Relief for Sarri as Chelsea edge Malmo

MALMO: Chelsea claimed a 2-1 victory at Malmo in the Europa League last-32 first leg on Thursday to ease some of the pressure on beleaguered coach Maurizio Sarri.

Away side Chelsea desperately needed a response after back-toback humiliating away losses, with last Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City following a 40 reverse at Bournemouth.

Ross Barkley took advantage of a defensive lapse by the home team to put Chelsea ahead on the half-hour mark, with Olivier Giroud adding a 58th-minute second before Malmo’s late goal gave them a glimmer of hope ahead of next week’s return match at Stamford Bridge.

Sarri named a strong team, although he did leave Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard on the bench.

Chelsea found themselves up against a spirited Malmo outfit in the first half, roared on by a vociferous home crowd,but kept the Swedes at arm’s length before Barkley grabbed their first away goal of2019.

Uwe Rosler’s Malmo piled on the pressure at the end of the half, but Barkley twice produced crucial headersat the other end to keep Chelsea in front.