Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory against Championship side Blackburn Rovers in a triumphant return to Stamford Bridge, marking their first home win since their third-round success against Brighton in late September.
French center-back Benoit Badiashile, making his first start for Chelsea since May, played a pivotal role in opening the scoring on the half-hour mark. Blackburn Rovers’ goalkeeper, Leopold Wahlstedt, was left helpless as he palmed away Conor Gallagher’s cross from a cleverly executed short corner, only to have the ball fall perfectly to Badiashile inside the area.
With almost an hour on the clock, Raheem Sterling extended Chelsea’s lead with a touch of brilliance. He capitalized on Cole Palmer’s interception, elegantly curling the ball into the far corner, much to the delight of Chelsea supporters.
Despite their resilience, Blackburn’s best chance came in the final moments. Substitute Arnor Sigurdsson made a promising run but was denied by an exceptional save from Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez.
While Chelsea has faced challenges in the Premier League this season, currently sitting 11th in the table with only three wins from 10 games, their performances in the Carabao Cup have been a bright spot. This victory brings them one step closer to coveted silverware, offering a well-timed morale boost for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s side.