It appears entertainment is guaranteed when Chelsea host Ajax in the Champions League. Last night's meeting was no different, and several records were set along the way by the Blues in our 5-1 victory.
After Ajax midfielder Kenneth Taylor was shown an early red card for a lunging challenge on Facundo Buonanotte, the Blues took full control of the contest. Marc Guiu opened the scoring and a deflected Moises Caicedo shot doubled our lead before the half-hour mark.
Wout Weghorst temporarily reduced the deficit via a penalty, but two spot-kicks of our own, converted by Enzo Fernandez and then Estevao Willian, put the Blues comfortably ahead.
Our advantage was added to early in the second period by Tyrique George, and the Blues were able to ease home to victory to secure an important three points in the league phase.
And here are the new Champions League records set – and the landmarks achieved – during an impressive evening's work at Stamford Bridge.
- The starting XI picked by Enzo Maresca had an average age of 22 years and 163 days. That is the youngest in this season's Champions League and the second youngest ever named by an English club in the competition. Arsenal's side against Olympiakos (21 years and 151 days) in December 2009 holds the record.
- Three teenagers (Jorrel Hato, Estevao and Guiu) were included in the Chelsea side for a Champions League game for only the second time in our history. The previous occasion was against MSK Zilina in November 2010 (Jeffrey Bruma, Josh McEachran and Gael Kakuta).
- Guiu, Caicedo, Fernandez and Estevao all found the net for the Blues before the half-time interval. It is the first time we have achieved that feat since a victory over Genk in October 2011.
- The Blues became the first club in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in a single match (Guiu, Estevao and George)
- Ajax had never conceded four first-half goals in a Champions League fixture, although they did so in the European Cup in 1958 against Vasas. It was also just the second occasion the Dutch club had shipped five goals in a single Champions League game.
- Three penalties were awarded in the first half of our victory (two for the Blues, one for Ajax). That had never previously occurred in a Champions League fixture.
- Estevao (18 years and 181 days) became the third youngest player to convert a penalty in the Champions League, behind Bojan (18 years and 90 days) and Lamine Yamal yesterday (18 years and days).
- Having both been introduced at half-time, Andrey Santos and Tyrique George quickly dovetailed for our fifth goal of the night. It's the earliest (47 minutes and 38 seconds) two Chelsea substitutes have combined for a Champions League goal since 2021 (Kai Havertz for Callum Hudson-Odoi vs Malmo).
- Jamie Gittens (21 years and 75 days) became the youngest Chelsea player on record (since 2003/04) to create five chances in a Champions League match. Eden Hazard (21 years and 256 days) was the previous youngest to have achieved the feat for the Blues.
- At the age of 17 years and 2 days, Reggie Walsh became the youngest player to feature for Chelsea in the Champions League. He is also the second youngest Englishman to play in the competition, behind Jack Wilshere (16 years, 329 days).