Chelsea 3 - 0 Rennes: 5 Talking Points as Lampard's Blues continue to dominate UCL Group

Frank Lampard's Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory at home, courtesy of a first-half brace from Timo Werner brace and a Tammy Abraham goal in the second forty-five minutes. The visitors Rennes put on a gritty display, but never looked like scoring, especially after being reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute.

We discuss five talking points from the game:

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#5 Eduardo Camavinga's absence hurt Rennes badly

At 17, Camavinga is the youngest player to make an appearance for France

Rennes' teen sensation Eduardo Camavinga is an exciting prospect. Often compared to national teammate Paul Pogba for his skillful dribbling and slick passing, the attacking midfielder's creativity is exactly what the Champions League debutants lacked in midfield.

Although they were gritty on the night, even after being reduced to 10 men, Camavinga's flair was sorely missed in the away fixture.

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#4 Chelsea manager Lampard needs to be wary of fatigue factor

Ben Chilwell has started every game since the 30th of September

In the opening exchanges, it was the visitors who were sharper in possession and showed more energy off the ball. Chelsea did try to employ a high press, but that didn't last for too long. Julian Stephen's charges won the majority of aerial duels and were certainly difficult to break down. At this point, Chelsea's overloaded schedule is a major concern for Frank Lampard. The debate around the sheer number of games played per week continues.

The toll of Chelsea's crowded fixture list was evident, with the likes of Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Timo Werner, and Tammy Abraham all looking sluggish early on. Although they did get the job done, Lampard needs to protect his players to avoid injuries. With crunch league games approaching, the young manager has no choice but to rotate his squad.

#3. Edouard Mendy - Signing of the Summer?

Edouard Mendy joined Chelsea from Rennes for £22 Million in the Summer Window

Lining up against his former club, the Senegalese shot-stopper didn't put a foot wrong and registered his 6th successive clean sheet in all competitions. He hasn't conceded a goal in the Champions League so far and has earned all the praise he is receiving. In all fairness though, Rennes looked toothless in attack and he was barely called into action.

But another solid display between the sticks will give Frank Lampard some assurance, given how leaky and error-prone the Chelsea defensive unit was last season. Mendy seems to have settled into life in London very well after his recent transfer. The fee of £22 Million fee shelled out for him looks like money well spent for the Blues.

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#2. Chelsea's Defensive Solidity

Chelsea FC 's Kurt Zouma in the UEFA Champions League

Praise was heaped on Mendy for bringing about a change in the fortunes of Chelsea's defense, and rightly so. However, the contributions of the center-back pairing of summer signing Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma are equally important. The duo has been rock solid at the back. Whether it's because of the French connection or individual improvement, Chelsea's defensive frailties are gone.

Thiago Silva seems to be stepping up as a leader of the group and Zouma has played well enough to seal a spot in the XI. The Blues are slowly looking like the team that Lampard was trying to build over the summer window, and with steady progress being made, optimism and hope aren't flourishing at Stamford Bridge.

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#1. VAR & A Stroke of Good Fortune

All 3 of Werner's goals in the Champions League this season have come from the spot

A dodgy Kurt Zouma handball in the early stages of the game could have seen the game go differently, if only it was called. It wasn't to be and the defender was given the benefit of doubt. A minute later, Timo Werner was tripped at the edge of the opposition's penalty area by Rennes left-back Dalbert Henrique. The penalty was awarded and the German striker made no mistake. This short passage of play put Rennes on the backfoot and swung the odds in Chelsea's favor.

Fast-forward to the 40th minute, and Chelsea had a second penalty in the game. The handball looked unintentional but the referee thought otherwise. Yet again, Dalbert Henrique was the guilty party. The defender was unlucky to be shown a second yellow and was sent off in cruel fashion. Timo Werner calmly slotted home the penalty and put the game beyond the visitors' reach.

While Chelsea had an excellent first half, the London team had its fair share of luck. Meanwhile, VAR continues to be the source of controversy.