- Chelsea win opening Europa League group game against PAOK.
- Willian’s goal is enough for the Blues to secure all three points.
- Do you agree with our player ratings, Blues?
Chelsea kicked off their Europa League campaign with a 1-0 victory over PAOK in Greece yesterday evening.
We expected a more convincing score line heading into the game, but the result was not a fair reflection of our dominance throughout. It was one of the most convincing 1-0 wins you’re ever likely to see.
Our lack of goals was, in now small part, Alvaro Morata’s responsibility. The misfiring Spaniard has seven shots at goal before being substituted, but failed to score once again.
Our only breakthrough of the PAOK back-line came through Willian. After a superb, Napoli-esque, team move, Ross Barkley drove towards goal and laid the ball off to Willian, who made no mistake with the finish.
It’d be hard to draw many conclusions from the performance, but one thing’s for sure, Eden Hazard’s chemistry with Olivier Giroud is a lot more appealing than watching Morata fall short time and time again.
Here’s our player ratings:
Arrizabalaga 6, Zappacosta 6, Rudiger 7, Christensen 7, Alonso 7, Jorginho 7, Kante 6, Barkley 8, Pedro 4, Willian 7, Morata 2.