Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick as Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a convincing win over League Two Barrow at Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a cool finish after a fine chipped pass from Joao Felix.
The forward soon added his second with a clever flick to divert Malo Gusto’s low cross into the net, before a Felix free-kick hit the post and bounced in off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman to give the Blues a 3-0 half-time lead.
Two minutes after the restart Pedro Neto scored his first Chelsea goal by tapping in after Mykhailo Mudryk’s pass across goal.
Nkunku completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute after tackling keeper Farman and passing the ball into an empty net.
Thanks to his first Chelsea treble, the 26-year-old Frenchman now has six goals in eight appearances this season for the Blues.
Nkunku was making his first start for the hosts since their opening-day defeat by Manchester City last month.
Five-star Chelsea beat brave Barrow
Sixty-four places separate League Two Barrow and Premier League Chelsea, who were facing each other for the first time in 76 years.
Chelsea were too good for the Bluebirds even with manager Enzo Maresca making 11 changes to the team that beat West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Meanwhile Barrow, who beat Championship side Derby in the last round, equalled their best run in the EFL Cup, last reaching the third round in 1967.
They were cheered on by a bouncing away support who travelled 300 miles from Cumbria.
Visiting striker Emile Acquah volleyed a half chance over at 1-0 and Kian Spence had two free-kicks easily saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen at 3-0.
Chelsea were playing their first EFL Cup match since losing 1-0 to Liverpool in the 2024 final.
Out-of-favour Blues defender Ben Chilwell came on as a half-time substitute to make his first appearance since April and was immediately given the captain’s armband.
Maresca previously said Chilwell would “struggle” if he stayed at the club, and the 27-year-old was made to train with 15 other players away from the main first-team group.
But when asked about the England full-back’s involvement after the match the Italian said Chilwell “has shown he is ready and working well”.
“There is not any problem,” Maresca said. “If we have a chance, we will give him some more minutes in games.”
Chelsea host Brighton in the Premier League next on Saturday while Barrow travel to Gillingham in the fourth tier on the same day
