A rotated Chelsea side reflected their second string status within the squad by displaying a languid and uninspiring display against perennial Europa League underdogs Slavia Prague, although Marcos Alonso’s late header did ensure Maurizio Sarri’s men left the Czech Republic with a victory and a crucial away goal.
With one eye on Sunday’s game against Liverpool, Chelsea fans were glad to see that the double barrel academy duo of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek had been left on the bench for tonight’s game, as this hinted at the possibility of the pair starting together in one of the defining fixtures of Chelsea’s season. The complete overhauling of the team showed in their performance though as Slavia Prague dominated the ball and set about testing Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea net.
A backline containing two right-footed centre-halves in Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger struggled at times to contain the threat posed by former Blues forward Miroslav Stoch, but nonetheless stood firm and were perhaps unjustly rewarded for their work by Marcos Alonso’s stooping header – only Chelsea’s second attempt on target all night.
The Blues will now head back to London with a slender advantage going into next week’s second leg.
