Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic on the mark as Chelsea ease past Lille

Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic made light of Romelu Lukaku's omission to spearhead Chelsea's 2-0 Champions League win over Lille.

Germany forward Havertz nodded in Hakim Ziyech's fizzing corner, before Pulisic slotted home from N'Golo Kante's threaded pass in a dominant last-16 first-leg victory.

Havertz impressed in the false nine role as £98million club-record signing Lukaku watched on from the bench, with USA speedster Pulisic an equally effective supporting act.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel vowed to protect Belgium hitman Lukaku amid continued struggles for form and fluency, in the wake of Saturday's off-kilter showing at Crystal Palace.

Tuchel insisted Lukaku was on the bench at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday due to fatigue, but the 28-year-old's Premier League record-low seven touches in the 1-0 win at Palace doubtless factored.

Havertz and Pulisic were high octane in comparison, offering enticing pace, movement and end product. The question of quite how Lukaku best fits into this Chelsea line-up endures, but in another hectic week of cup fare, the Blues' bosses will happily kick that conundrum into the long grass.

The Champions League holders are now firm favourites to reach the quarter-finals, with Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Liverpool racing into view.

Chelsea could be left to sweat on the availability for that Wembley clash of two in-form stars though, after injury scares for Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic.

Both Morocco forward Ziyech and Croatia midfielder Kovacic hobbled out of the clash with the glum expressions of those harbouring more than just knocks.

Chelsea 1-0 Lille - Kai Havertz heads the the defending Champions into a deserved early lead. Follow all the action here https://t.co/Dkmb4S98Jw #RTEsoccer #CHELOSC