A late goal from Anders Christiansen ensured Chelsea travel back to London with just a slender one-goal advantage, as the Blues recorded a 2-1 victory against Malmo in Sweden.
Ross Barkley showed quick feet to shuffle the ball and poke Chelsea ahead in the 30th minute. The game, on the whole, was still, however, an open affair and both sides had chances to score.
The second-half saw the match become stretched and tempestuous in the middle of the park as both sides vied for supremacy, and Olivier Giroud seemed to have swung the tie firmly in Chelsea’s favour when he flicked in a Willian cross from right in front of the keeper.
Maurizio Sarri bought on some senior first-team players to try and wrap up the game itself as well as the tie, but their input only managed to unsettle Chelsea’s rhythm and after a succession of sloppy passes Christiansen slotted in a potentially crucial consolation goal for Malmo.
Chelsea’s first away win of 2019 puts them in control heading into next week’s return leg at Stamford Bridge but having pulled a goal back Malmo will still hold hope of progressing.
