Chelsea cruise as Werner's penalty double sinks Rennes

Chelsea's English head coach Frank Lampard reacts ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between Chelsea and Rennes at Stamford Bridge in London on November 4, 2020.(DYLAN MARTINEZ / POOL / AFP)

Werner netted twice from the spot before half-time at Stamford Bridge after Rennes defender Dalbert conceded both penalties.

Dalbert was sent off after the second penalty and Chelsea made the most of their numerical advantage to score again through Tammy Abraham early in the second half.

Werner has taken over from Jorginho as Chelsea's penalty taker after the midfielder's recent misses and Lampard was pleased with the way he handled the change.

"It was not an easy decision, because Jorginho has been pretty faultless for us," Lampard said.

"Timo came in and scored one in our last European game. I had a conversation with Jorginho and his answer was perfect for a professional. He doesn't care who takes them, he just wants us to score.

"Timo is the taker at the moment, and he took them emphatically, so I'm happy."

Lampard's side are top of Group E with seven points after three games and look well set to qualify for the last 16.

Chelsea have started a Champions League campaign with three consecutive clean-sheets in the group stage for the first time since 2009-10.

As well as keeping five successive clean-sheets in all competitions for the first time in 10 years, banishing the defensive problems that ailed them earlier this season, the Blues have scored 10 goals in their last three games.

The combination of a well-drilled defence and a potent attack is a welcome sight for Lampard, who has been working overtime to find the right formula after spending over £200 million ($259 million) on new signings in the close-season.

"Those stats and runs are great, but you cannot come off them at all, so that is why I am pleased we saw it through to the end of the game," Lampard said.

"We deserved it. We are working as a collective and we have to keep that base."

Chelsea are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions and Lampard's only concern was the absence of Kai Havertz, who was left out of the squad after going into self-isolation following a positive coronavirus test.

- Penalty controversy -

Werner opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

His deft touch induced a rash tackle from Dalbert just inside the area, winning a penalty that the German striker calmly converted.

Dalbert's disastrous day was complete in the 41st minute when he stuck out a foot to block Abraham's shot and diverted it onto his arm.

After a video review, the penalty was awarded and Dalbert was dismissed for his second booking.

It was a harsh decision, but Werner lashed the spot-kick high into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

Werner, a close-season signing from Leipzig, has now been directly involved in 13 goals in his past 14 appearances in the Champions League.

Chelsea went for the kill after half-time and Jorginho's defence-splitting pass found Abraham, whose shot was blocked by Alfred Gomis.

Abraham got his goal anyway in the 50th minute, meeting Reece James' cross with a close-range finish for his third goal of the season and his first since September.

Werner nearly notched his hat-trick from James' cross, but Damien Da Silva cleared away from the striker as he prepared to pull the trigger.

Gomis made a good save to deny Olivier Giroud in the closing stages, but Chelsea had already done enough damage.

Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, who joined from Rennes in September, was rarely tested against his old club.

Mendy did make one good save to keep out Jeremy Dokumade's strike in the final moments, giving the Senegal international six clean-sheets in his last six appearances.