Stephan El Shaarawy struck twice as Roma hammered a miserable Chelsea to move top of Champions League Group C.

The hosts started in ideal fashion as El Shaarawy lashed Edin Dzeko’s perfectly weighted back-header into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Chelsea played mainly on the counter but looked dangerous when they got forward, with Roma goalkeeper Alisson denying the bright Eden Hazard thrice in the first half.

However Roma were far more clinical and El Sharaawy capitalised on an Antonio Rudiger error to slip home the second.

Chelsea paled in the second half and Diego Perotti slammed home from outside the box in the 63rd minute to extend Roma’s lead to three.

Here are five talking points from the clash at the Stadio Olympico...

Blues Kante cope without N’Golo

Star midfielder N'Golo Kante in training - but he wasn't able to return against Roma (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

If there were any doubts about N’Golo Kante’s importance to this Chelsea team, the last few matches have demonstrated how vital he is.

The French midfielder is missed in many ways, offering an effervescent energy which helps drive the Blues and keeps them on top of opponents in matches.

Without Kante, Roma had more of the ball than Chelsea would have liked, because Cesc Fabregas simply can’t offer the same level of intensity in the middle of the pitch.

Antonio Conte hinted that Kante was ready to return for this game but in the end he didn’t even make it on to the bench.

The coach might have been playing the long game, with a crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United coming up on Sunday—perhaps he knows Kante can’t play two games in a week.

Fantasy football from the Pharaoh

Stefan El Shaarawy of AS Roma competes for the ball with Antonio Rudiger (
Image:
Paolo Bruno)

Stephan El Shaarawy scored a sensational volley to help Roma past Bologna 1-0 at home on Saturday, the perfect way to celebrate his 25th birthday.

But the festivities were not over there. Inside the first minute the forward ran onto Dzeko’s back-header and absolutely leathered the ball into the top left corner of Thibaut Courtois’ goal from outside the area.

Then he doubled Roma’s lead in the 36th minute after a defensive disaster which was largely Antonio Rudiger’s fault, El Sharaawy running onto a ball which the German let drift past him, beating Azpilicueta for pace and tucking home.

The man they call the ’Pharaoh’ has hit a rich vein for form, even beyond his outrageous goals, and finally appears to have found his home.

It would be no surprise if he’s brought into the Italy squad and if he keeps up this form, could even appear in Russia if they make it past Sweden in the play-offs.

Chelsea’s defensive jigsaw puzzle

Chelsea FC head coach Antonio Conte shouts during the heavy defeat (
Image:
Paolo Bruno)

When Kante is around his presence can hide it, but Chelsea’s defence is a bit of a mess.

Cesar Azpilicueta looks out of place at right wing-back, with the Spaniard not well equipped for constant forays forward.

That’s not to say he doesn’t have any attacking qualities, with both his crossing and goalscoring impressive this season, but he works much better in the position Antonio Conte created for him last year, right of the three centre-backs.

From there he can go forward when it suits him, rather than feel obliged to as an outlet for the team.

Antonio Rudiger was at fault for El Sharaawy’s second goal with a lapse in concentration, but youngster Andreas Christensen has also shown he should be starting ahead of captain Gary Cahill.

The resources are there at the back for Conte, he just needs to use them better. Perhaps the only thing missing is a left wing-back - Marcos Alonso has his positives but defensively it is hard for Chelsea fans to watch him and not pine for the days of Ashley Cole.

Chelsea slide must be stopped now

Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League group C match t Stadio Olimpico (
Image:
Shaun Botterill)

This was an embarrassing result for Chelsea and if they lose against Man United at the weekend they will be bordering on a crisis.

Conte can point to his thin squad and blame transfer failings in the summer for a lack of options.

But the players who are there aren’t impressing either—some of them look shattered, some don’t look motivated and others perhaps just not good enough.

The Blues did not improve this summer while many of their rivals did, and although suggestions that the coach should lose his job are premature, it is results like these which often precipitate a sharp downwards spiral.

And perhaps more importantly, performances like these. Because Chelsea deserved the beating dealt out to them by Roma.

Conte has shown he is an excellent coach and getting this squad re-motivated is his next challenge, and a vital one.

The one positive from the night was Hazard, who continues to improve after his injury and should soon hit top form.

Surprise package Roma shake up the group

Diego Perotti after scoring the team's third goal (
Image:
Paolo Bruno)

Nobody thought Champions League group C was going to be a walk in the park for Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, but few doubted they would progress.

Champions of England Chelsea and Atletico, twice finalists in the last four years, were expected to book their places in the knock-out rounds, Roma to gracefully glide out and land in the Europa League, and minnows Qarabag to head home with the wooden spoon.

But the lesser-fancied sides are not backing down without a fight—and indeed, Roma now sit top of the table with eight points, one above Chelsea on seven, while Atletico are third with three and Qarabag bottom, but not out of the picture for a Europa League place, with two.

Roma have been excellent this season in both Serie A, where they are fifth with a game in hand, and Europe in which they are thus far unbeaten.

A team of players with plenty to prove has given them a determined dynamic, with coach Eusebio Di Francesco drawing the best out of them.

Dzeko is the perfect example, with the Bosnian forward notching 10 goals in 14 appearances this season and proving a focal point for the team to build around.