Sergio Peña, the Peru international, won a drop-ball, looked up and clipped a delightful cross to Antonio Colak, who met the ball with a falling scissor volley, sending the ball just wide of the far post.
Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech switched sides after half-time, the former moving to the right, the latter playing as a left inside-forward. Malmo continued to make it tough for Chelsea, swarming the man in possession and posing a sporadic threat of their own. From an opportunistic break they forced a corner that ended with Soren Rieks hitting a shot over the bar.
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At the other end, Ziyech left Bonke Innocent on his backside with a lovely bit of skill before his dangerous cross was palmed out by Dahlin. Loftus-Cheek, who had decorated the game with some superb flourishes of skill, produced another, Cruyff-turning inside two defenders before curling a shot that Dahlin saved with his shoulder.
Finally, Chelsea broke Malmo’s stout resistance with a beautiful move that vindicated Tuchel’s half-time change. Hudson-Odoi and Havertz exchanged a lovely one-two tight on the right touchline, releasing the winger, who was suddenly in behind the retreating Malmo defence.
Hudson-Odoi stroked a magnificent cross to the back post, cutting out the defenders and goalkeeper and falling perfectly into the stride of Ziyech, who passed the ball in.
Chelsea continued to press for a second goal. From a corner, Thiago Silva had a lovely flick cleared off the line, but then had to take a yellow card after a cynical foul on Erdal Rakip to stop a dangerous counter.
Tuchel threw on Ross Barkley and Christian Pulisic, and the two combined immediately to create a chance for Havertz, whose shot was blocked.
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Loftus-Cheek produced another delightful moment, taking a firmly struck pass on his chest, then clipping a perfect pass over the top for Havertz, who was foiled by Dahlin again.
Malmo (3-5-2): J Dahlin 7 — A Ahmedhodzic 6, L Nielsen 7, F Brorsson 6— J I Berget 7 (E Larsson 86), E Rakip 6 (V Birmancevic 86), B Innocent 6, S Peña 7 (O Lewicki 58 6), S Rieks 6 (M Olsson 57 6)— A Colak 7, S Nanasi 6 (A Nalic 74 6). Subs not used M Ellborg, I Diawara, N Moisander, M Abubakari, P Gwargis, N Eile.
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): E Mendy 6— A Christensen 6, T Silva 7, A Rüdiger 6— C Azpilicueta 7, R Loftus-Cheek 8, Jorginho 6, M Alonso 6— H Ziyech 7 (C Pulisic 74 6), C Hudson-Odoi 8 (R Barkley 74 6)— K Havertz 7. Booked Silva, Loftus-Cheek. Subs not used K Arrizabalaga, M Bettinelli, T Chalobah, S Ñiguez, B Chilwell, R James, M Sarr, H Vale.
