Chelsea 3-0 Malmo (5-1 agg): Giroud, Barkley and Hudson-Odoi strike to punish 10-man visitors

Walking wounded or dead man walking? This, increasingly, seems to be the only question facing Chelsea’s beleaguered manager Maurizio Sarri.

The 6-0 humiliation at Manchester City was a stress signal. The passive and meek acceptance of Monday evening’s defeat by Manchester United led to insurrection on the Stamford Bridge terraces.

On this occasion, Sarri could only be grateful that his opponents were the modest Malmo. Managed by the likeable Uwe Rosler, Malmo are a spirited team but they are still in the midst of their pre-season ahead of the start of the Swedish league season and, in any case, they were only the third best side in their domestic division last season. 

Olivier Giroud struck against Malmo for a second successive week as Chelsea eased into the last-16 of the Europa League

The French striker was on hand to tap in from close range after gaps emerged and Willian flashed a ball across the box

Ross Barkley, the other player to net in the first leg in Sweden, killed off any hopes of a fightback with a stunning free-kick

The former Everton midfielder is enjoying the responsibility bestowed on him by boss Maurizio Sarri in the Europa League

Talented youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi added the shine to the performance with a late goal as he capped off his evening

Having been stopped from leaving the club last month, Hudson-Odoi is pushing for more involvement as he boosted his case

Already ahead by a 2-1 scoreline from the first leg, this ought to have been routine fare for Chelsea. Yet in the seemingly final, desperate days of Sarri’s reign, nothing is routine. Nothing is to be taken for granted. 

In the first half-hour of this match, Chelsea had less shots than their opponents and did not even earn a corner. 

If they perform the same way early on against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s side will run up another tennis score. 

Malmo’s supporters let off flares and emerged with masks and banners as they travelled in good numbers to west London

With the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, regular starters such as Eden Hazard watched on against Malmo from the bench

Callum Hudson-Odoi, who missed out on a January move to Bayern Munich, was one who was given a rare start for Chelsea

Eventually, Chelsea did rouse themselves to break the deadlock through Olivier Giroud in the 55th minute. It was an important goal that diffused the tension after Chelsea supporters booed at the interval and then, in the quest for entertainment on another night of drudgery, one home fan decided to sprint across the pitch early in the second period.

Chelsea’s progress only seemed certain when Rasmus Bengtsson was dismissed in the 73rd minute for a second yellow card and Ross Barkley subsequently curled a sumptuous free-kick over the wall and in.

Even at 2-0, all was not well. When Jorginho arrived as a substitute, Chelsea groans dominated the airwaves once more. For a player short on confidence, it seemed counter-productive and rather unpleasant. It did, however, indicate that Chelsea followers will require more than this to forgive recent events.

Chelsea’s third goal, superbly dispatched by Callum Hudson-Odoi added gloss but also pose renewed questions of Sarri, who has utilised the teenager so rarely in recent times. 

In many ways, this was always likely to be an awkward fixture for Sarri. Win the match handsomely and it is only Malmo. Muddle over the line and the questions continue. 

The 18-year-old has been centre of attention in the last month with added scrutiny on his performances with talk of a move

Danish defender Andreas Christensen was called into action early on as he cleared his lines following pressure from Malmo

Sarri rarely keeps opinions to himself and he made his feelings plain to the fourth official throughout the game on Thursday

Ross Barkley, who scored in the first tie in Sweden, was again heavily involved as he looked to be the side’s creative force

Malmo were cheered on by a buoyant away following and the Swedes provided the soundtrack for much of the first game. As for the home crowd, there was a rousing round of applause when Chelsea players took their positions before kick-off. After the the toxicity of Monday evening, the olive branch was extended.

That was, at least, until the football began. Sarri was rapidly into the dugout, pacing with an urgency we might not expect from the manager of a team boasting a comfortable advantage against Swedish also-rans. 

When Antonio Rudiger conceded a free-kick out wide early on, Sarri vented to his assistants in the dug-out. The Italian knows his side are helpless in defending crosses right now and his suspicions were confirmed as Bengtsson climbed highest but headed narrowly over. 

Chelsea’s start was fraught and anxious. Sarri made seven changes from the defeat against United, as Jorginho, Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain were rested. There was a start for Hudson-Odoi but the Italian’s stubbornness was underlined when he placed Mateo Kovacic at the heart of Chelsea’s three even in Jorginho’s absence. 

As such, N’Golo Kante continued in his peculiar outside right role, stumbling into cul-de-sacs and rarely on hand to intervene in the areas where his team most requires his services. 

Willy Caballero, starting in place of Kepa Arrizabalaga, barks instructions to the defenders as Malmo searched for a goal

Frustration was palpable as the wait for the opening goal went on and Barkley was soon booked for a mistimed challenge

Giroud was impressive in the away leg and was once again tasked with causing problems for Malmo as he lead the line

On-loan midfielder Mateo Kovacic looks to nip in ahead of his marker as he scampers to retrieve the ball and possession

This was underlined when Anders Christiansen raided away on the counter-attack, pursued by Kovacic and Ross Barkley, who picked up a booking. Kante was, however, the man who stepped up in the second period, providing forward thrust to shape the game against a tiring Malmo.

In the match day programme, Sarri said his side are not good enough in both penalty boxes. In short, they do not score enough goals and concede far too many and Sarri will know that this combination usually sees a manager sacked. 

Chelsea should have been trailing inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour. Anxiety and carelessness pockmarked their play. 

A routine foul was awarded against Cesar Azpilicueta and the Spaniard responded with fury rarely seen from the Chelsea captain. Kovacic then misplaced a square pass inside his own half but Marcus Antonsson lacked the quality to break beyond the Chelsea defend.

For Malmo, the half-chances came and went. Arnor Ingvi Traustason hit a snapshot wide. Hudson-Odoi and Kante went for the same ball inside their own half and the ball dropped to Markus Rosenberg, who turned Antonio Rudiger and fired an inch wide of the post. All the while, Sarri grew increasingly agitated.

Antonio Rudiger, critical of Sarri in the build-up, encouraged team-mates to keep the faith as Malmo largely thwarted them

N’Golo Kante was tenacious as always in the centre of the park as he looked to steal the ball from Malmo’s Sroen Rieks

Those Malmo fans who made the trip to Stamford Bridge were in good voice despite their side facing a mountain to climb

Malmo manager Uwe Rosler acknowledged the impressive away support raising his hand by way of thanks for their support

Giroud headed over the top and Barkley tested the goalkeeper from distance a couple of times but Chelsea lacked incision, energy and desire. Inertia and hesitation defined their build-up. On the half-time whistle, it was little surprise when the jeers returned.

Malmo continued to threaten in the second-half, as two dangerous crosses flashed across goal before Kante decided to remind everyone of his enduring qualities. Yet short of endurance before their season begins, Malmo were not likely to keep up the tempo they set in their impressive first-half. 

A loose header on the half-way line left the ball up for grabs in the centre-circle and Kante sprinted onto the scene, rampaging through midfield, leaving two opponents in his wake. He laid off to his left for Willian, who squared for Giroud to convert.

Another Kante burst freed Ross Barkley to slide in a cool finish but his celebrations were interrupted by an errant flag before the second and third came after Malmo were reduced to ten men.