Roma 3 - Chelsea 0: El Shaarawy double inspires Serie A giants to top of Group C

ANTONIO CONTE suffered a nightmare on his return to Italy – but he only has himself to blame for Chelsea’s calamitous defending.

Stephan El ShaarawyGETTY

Stephan El Shaarawy scored twice for Roma

The Blues manager has made so many changes to his defence this season he is becoming a new Tinkerman – and it came back to haunt him.

Recalling Gary Cahill and playing him on the right of a back three threw Chelsea’s usually secure unit right out of kilter and Roma punished them savagely.

Stephan El Shaarawy scored the first after just 38 seconds, the first time the Blues have conceded in the opening minute of a game in four years.

El Shaarawy then hit a second before Diego Perotti struck the third in the 63rd minute.

There were mistakes at the back for every goal, and in truth it could have been worse.

Roma gave Chelsea a real scare at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago and the Italians were quickly at it again here.

In a blistering start it was actually the visitors who almost struck first, Pedro wasting a clear-cut opportunity after being played in by Tiemoue Bakayoko.

But seconds later, and with a full minute yet to be played, Roma broke and snatched the lead.

At the Bridge it was former Manchester City pair Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov who did all the damage and they were up to their old tricks again.

Kolarov bombed down the left and swung in a cross which Dzeko, under no pressure whatsoever from former Roma defender Antonio Rudiger, flicked it back into the danger zone.

From then it was all about El Shaarawy’s finish, a real screamer from 20 yards which absolutely flew past poor Thibaut Courtois.

More evidence perhaps that Chelsea were missing N’Golo Kante, who didn’t even make the squad despite training in the build-up.

RomaGETTY

Roma were dominant throughout the game

Conte revealed before kick-off he felt it would be “stupid to risk” Kante’s hamstring injury with Sunday’s visit of Manchester United looming - althought the midfielder is now also likely to miss that game.

In-form Eden Hazard almost hit back immediately after being played in by Cesc Fabregas, but his shot was weak and easily saved by Roma goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Hazard wrigged clear again to see another shot saved before Alvaro Morata fluffed his lines with only the keeper to beat.

Kolarov’s attempted clearance rebounded right to him in front of goal off Pedro but the Spain star’s rushed shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Morata has not been the same since suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester City and missed two good chances in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday too.

At the other end Courtois saved from El Shaarawy, but he couldn’t stop the Roma striker making it 2-0 moments later with Rudiger again asleep.

Moment Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi CRASHES into goal post

That left Chelsea doubly upset as Hazard had been the victim of a cynical, unpunished foul by Alessandro Florenzi, who stamped down the back of his Achilles, just beforehand.

After 11 minutes of the second half Conte had seen enough and made an attacking change, bringing off Cahill and throwing on Willian.

But Morata, who had struggled all night, fired wide from another good position. He had never scored before against Roma despite spending two years in Italy with Juventus.

As out of colour as he looked though, it was nothing to compared to that Chelsea defence, which conceded a third in the 63rd minute, and this time it was Perotti’s turn

He turned inside Fabregas and skinned him for pace before firing in another belter which beat Courtois at his near post to put Roma in complete control.

They have scored some truly stunning goals in their two games against Chelsea, but how often do you ever see a Blues team torn apart so easily by the same opposition?

It should have been four when Perotti blazed over after Dzeko attracted all three Chelsea defenders to him and then played his team-mate in.

Roma (4-3-3): Becker; Florenzi, Fazio, Jesus, Kolarov; Nainggolan, De Rossi, Strootman; El Shaarawy, Dzeko, Perotti.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Rudiger, Luiz, Cahill; Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Alonso; Pedro, Morata, Hazard.

Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).

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