Chelsea’s defence of the Champions League is alive and kicking after Thomas Tuchel’s side took a commanding first leg lead against Lille in the round of 16.
A 2-0 advantage means progression to the quarter-finals is within touching distance, barring a collapse in France next month.
But on a night when the holders showed more attacking verve than they have for some months now, fresh questions were raised over the future of Romelu Lukaku.
Tuchel dropped the club’s £97.5million record signing and his side immediately felt the benefits.
“I felt he was a bit tired and exhausted,” the German explained – and there was certainly a renewed vigour to Chelsea without him.
In his absence, Kai Havertz led the line and set his team on course to victory.
There is a strong case for the Germany international being Chelsea’s best option in that role – and that argument only strengthened on the back of this performance.
Havertz showed the invention, guile and energy Lukaku has failed to produce since his move from Inter Milan last summer.
His forward dashes into the box provided a target for his teammates, while his link-up play when dropping deep offered variety to Chelsea’s attacks.
He may not have the numbers to compare to Lukaku – but he looks a better fit for Tuchel’s system at this point.
And in knockout football, Chelsea’s manager knows he needs to get it right each and every time. There is little room to indulge Lukaku as he continues to struggle to adapt to his teammates and vice versa.
One misstep at this stage of the competition could be fatal.
That is why the call to drop Lukaku was such a bold one for Tuchel – but also the right one.
In the Belgium international’s absence, Havertz managed to beat his touch count of seven against Crystal Palace inside 15 minutes. On top of that, he also opened the scoring for Chelsea to crown a thrilling opening in which he might have had a hat-trick as French champions Lille were repeatedly cut open.
He looked certain to score when meeting a Cesar Azpilicueta cross at the near post – only to lift his shot over from inside six yards.
The mind turned to Lukaku and what he must have made of such service that has been conspicuous by its absence when he has led the line.
That is the type of ball he feeds off – though his fiercest critics may argue that, such has been his lack of mobility of late, it is questionable whether he would have even been in place to miss it.
It was the sort of chance Havertz is prone to wasting. The big mark against his credentials to play at the point of attack.
But what he lacks in finishing, he makes up for in movement, touch and awareness.
He did not let his head drop and almost immediately after was forcing a save from Leo Jardim after fashioning a shot following some neat close control on the angle.
From the resulting corner he headed Chelsea in front – rising to meet Hakim Ziyech’s cross.
All of that inside eight minutes of kick off.
It was a reminder of how Chelsea can look without an orthodox centre forward, with Christian Pulisic and Ziyech either side of him dragging Lille out of shape.
Stamford Bridge rocked at such a vibrant start that has been so lacking in recent months.
At that stage it felt like the score could be anything. The problem was that Chelsea’s players appeared to believe as much.
The simple, quick passing that opened Lille up, gave way to self-indulgence and overthinking in the final third.
Ziyech had sight of goal from within the penalty area, but chose to check onto his left foot and the chance was gone.
Chelsea’s failure to capitalise on their superiority gave Lille hope. They grew in confidence as the half neared a close, even if Edouard Mendy was largely untroubled.
It was a script Tuchel had read before and his growing frustration on the touchline was evident.
Chelsea were more energetic after the break, but disrupted by injuries to Mateo Kovacic and Ziyech.
If that might have been an opportunity for the game to unravel, it was put to bed on 63 minutes when N’Golo Kante burst towards the edge of the Lille box.
With Pulisic racing up on his left, he shifted the ball to the American, who took two touches in his stride before guiding a shot into the far corner.
At that point it was case of seeing the game out – and with it, most likely the tie.
