Chelsea 5-0 Genk: Fernando Torres hits form with classy double as rampant Blues extend Group E lead

Chelsea continued their unbeaten streak in the Champions League with a 5-0 victory over Genk as Fernando Torres scored twice on his return to the side.

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Goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and a late strike from Salomon Kalou sealed a comfortable win for the Blues as they stay top of Group E.

Andre Villas-Boas made six changes to the team he fielded against Everton: John Terry and strikers Didier Drogba, Juan Mata and Daniel Strurridge were all rested, while David Luiz, Frank Lampard, Torres and Champions League debutant Oriol Romeu all started.

After seven minutes, Meireles dinked a great ball into Torres, who controlled well but hit the post to start what many thought would be another frustrating night for the Spaniard. But moments later, Meireles found himself completely unchallenged and hit a cleanly struck shot from 25-yards into the bottom left hand corner - leaving Genk keeper Laszlo Koteles with no chance.

A few minutes later, Torres finally ended his Champions League goal drought after he was put through by Lampard. The Spaniard finished calmly, slotting the ball to the keeper's bottom left.

Nonetheless, Genk's Kevin De Bruyne looked lively down the left flank for the Belgium charges, causing Chelsea problems with his creativity and flair. However, his team-mates failed to capitalise on the chances he created.

But the game was effectively over within 30 minutes as Torres’ exceptional movement saw him clinically head the ball past Koteles for his second goal.

Genk’s misfortune was then accentuated as Daniel Pudil tripped Anelka outside the box earning himself a yellow card and a one-match suspension. The Blues took advantage of the free-kick as Malouda crossed a scintillating ball into the box and Ivanovic leaped above his marker to head past the keeper.

Chelsea continued where they left off after half-time, dictating the play as Genk looked increasingly uncomfortable and evidently second best.

Kalou was eager to make an impression on the game, having conceded a costly stoppage-time penalty in the away draw with Valencia, and looked energetic after replacing Lampard with 20 minutes remaining. And he would make the impact he craved soon enough.

A Jose Bosingwa cross was met by Torres but the striker blew his chance of a hat-trick, only for the lively Ivorian to tap home to compete Chelsea's rout.

Villas-Boas' side are now comfortably in charge of the group with maximum points from their three matches played, and can secure qualification by defeating Genk in the return fixture in two weeks.