Chelsea v Zenit player ratings: Lukaku 7, Rudiger 8; Wendel 6, Malcom 6

Lukaku's header sees title-holders get campaign off to a winning start at Stamford Bridge

Edouard Mendy 6 - Dealt comfortably with the only shot he faced in the first half and had to be brave in the second, taking a blow to the ribs from Dzyuba challenging for the ball inside the six yard box. Getty Images

Cesar Azpilicueta 7 - The captain stepped up with the game level and delivered an inch-perfect cross towards Romelu Lukaku to give Blues into the lead. AFP

Andreas Christensen 6 - Had to be alert to the movement of Azmoun but handled the occasion well. AFP

Antonio Rudiger 8 - Almost scored an early contender for goal of the season with a marauding run from his own half that finished with a strike just wide of the post. AP Photo

Reece James 7 - Stopped Zenit’s most dangerous chance of the first half after Azmoun flicked on into space inside the box. A strong display in both attack and defence. Getty Images

Marcos Alonso 7 - Began to find space on the flanks more in the second half with Thomas Tuchel instructing his defenders to get higher up the pitch. Getty Images

Mateo Kovacic 8 - Threaded some good passes through while enjoying control of the midfield for large parts of the game. The Croatia star rarely put a foot wrong tonight, completing over 97% of his passes with from 117 touches. Getty Images

Jorginho 7 - A typical Jorginho performance as the Italian kept things ticking at the heart of the Chelsea midfield. A calm presence on the ball. EPA

Hakim Ziyech 7 - Bright before being replaced and was positive on the ball. It was a matter of missing end-product for the Chelsea playmaker tonight. Getty Images

Mason Mount 6 - Gave away possession cheaply on some occasions but worked hard even when Chelsea looked comfortable with the lead. Delivered some passes which asked questions of the Zenit defence. EPA

Romelu Lukaku 7 - Isolated for the majority of the game but the in-form star only needed a half-chance, dispatching his header in lethal fashion. The Belgium international was frustrated not to score a second but he probably should have looked to find the pass with two Chelsea players running in at the back post. EPA

SUB: Kai Havertz (Ziyech, 63) 7 - Provided more energy and was able to thread balls through to Lukaku. Looked to get Chelsea on the front foot with direct running at players. Getty Images

SUB: Thiago Silva (Azpilicueta 83) - Replaced Azpilicueta in a like-for-like change.at the back. Getty Images

SUB: Ben Chilwell (Alonso 83) - On for his first appearance of the season. Getty Images

SUB: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Mount 90+3) - On for the final minutes of the game. Reuters

ZENIT RATINGS: Stanislav Kritsyuk 6 - Couldn’t do much about the header that was hit with pace into the back of the net. Getty Images

Douglas Santos 7 - A goal-saving tackle at the end of the game stopped Romelu Lukaku from doubling his shares. A good game overall from the left-back. AFP

Yaroslav Rakitskiy 8 - Looked to release players with the long ball and had the first shot on target of the game in the 38th minute. An overall impressive game from the Ukraine international who was a standout performer in defence too. Reuters

Dmitri Chistyakov 6 - Stood up well to attacks and was tight Chelsea’s dangerman in Romelu Lukaku. Zenit’s didn’t concede too many opportunities tonight but couldn’t seem to get anything going at the other end. Getty Images

Aleksey Sutormin 6 - Defended well against attacks down Chelsea’s left flank. Could have done a little bit more going forward to support Malcom. AFP

Daler Kuzyaev 6 - Struggled at times to transition the ball from the midfield into attacking areas. Zenit’s midfield looked to fall apart in the second half. AFP

Wilmar Barrios 7 - Read the game well in moments but occasional sloppiness allowed Chelsea to enjoy long spells of possession. Getty Images

Wendel 6 - Looked one of the more assured players in the midfield in what was a positive first-half display from Zenit. It was a different story in the second half though with Chelsea taking much more control over the game. EPA

Claudinho 6 - Wasteful in possession at times and almost got his side in trouble from trying to dribble in dangerous areas. Regained possession for Zenit on a number of occasions with good defensive plays. AFP

Sardar Azmoun 7 - Worked hard for few chances. Close to getting a shot off inside the box before Rudiger intervened on the hour-mark. Created Zenit’s best chance of the game with a cutback that Dzyuba failed to make proper contact with. Getty Images

Malcom 6 - Worked hard up the right-flank but cut a frustrated figure, often left to dribble in situations where he was outnumbered by Chelsea defenders. Replaced in the 75th minute. Reuters

SUB: Artem Dzyuba (Malcolm 75) - Could have been sharper to a ball across the box that would have been converted had he made proper contact. Zenit’s best chance of the game. Reuters

SUB: Aleksandr Erokhin (Wendel 75) - On for Wendel who had worked hard in a difficult midfield battle. Getty Images

SUB: Kirill Kravtsov (Kuzyaev 82) - Did little when introduced to turn the tide of the game. Getty Images

SUBS: Andrey Mostovoy (Claudinho 88) - Introduced for Claudinho but couldn’t help get an equaliser. Danil Krugovoi (Rakitskyi 88) - On for the final moments of the game. EPA

Romelu Lukaku’s pinpoint header rescued Chelsea’s first match as Champions League holders in a 1-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg.

Belgium hitman Lukaku bagged his third goal in two games and his fourth for Chelsea since his £98 million switch from Inter Milan.

The 28-year-old converted captain Cesar Azpilicueta’s hanging far-post cross with a header of stunning accuracy, and that after shrugging aside three touch-tight Zenit defenders.

Chelsea laboured past a resolute and regimented Zenit, for much of the match running the risk of limping to a dispiriting draw.

But then Lukaku rose up, highest of all, to nod home and turn the night entirely.