Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in control of their Champions League last-16 tie against Lille with a 2-0 win, but Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech went off injured.
Despite Romelu Lukaku being dropped to the bench after a dismal showing against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Chelsea needed just eight minutes to find the net through Havertz.
The reigning champions saw in-form duo Kovacic and Ziyech hobble off before the hour mark, casting doubt over their chances of featuring in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.
Pulisic finished off a quick break after 63 minutes to secure a strong first-leg lead for Thomas Tuchel's side, with the return leg to come in France next month.
Havertz wasted little time in making his mark as the central striker, nodding home from Ziyech's corner after failing to take a couple of early chances.
Antonio Rudiger almost turned a Renato Sanches cross into his own net and Lille threatened with a flurry of chances from the resulting corner as they started to get a foothold in the game.
Chelsea were dealt a blow when they lost Kovacic and Ziyech in quick succession early in the second half, but they doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute.
N'Golo Kante surged forward from inside the Chelsea half and fed Pulisic for a delightful dink over the onrushing Leo Jardim and into the bottom-right corner.
Lille tried to reduce the arrears with a push for a late goal, but Edouard Mendy was never really tested and Chelsea remained in charge of the tie.
What does it mean? Advantage Chelsea
The Blues were always going to be the favourites in this match-up and they got the win that was expected of them despite being far from dominant.
Chelsea have a good record when winning the first leg of a Champions League tie; in the 11 occasions they have won the opening encounter, they have reached the next round nine times.
However, the two exits followed first-leg victories at Stamford Bridge against Barcelona in 1999-2000 and Liverpool in 2006-07.
No room for Romelu
Lukaku was dropped after having just seven touches across 90 minutes at the weekend. Havertz needed just five to have three attempts on goal and find the net with the last of them, showing he is more than capable of being a potent threat through the middle.
Sanches shines in defeat
Sanches proved he has come a long way as he returned to the ground where he infamously passed to a logo on an advertising board, which he had mistaken for a team-mate during an underwhelming loan spell at Swansea City in 2017. He bossed the midfield in the first half and played some lovely passes.
What's next?
Chelsea face Liverpool in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, when Lille travel to Lyon in Ligue 1.
Birmingham get back to winning ways with comfortable victory over Huddersfield
Birmingham put a terrible September behind them by starting October with a commanding 4-1 victory over Huddersfield.
After a positive start to the season, John Eustace’s men collected just two of 15 points last month, scoring only two goals and losing three times.
However, they were never in danger against the Terriers and produced a convincing display thanks to a double from Siriki Dembele and further goals from Koji Miyoshi and Jordan James.
Blues offered a statement of intent after just 30 seconds when Krystian Bielik swung a 20-yard shot wide of the upright.
The hosts did not have to wait long for a breakthrough and it was handed to them by Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls.
The impressive Ivan Sunjic rolled a third-minute pass into Dembele’s feet and the winger moved infield and sent a well-struck drive straight at Nicholls, who could only parry the ball into the corner of his net.
Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy did better with a dipping long-ranger from Delano Burgzorg three minutes later, which he tipped over the crossbar.
The hosts’ lead was doubled in the 23rd minute. Dembele escaped Ben Jackson down the left and his low cross reached Cody Drameh on the opposite side.
The Leeds loanee curled an inviting pass to the back post where Miyoshi slid in and directed the ball into the roof of the net.
Town’s Ben Wiles tested Ruddy from just outside the area shortly afterwards, but Juninho Bacuna should have made it 3-0 on the half-hour but could only lift Jay Stansfield’s right-wing centre into Nicholls’ grateful arms.
Huddersfield boss Darren Moore made three changes at the break and urged his team to press further up the pitch and to an extent it worked, with the home team’s attacks more limited.
They did, however, start to open up the visitors as the second period wore on and just before the hour Manny Longelo released Dembele down the left and he worked his way into the penalty area to find Miyoshi, whose low shot was hacked away to safety by Tom Lees.
The third goal came in the 64th minute when Bacuna instigated an attack with a cutting pass that put Miyoshi running at the last defender. The Japan international squared for Dembele as he steamed up in support and curled a first-time shot low to Nicholls’ left.
The Terriers responded well as Tom Edwards hooked over from close range, Jack Rodoni’s drive was deflected wide and Josh Koroma just failed to add a meaningful touch to Matty Pearson’s knock-down.
Michal Helik grabbed a consolation two minutes into added time when he rammed home Sorba Thomas’s left-wing cross from close in.
Birmingham would have the last word, though, when James lashed in a piledriver from 25 yards in the fifth minute of stoppage time to restore the three-goal advantage.
Leaders Chesterfield continue fine form by beating Bromley
National League leaders Chesterfield made it eight wins from nine games with a 2-0 home victory over Bromley.
Chesterfield dominated but had to wait until 10 minutes after the restart to take the lead, Joe Quigley converting his fourth goal of the season from Branden Horton’s excellent cross.
Tom Naylor headed home Jeff King’s corner after 75 minutes to double the Spireites’ lead, preserving their three-point lead over Barnet.
Jude Arthurs went close for Bromley, who drop a place to fifth, with a first-half free-kick curled into the side netting.
Grimsby return to winning ways against Barrow
Grimsby ended their three-match losing sequence in Sky Bet League Two with a 2-1 win against mid-table Barrow at Blundell Park.
Danny Rose and Grimsby substitute Donovan Wilson settled the three points with goals in each half after Abo Eisa had missed a penalty. Sam Foley replied for Barrow, but it proved too little too late.
Both sides pushed for an early opener and Grimsby might have taken the lead after five minutes when Rose nodded wide, before Dean Campbell blazed over for Barrow with his left foot at the other end.
Eisa was felled in the penalty area in the 16th minute, but his spot-kick was saved by Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman. Barrow went close through Gerard Garner, but it was the home side who took the lead shortly before the interval when Rose finished.
Kian Spence and substitute Emile Acquah took aim for Barrow after the restart and Grimsby were indebted to goalkeeper Jake Eastwood for preserving their lead when he produced a stunning save to deny Garner from point-blank range.
Wilson came off the bench to put Grimsby 2-0 up after 75 minutes, while there still was time for Foley to grab a late Barrow consolation.
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