Just like at Newcastle United three days previously, we had to wait until the second half to find a breakthrough but the winner eventually came in incisive fashion as Callum Hudson-Odoi turned provider for Hakim Ziyech with a pinpoint low cross.

The visitors spurned a number of big chances, ending the night with an xG of 2.5, but another clean sheet was enough to safely secure all three points and take us to within touching distance of the knockout round.

We now need just a point in our final two group games, at home to Juventus and away at Zenit St Petersburg, to make it mathematically secure.

Ruben rampant

On his first Champions League start for six years, Ruben Loftus-Cheek dominated the game in midfield. The 25-year-old propelled the team forward with those typical line-breaking runs; his elongated stride, indomitable strength and wonderful balance proving impossible to contend with.

No player on the pitch completed more take-ons (seven) or won more duels (14), underlining his impact in both retrieving possession and affecting the game in attack. Had Kai Havertz proved a little more clinical in front of goal, Loftus-Cheek would have capped his evening’s work with an assist, and his tally of three key passes was bettered only by Ziyech.

As the Blues dominated possession in Sweden, our number 12 enjoyed more touches than any of his non-defender team-mates, with his touch map below showing the extent of his all-action performance.

Malmo boss Jon Dahl Tomasson urged his team’s supporters to create a party atmosphere in what was their first game in front of a full crowd in two years. The locals responded with plenty of colour and noise, though it was the Londonder from Lewisham who conducted the orchestra on the pitch.

Wing switch works a treat

Thomas Tuchel revealed in his post-match round of interviews that the inspiration for the half-time switch of Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech had come from his assistant, Arno Michels. The Moroccan had started the game on the right and Hudson-Odoi on the left, the two operating as inverted widemen cutting infield onto their stronger side.

Yet that was robbing the Blues of a more direct approach on the flanks, a cutting thrust that quickly paid dividends when Hudson-Odoi combined neatly with Kai Havertz and advanced with menace before producing a sumptuous cross for Ziyech to convert.

Some assists are awarded generously for a simple sideways pass but this was the very definition of an act of giving, handing the 20-year-old his second goal contribution in as many Champions League games. He is the first played aged under 21 to ever do that for the Blues and in the absence of Timo Werner and Mason Mount, his attacking impetus was as important as ever.

The contribution of our Cobham graduates also continues to shine brightly, with 10 of our last 16 goals either scored or assisted by a player from our Academy.

Unbreachable at the back

Edou Mendy recorded his fifth consecutive clean sheet but the Senegal stopper was never really troubled in southern Scandinavia, the Swedes failing to register a shot on target once again in a meeting between the two sides.

In fact, Mendy has faced just two efforts on goal in his past four outings for the Blues. The last goal he conceded from open play in any competition was on matchday two when Federico Chiesa netted for Juventus in Turin.

Since Tuchel took charge of Chelsea at the start of the year, the Blues have kept at least nine more clean sheets in all competitions than any other side in Europe’s top five leagues. At the other end, Ziyech’s goal was our 500th in continental competition.

Other notable numbers

Just like in our dominant display on Tyneside at the weekend, possession paid dividends as we enjoyed 73 per cent of the ball at the Eleda Stadion. That improved our average possession statistics in this year’s competition, which was already the highest of all 32 competing teams, to 66.8 per cent (ahead of Liverpool with 60.3 per cent).

Only the Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk have a higher passing accuracy, with 90.3 per cent compared to our 89.8 per cent, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen enjoying the most in this game with 11.2 per cent each. The symmetry of the two continued in the passing stakes, with both making 108.

The Blues had 22 shots, our most in a Champions League game for at least six years, with Marcos Alonso, Loftus-Cheek and Ziyech accounting for four apiece. The latter also claimed five key passes and two successful dribbles in a decisive display.