Fernando Torres came back into the Chelsea side and inspired his team to a convincing 5-0 victory of Genk in the Champions League tonight at Stamford Bridge.
Suspended for three league games, the Spain hit man was given the full 90 minutes in this one-sided encounter, and he did not let himself down.
Roul Meireles had opened the scoring on eight minutes through a wonderful 25- yard blaster, the former Liverpool man then hit a brace.
A cooly taken right-footer from the edge of the penalty area on 11 minutes and a glancing header from just inside the box on 27 minutes set the seal on an emphatic performance both individually and for the team.
By the time Branislav Ivanovic had nodded home from close range four minutes from half-time, the visitors were a broken team.
The fact that only one goal was scored in the second half was testimony not to Genk's resolve but more to Chelsea taking their foot off the proverbial pedal.
The goal came from substitute Salomon Kalou who had the easiest of chances to smash home a volley after Torres was denied his hat-trick following a wonder save from Genk's goalkeeper Laszlo Koteles.
The goalie parried away Torres's point-blank shot into the gleeful path of the Ivory Coast striker.
The game was up for the Belgium side who will hope to have a few of their injured players back for the reverse fixture in two weeks' time.