No problems for Chelsea as Christopher Nkunku nets hat-trick in Barrow rout

Enzo Maresca made 11 changes to his Chelsea line-up for the visit of Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round, but a fine start to the Italian’s Stamford Bridge tenure was never at risk of being derailed as Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick secured a 5-0 romp over the League Two side.

The Blues were three goals up and out of sight inside half an hour with Joao Felix the ring leader in an overwhelming first-half attacking display, the forward who played 44 times last season for Barcelona making featherlight work of a team who were in the National League as recently as four years ago.

The Portugal international had a crucial hand in his side’s third goal, his free-kick striking the post and going in off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman, that after Nkunku had scored twice in the first 18 minutes.

Nkunku went on to complete his first Chelsea hat-trick in the second half with his side’s fifth goal. Before that, Pedro Neto had registered another first, opening his Blues account with a tap-in from Mykhailo Mudryk’s square pass.

The game was also notable for the return of Ben Chilwell, on as a half-time substitute to a raucous welcome from home fans five weeks after being told by Maresca he had no future at the club.

The goals began flowing after eight minutes. Renato Veiga played a pass centrally to Felix who took a touch to evade the outstretched leg of Dean Campbell and hoisted a devilish lob forward for the run of Nkunku, the forward capitalising on his first start in four games with a shot that squeezed through the hands of Farman.

His second to make it 2-0 after 15 minutes was sublime. Neto’s back heel for Malo Gusto was cheeky, the right-back’s cross pinpoint and in at the near post stole Nkunku with an impudent flick across goal