MAGIC WIZARD
Ziyech grabs the winner for Blues as Hudson-Odoi again steals show
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI is casting such a spell right now that even the wizard of west London is starting to look magic again.
Hakim Ziyech has been the odd one out for the most part at Chelsea this season and has yet to score or assist in the Premier League.
But the man they dubbed the wizard of Amsterdam – for conjuring up all sorts of tricks during his time at Ajax – scored the only goal here against Malmo.
And it was all down to a brilliant delivery by HudsonOdoi, who was man of the match and looks a player with a point to prove.
It has been a while since the youngster was being touted as England’s next big thing and courted by German giants Bayern Munich.
But the 20-year-old, who scored in the 7-0 demolition
Norwich and kept his place in the starting line-up for the 3-0 win at Newcastle, is starting to live up to the hype again.
Hudson-Odoi wanted to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer for more playing time.
Last night he became the first under-21 to assist a goal in consecutive Champions League appearances for
Chelsea, after doing so against Malmo two weeks ago.
Thomas Tuchel’s side made the Swedes look more like turnips by thumping them 4-0 in that game and, while the scoreline this time was not so convincing, there were mitigating factors.
Tuchel was without Mason Mount, Timo Werner, Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic due to illness and injury, and the manager had an early warning when a giveaway by Ruben Loftusof
Cheek spelt danger, only for Andreas Christensen to recover and foil Sebastian Nanasi.
To be fair, though, it was not long before Chelsea took control, with Johan Dahlin forming a oneman wall in goal to stop shots from Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Marcos Alonso.
But just before half-time the visitors had a lucky escape when Sergio Pena curled one over the top for Antonio Colak to volley narrowly wide. The breakthrough came when holders Chelsea showed their class, sweeping into the lead with a devastatingly quick passing move.
Havertz, bottled up by the touchline, wriggled free and fed Hudson-Odoi with some fancy footwork and he bore down on the box.
Looking up, the England forward spotted Ziyech on the march and quick as a flash swung over a pinpoint low cross that his team-mate could not miss. MALMO (4-4-2): Dahlin 6; Rieks 5 (Olsson 58, 6), Brorsson 6, Nielsen 5, Ahmedhodzic 6; Berget 7 (Larsson 85), Innocent 5, Rakip 5 (Birmancevic 85), Pena 6 (Lewicki 58, 6); Nanasi 7 (Nalic 74), Colak 7.
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Mendy 6; Rudiger 6, Silva 7, Christensen 7; Azpilicueta 6, LoftusCheek 6, Jorginho 6, Alonso 7; Ziyech 7 (Barkley 73), Havertz 7, Hudson-Odoi 8 (Pulisic 73). Goal: Ziyech 56.