Injuries Nightmare For Chelsea

• Lose Lukaku, Werner in Champion League tie against Malmo

Belgian international, Romelu Lukaku was forced off the pitch with a suspected ankle injury during the first half of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Malmo, with his strike partner, Timo Werner also sidelined soon after.

The Blues’ two most reliable forwards were both left needing treatment after heavy tackles in the first half of the match play at Stamford Bridge

Lukaku lasted less than 20 minutes in the encounter at Stamford Bridge before he was withdrawn following a heavy tackle.

Both injuries could prove fatal for the Blues’ who are looking for success in both their European defence and in the Premier League this season.

After Lukaku’s exit, matters suddenly got worse when Werner also had to go off before the break with Chelsea already leading 1-0 through Andreas Christensen’s ninth-minute opener when Lukaku pushed forward looking for a second.

The Belgium striker burst into the area after trading passes with Werner, but found Malmo defender Lasse Nielsen in his way.

Nielsen’s tackle sent Lukaku tumbling to the ground, winning the Blues a penalty, but the forward did not come out of the encounter unscathed as he went down and required several minutes of treatment on the pitch.

Lukaku was eventually able to stand on his feet before limping off, with Kai Havertz sent into the action as his replacement.

Back on the field, Jorginho converted the spot-kick to put Chelsea 2-0 ahead and well on the way to their second Champions League victory of the season after winning the title in 2020-21.

But the injury worries mounted for Coach Thomas Tuchel as Werner went off with an ankle injury in the 42nd minute, and Callum Hudson-Odoi coming on as a substitute

The bigger picture
However, Chelsea will hope neither Lukaku nor Werner suffered a serious physical problem, which would leave them light on forward options.

Lukaku has been on impressive form since returning to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan in the summer, scoring three goals in seven Premier League appearances so far as the Blues have fought to the top of the table.

He also score the winning goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League defeat of Zenit in the first match of Group H