London (AFP)
Easy winner in Newcastle (2-0), Chelsea provisionally took the lead in the English Championship on Saturday at the start of the 9th day, showing a good offensive going before going to Rennes on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Faced with apathetic Magpies and who took an hour to enter the match, Frank Lampard's players have totally mastered their subject, and built up their confidence before returning to the European queen event.
The tactical, technical, physical, psychological domination of the Blues was total, superior for example to that displayed by the London team three weeks ago in the Champions League against Rennes (3-0).
The performance is all the more convincing given that it was successful without Thiago Silva, returning from a long trip to South America for the World Cup qualifiers, and whose role in defensive stabilization was essential to the month of October.
Faced with the Magpies too corseted in the 5-4-1 device set up by Steve Bruce, ten minutes were enough for Chelsea to score, on a cross from Mason Mount that defender Federico Fernandez inadvertently deflected in his goal, under pressure from Ben Chilwell.
The score should have been wider if Tammy Abraham, Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner had been more skillful.
The German striker didn't score, but he was involved in most of his side's chances.
His full-axis breakthrough allowed him to address a decisive pass to Abraham, ensure victory and finish the meeting in short strides (0-2, 65th).
With eighteen points in nine days, Chelsea provisionally takes the lead in the championship.
Aston Villa (6th with 15 points) has the opportunity to take the lead in case of victory against Brighton (3:00 p.m. GMT), as does Tottenham (3rd with 17 points) which receives Manchester City (5:30 p.m. GMT).
© 2020 AFP