Malmo vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
All the latest updates from the Eleda Stadion
Follow live coverage as Chelsea head into their fourth Champions League group stage match looking for another three points which would leave them within touching distance of the knock-out phase, as they face Swedish side Malmo on Tuesday evening. So far, Thomas Tuchel’s side have won twice and suffered defeat to group leaders Juventus, who are at home to Dynamo Kyiv this evening - victory for the Blues would likely see a six-point gap between themselves and third place.
Domestically, Chelsea beat Newcastle comfortably at the weekend after progressing through to the League Cup quarter-finals a week ago, leaving them on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Malmo have lost just once in a six-game run of their own, but that was against their visitors tonight, in a 4-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.
The Blues still have injury concerns in their forward line with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner sidelined, while Mateo Kovacic is also out injured to further whittle down Tuchel’s squad options until after the upcoming international break. Even so, they’ll be heavy favourites to win here. Follow all the latest updates from Malmo vs Chelsea below:
Loftus-Cheek starts for Chelsea
Ruben Loftus-Cheek makes his first start in a Champions League match for six years. He will want to impress alongside Jorginho in the midfield but how will he get on for Chelsea tonight?
Tomasson on Champions League nights
Malmo coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, spoke about the experience of having Champions League football at the Eleda Stadion comparing the atmosphere to a party. He said:
I am extremely proud to see how the stadium transforms during evenings like the one we have in front of us.
“Malmö FF is a Champions League club, Malmö is a Champions League city and I think we all – supporters and the whole association – should feel involved in this journey we are making right now.
“We are all involved in this party that the Champions League is. And now that we are here, we want to show a good attitude.”
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea
Chelsea have won ten of their 16 games this season in all competitions including four in a row before being held by Southampton in the League Cup on 26th October, a tie they eventually won on penalties.
They have won ten of their 14 Premier League away games under Thomas Tuchel with three draws and one defeat. Only former Blues managers José Mourinho and Guus Hiddink, both 13, reached double figures quicker.
The London club have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches and are yet to concede more than one goal in a game in 2021/22.
Pulisic returns for Chelsea
Christian Pulisic is back in the Chelsea squad for tonight’s Champions League match. After recovering from an ankle injury he starts on the bench this evening but may feature towards the latter parts of the match.
Malmo are on a six-game losing streak in the Champions League group stages so they would be the perfect opponents for Pulisic to make his return.
Atalanta vs Man Utd: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer repeats an old trick to earn himself breathing space at Manchester United
For all the sound and the fury, in the white heat of last weekend’s humiliation, very little changed at Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clung on, as he always has when apparently close to the edge, hoping that the heaviest-ever home defeat to the club’s fiercest rivals would carry little meaningful consequence.
He may get his wish, but as a result it was perhaps good for one thing: it provided cover for other clubs and coaches who are also struggling to meet expectations.
Solskjaer repeats an old trick to earn himself breathing space at Manchester United
A change of plan and personnel gives the manager a much-needed victory and clean sheet
Chelsea’s group stage record
Champions League holders Chelsea have lost only one of their last 14 group stage matches with nine victories and four draws in that time. That sole defeat came against Juventus on Matchday Two of this campaign.
Malmo vs Chelsea
This is a big game for Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages. If they win tonight and so do Juventus, those two teams will be on nine and 12 points respectively, eliminating Malmo and leaving Zenit St. Petersburg six adrift of qualification with the same number of points still to play for in the last two matches.
Clubs on the same points at the end of the group stage are ranked according to results in head-to-head meetings.
Zenit are in great form domestically with 11 goals in two games conceding just twice whilst Juve are winless in three and have lost their last two matches.
Tonight in the Champions League: Atalanta vs Man Utd
Malmo vs Chelsea is one of the early kick offs this evening but also in action are Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. The Red Devils are looking to build off the back of their 3-0 victory over Tottenham at the weekend as Solskjaer hopes to ease the pressure on himself with another Champions League victory over Atalanta.
Ben Chilwell: Chelsea are thriving because there are no egos in squad
Ben Chilwell believes Chelsea are thriving due to an absence of egos and insists he never questioned his own abilities during a frustrating start to the season.
England defender Chilwell did not play a minute of his country’s run to the Euro 2020 final in the summer and was subsequently overlooked for his club’s opening six Premier League games.
The 24-year-old, who was initially kept out of the Blues’ starting XI by Marcos Alonso is back in favour at Stamford Bridge and has seized his chance by netting three times in four top-flight outings, in addition to a maiden international goal last month.
Ben Chilwell: Chelsea are thriving because there are no egos in squad
The 24-year-old has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games
Previous meetings: Malmo vs Chelsea
The two sides have met three times in competitive football with Chelsea victorious in all three games.
The first two matches were played in the 2019 Europa League round of 32 with the Blues first beating Malmo 2-1 away from home before advancing through the tie with a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The third clash between these clubs came just two weeks ago when Chelsea bettered their previous win at the Bridge by beating Malmo 4-0.
Based on those results it should be a comfortable night for Thomas Tuchel’s men but in the Champions League you just never know, Malmo give it everything they’ve got and Chelsea will need to be switched on to earn all three points.
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