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• Heidenheim 0-2 Chelsea: Nkunku and Mudryk edge Blues closer to last 16

  Chelsea maintained their perfect start to their Europa Conference League campaign by beating Heidenheim 2-0 on Thursday. 

  Two second-half strikes from Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk kept the Blues top of the pile after four games, taking their total to 18 goals in this year's competition.

  The visitors thought they had been awarded a penalty when Mudryk was tripped inside the box, and despite being told to go to the monitor to review the decision, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk stuck with his original call. 

  However, the Blues found themselves in front six minutes after the break when Jadon Sancho's cross was gathered by Nkunku, who finished with aplomb from inside the area. 

  Heidenheim continued to ramp up the pressure late on and thought they had levelled through substitute Maximilian Breunig's diving header, but the offside flag was raised on the far side. 

  The victory was sealed in the 86th minute after fine build-up play between Sancho and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw the ball pulled back for Mudryk, who rifled into the top corner.

  Cesare Casadei's sending off in second-half stoppage time took the gloss off an otherwise impressive display, with the Blues' focus now turning to Aston Villa this weekend. 

  Data Debrief: Blues march on

  Following Chelsea's 8-0 thrashing of Armenian minnows Noah in their last game, many placed the Blues as favourites to win this year's competition, but they were made to work for their triumph in Germany. 

  While the Blues accumulated an expected goals (xG) total of 2.9 to Heidenheim's 1.97, the hosts registered more shots on target (11), but were foiled by the brilliance of Filip Jorgensen, who made 11 saves during the encounter. 

  Nkunku also continued his scoring streak in the competition, netting his fifth Europa Conference League goal, while also producing more shots on target (three) than any of his team-mates. 

• Wood feeling the appreciation of Forest boss Nuno

  Chris Wood says he is flourishing at Nottingham Forest because he feels the appreciation of boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

  The New Zealand striker, 32, has been the surprise story of the Premier League season, scoring eight goals in 12 top-flight appearances – a tally bettered only by Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.

  Indeed, since Nuno took over at Forest Wood has netted 19 in 28 Premier League games and puts that down to finding a manager who knows how to get the best out of him.

  In an interview with BBC Sport, he said: "You have to find where you are appreciated. Managers have their own style and how they want to play games.

  "That's not anything I can control. It just means you might not be in the right area or the manager's cup of tea. There's always a manager who likes a number nine, or a false nine.

  "I'm not a man who is going to beat two or three players and stick it in the top corner, I'm a man who relies on service. If they can't supply me, I can't score.

  "It's about trying to find the role which fits everyone and fortunately under Nuno it has.

  "The six or seven loans I had as a youngster taught me a lot about being appreciated and valued. It's not always about you as a person or player, it's how you connect and build with a team. A lot of it is out of your control."

  Wood also credited now Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth for some useful advice when he was technical director at West Brom, one of the 11 English clubs Wood represented before landing at a 12th with Forest.

  He added: "It's about making coming down the other side as small as possible to bounce back up and make a new mountain.

  "Mentality is huge in sport and in football. If you can control that side of the game it helps.

  "You go through these mountains and waves through the whole season. It's not just a case of skyrocketing. That's what I got told by [former technical director] Dan Ashworth when I was at West Brom. It's not always going to be plain sailing.

  "There are going to be those waves and you have to ride with them and hope the downside is as small as possible to get the upsides as big as possible."

• Camavinga joins Vinicius and Rodrygo on growing Real Madrid injury list

  Real Madrid have confirmed that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga sustained a hamstring injury during their Champions League defeat to Liverpool.

  Camavinga was replaced by Dani Ceballos in the 56th minute during Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Anfield, and the club revealed he is expected to spend a period on the sidelines. 

  The Frenchman adds to Madrid's already extensive injury list, joining the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal on the injury table. 

  An official club statement read: "Following tests carried out today on our player Eduardo Camavinga by the club’s Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the femoral biceps of his left leg. Pending evolution."

  This growing list of absentees has raised serious concerns about the team’s depth and their ability to compete effectively both domestically and in the Champions League. 

  The loss against Liverpool has already left Madrid’s Champions League qualification hopes hanging in the balance, finding themselves 24th in the new 36-team table after five games.

  Carlo Ancelotti's side welcome Getafe to the Bernabeu this Sunday, hoping to close the gap to rivals Barcelona at the summit of the LaLiga standings, who are just four points ahead, with Madrid having played a game less.