Romelu Lukaku needed only one glimpse of goal to score. This was what Chelsea spent £97.5 million on — this ruthlessness, this reliability. Even well-organised opponents such as last night’s Russian visitors to Stamford Bridge could contain Lukaku for only so long. Nobody can guarantee goals but Lukaku gets close.
For 69 minutes, Lukaku was closely attended by Zenit sentries, particularly Dmitri Chistyakov. The Russian champions had not been beaten for 16 games but then they had not had to contend with Lukaku during that run.
For more than two-thirds of this Champions League group H fixture, Chelsea were off the pace but they always believed the breakthrough would come. Their fans certainly did and they knew the identity of their rescuer. They sang Lukaku’s
