On pace for a record-breaking season, the Chelsea loan army are collectively up to 47 goals for the campaign after another action-packed week. We begin in the Netherlands…
Headliners
Vitesse Arnhem have never won the Dutch Cup but are one step closer to breaking that duck following Wednesday’s 4-1 Second Round win over second-tier RKC Waalwijk. The comprehensive home victory included a seventh goal of the season for Lewis Baker, who tucked home a penalty, and a third of the year for Brazilian forward Nathan, who curled home a beauty to remind everyone that, whilst his application might be frequently questioned, his technical ability is unquestionable.
Their reward is a last-sixteen date with amateur side Jodan Boys, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, and hopes of lifting silverware come March will increase with each passing round. Unfortunately, they suffered a weekend defeat in the Eredivisie at home to PSV – who have never lost in the Gelredome – going down 2-0 without so much as ever really threatening to do otherwise. Matt Miazga played every minute of the two matches along the way too.
Back on domestic shores on Saturday, the banner match-up of the weekend was the clash of Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon against Kasey Palmer as Fulham hosted Huddersfield in Championship action. The hosts claimed all of the bragging rights courtesy of a 5-0 win in which both Kalas and Piazon scored – Kalas grabbing his first goal in English football – and whilst Palmer was Town’s best player on the day, it was all about Chelsea’s West London neighbours in this one.
A little later in the afternoon, Tammy Abraham ended a four-game run without a goal by helping Bristol City to a point in a 2-2 draw away to Barnsley. His 12th goal of the season was also his tenth on the road and bore all the hallmarks of a typical Abraham goal:
England
Nathan Aké and Patrick Bamford were, as usual, unused substitutes for Bournemouth and Burnley respectively, whilst Kenedy was once again omitted from Watford’s matchday squad. Loic Remy’s injury has kept him out of the whole season so far at Crystal Palace, but manager Alan Pardew expects him back in training this coming week.
Down in the second tier, Christian Atsu played well in midweek League Cup action as Newcastle hammered Preston 6-0; the Ghanaian was twice unlucky not to score as he was denied by the post and the crossbar on the evening. In the league meeting between the two sides on Saturday, he came on as a stoppage-time substitute.
Izzy Brown was an unused substitute for Rotherham as he struggles to make an initial impression on new manager Kenny Jackett.
Jake Clarke-Salter and Charlie Colkett both completed the full ninety minutes for Bristol Rovers in a rare defeat by Peterborough in League One, whilst in League Two, Jordan Houghton and Jamal Blackman went head-to-head in a 2-2 draw between Doncaster Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers. Alex Davey played the full ninety minutes and Mitchell Beeney was an unused substitute for Crawley in their 3-1 defeat at Carlisle, and Alex Kiwomya had a hand in both goals as Crewe Alexandra won 2-0 at Leyton Orient.
Dion Conroy’s foot injury meant he missed Aldershot’s win over Guiseley, whilst Nathan Baxter and the Met Police lost 6-2 at home to Brightlingsea Regent in the FA Trophy.
Germany
Michael Hector was an unused substitute for Eintracht Frankfurt in a goalless draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach, who were without the injured Andreas Christensen. Baba Rahman was also on the bench for the duration of a goalless draw as Schalke and Dortmund drew 0-0 in their derby clash.
Spain
Jeremie Boga played half an hour as a substitute as Granada lost 1-0 away to Barcelona. Victorien Angban was an unused substitute. Charly Musonda missed a second successive match for Betis through injury.
Italy
There was plenty of action for Juan Cuadrado this week; he got a full ninety minutes for Juventus in midweek as they hammered Sampdoria 4-1, and then came on just before half time on Saturday in the 2-1 win over Napoli for the injured Giorgio Chiellini.
There was also good news for Mario Pašalić, who finally made his AC Milan debut as a 60th-minute substitute in their 1-0 win over Pescara on Sunday.
Netherlands
Away from Vitesse, Bertrand Traore took on Danilo Pantic as Ajax hosted Excelsior and, although Pantic played 90 minutes to Traore’s 70, it was Ajax who emerged 1-0 winners. Pantic also played 78 minutes in a 4-0 Cup exit to Feyenoord in midweek, whilst Traore was rested for a routine 6-1 win away to Kozakken Boys.
Belgium
Matej Delač recorded his first clean sheet of the season as Mouscron drew 0-0 at Waasland-Beveren in midweek but was then on the losing side 1-0 to Kortrijk on Sunday. Islam Feruz played the final twelve minutes of the latter outing.
Cristian Cuevas played a pair of full matches for Sint-Truiden this week; a defeat at home to Zulte-Waregem and a draw against Charleroi.
Turkey
Kenneth Omeruo and Alanyaspor head to his former club Kasimpasa on Monday evening; keep an eye on @chelseayouth and the #CFC #LoanArmy hashtags for news of his involvement.
Brazil
Wallace played the full match as Gremio drew 0-0 at Figueirense on Thursday evening.
Colombia
As usual, Joao Rodriguez didn’t play for Santa Fe.
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