Chelsea edged closer to the Europa Conference League knockout stage after maintaining their flawless start in the competition with victory over Heidenheim in Germany.
Christopher Nkunku’s fifth goal in the group phase set Enzo Maresca’s side on their way to a fourth win in four games to stay top of the 36-team table.
The France forward, who used to play in Germany for RB Leipzig, controlled Jadon Sancho’s pass into the box with one touch before burying the ball in the back of the net with his second.
Nkunku has scored in every group phase game, while the £52m signing now has 11 goals in all competitions for Chelsea this season.
It still required some big saves by Filip Jorgensen to ensure the Blues got the job done against the Bundesliga club, before Mykhailo Mudryk made it 2-0 after finding the top corner with four minutes left.
With the game goalless, goalkeeper Jorgensen produced an outstanding one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner, while the 22-year-old also came to his side’s rescue, after Nkunku’s goal, to keep out Leo Scienza and Wanner again.
The visitors finished the game with 10 men, though, after midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in the sixth minute of added time for a second bookable offence.
Maresca’s men had cruised to victory in their opening three group phase games – scoring 16 times in the process – but Heidenheim, who have enjoyed a fairytale climb through the leagues in Germany, provided them with their biggest test to date in the competition.
Chelsea thought they had won a penalty in the first half when Mudryk went down after a challenge by Patrick Mainka.
A lengthy check by the video assistant referee (VAR) followed and Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk – who at one stage looked like he was about to book the Ukraine forward for a dive – watched it again on the pitchside monitor and decided there was not enough contact.
Chelsea’s next game in the Europa Conference League is away to Astana in Kazakhstan on 12 December
Chelsea driving forward under Maresca
Twenty games into Maresca’s reign and Chelsea sit at the top of the Europa Conference League, while they could finish this weekend second in the Premier League if results go their way.
They go to Kazakhstan next in Europe, but will make the mammoth journey to play Astana on 12 December with a place in the knockout phase within their grasp.
Chelsea can also register Cole Palmer for the knockout rounds after leaving their prize asset out of the group phase to manage his workload.
But will they need the England forward?
It’s all going smoothly for the Blues in Europe’s third-tier club competition, with Nkunku finding form in front of goal and Jorgensen pushing current number one Robert Sanchez hard for a place in Maresca’s Premier League line-up.
Against Heidenheim, Sancho marked his first start since 20 October after illness and injury with two assists and looked sharp.
The Europa Conference League might lack the glamour of the Champions League but it is proving more than useful for Maresca as he attempts to drive Chelsea forward.
