Chelsea ease to opening day victory against Wigan

Wigan Athletic 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea got their new campaign off to a winning start, seeing off perpetual league stragglers Wigan by two goals to nil.

The Blues only had space for one of their summer signings in the starting eleven, Eden Hazard, and the young Belgian wasted no time in showing why he is one of the hottest young prospects in world football.

Thanks to the lively Hazard the game was all but over inside the first ten minutes as Chelsea managed to open up an unassailable lead.

Branislav Ivanovic opened the scoring, the make shift full back’s blistering run was picked out by Hazard after a neat turn took him away from Wigan new boy Ramis and the Serb’s finish was as assured as a number nine’s.

Things then went from bad to worse for The Latics. Hazard’s neat footwork in the Wigan penalty area confused the sorry Ramis, who mistimed his challenge, bringing the Belgian tumbling to the ground. Roberto Martinez must have been wishing his new signing had been side lined with the injury that was rumoured to keep him from making his league debut.

If it was the youngster that won the penalty then it was down to the old guard to make sure it counted. Up stepped the ever reliable Frank Lampard to open his scoring account for the 2012/13 season with a low drive that had just enough on it to beat Al Habsi in the net.

From then on Wigan never really looked like scoring, with Chelsea dominating possession and oozing too much quality for the home side to handle.

Fernando Torres looked sharp as he bids to fill the shoes of Didier Drogba, however he was unable to find the net, Ramis managed to redeem himself by producing a fine goal line clearance from the Spanish frontman.

In the second half Di Matteo replaced Hazard with another fresh face, Brazilian, Oscar, who also managed to show his class, almost beating Al Habsi with a low, angled strike.

The Chelsea boss was also able to watch over long term target, Victor Moses. Question marks are still surrounding the winger as the transfer speculation continues but even the £10 million rated Moses could do little to change the outcome of the game, his main contribution being a strike that would’ve left Petr Cech with sore hands.

So then, Di Matteo continues where he left off last season and he will be pleased with a clean sheet and a new look squad but for Martinez it already feels like a case of de ja vu.

Dan Cain, football correspondent