Christopher Nkunku bagged a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge and there was also a first goal for Pedro Neto, whilst Joao Felix was unfortunate to see his classy free-kick rebound off the goalkeeper for an own-goal.

It was also a special night for some of our young players, as Cesare Casadei made his first start and academy graduates Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George - good friends off the pitch - entered the field together during the second half.

Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka also secured their first minutes of the season and there was a return for Malo Gusto following his injury.

Wholesale changes

Enzo Maresca made 11 alterations to his starting XI. Filip Jorgensen was in goal, as has been the case in the Conference League, and the back four in front of him consisted of the returning Gusto on the right, the centre-back pairing of captain Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, with Renato Veiga at left-back.

Casadei was at the base of midfield, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Joao Felix playing in the advanced number eight roles. Neto was on the right, Mykhailo Mudryk on the left and Nkunku was striker.

Fast start

Barrow started the game well but it didn't take long for Chelsea's quality to tell. On eight minutes Veiga fizzed a pass into the feet of Joao Felix 35 yards from goal and the Portuguese turned and expertly flicked the ball over the defenders' heads into the path of Nkunku. The Frenchman met the dropping ball with a right-footed volley and the Blues were ahead.

Barrow could have responded immediately when Emile Acquah volleyed over from eight yards but Chelsea were clearly on top and it was 2-0 before the quarter of an hour was up after another moment of exceptional quality.

Neto backheeled the ball into the path of Gusto on the right wing and his low cross towards the six-yard box was met by an audacious backheel flick from Nkunku which nestled into the far, bottom corner.

It's three

And it was three before the half-hour was up. A dangerous Gusto run through the middle was halted by Sam Foley 20 yards out. Joao Felix curled the resulting free-kick over the wall and beyond the diving goalkeeper but the ball struck the post and it went in via the diving Paul Farman.

Chelsea continued to control the first half and were rarely troubled at the back, but did have to wait until the 42nd minute for our next attempt at goal, as some neat build-up play led to Badiashile forcing a save with a 20-yard shot.

Maresca made one change at half-time, as Ben Chilwell came on for his first game of the season in place of Gusto, with the England international playing at left-back, Veiga moving into the centre and Disasi shuffling over to the right.

Chilwell was quickly involved as he helped start a move just inside Barrow's half and after a cross wasn't cleared, he headed the ball back into the danger area but Dewsbury-Hall was unable to direct his header on target.

Neto nets

The fourth goal did arrive a minute later though as Nkunku released Mudryk on the left and the Ukrainian selflessly played the ball across the box to leave Neto with a simple finish for his first goal in Blue.

Mudryk's good start to the second period continued when he showed impressive skill and pace on the left wing to reach the byline and his pull-back was volleyed goalwards by Dewsbury-Hall. It would have found the bottom corner had it not been for a good save by Farman.

Barrow showed plenty of fight as they continued to search for a way back into the game and the visitors would have scored when Kian Spence whipped a free-kick from wide left into the near post had it not been for the diving Jorgensen.

Disasi went close to scoring twice in quick succession, firstly when he headed a Joao Felix corner goalwards and then when Barrow failed to clear a ball into the box and the defender bundled the ball on target. But on both occasions, Farman was equal to the Frenchman.

Dewsbury-Hall had another goal-bound volley blocked just after the hour was up and then there was a great moment for the Chelsea Academy when both Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George were brought on in place of Disasi and Neto.

Barrow continued to chase the game and Spence forced Jorgensen into another good save from a free-kick, while Junior Tiensia attempted to bundle the ball in following a goalmouth scramble.

Some great pressing from Dewsbury-Hall almost resulted in a dream moment for George when Nkunku slipped the youngster in behind but the 18-year-old pulled his effort wide of the far post.

Hat-trick

The fifth goal did arrive with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining when Nkunku closed down the goalkeeper and when Farman attempted to get past the forward, he made the tackle and slotted into the empty net.

It was to be Nkunku's last involvement as he was replaced by Marc Guiu, as Carney Chukwuemeka also arrived in place of Joao Felix.

Chukwuemeka was quickly involved as he played the ball out to George on the right and after a neat stepover, the teenager drove into the box and stung the palms of Farman with a powerful drive.

Chelsea kept chasing a sixth goal but in the end we had to settle for five as Maresca's men progressed following another successful night for the Blues.

What it means

Chelsea's victory means the Blues will now progress to the fourth round of the League Cup, with the draw set to take place on Wednesday night after Liverpool versus West Ham United.

Sky Sports broadcast the draw live and the ball numbers will be revealed on Wednesday morning.

The fourth round ties will then take place the week commencing October 28.

What next

Chelsea will be hoping to extend their three-match winning run on Saturday when we welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto (Chilwell 46), Disasi (Acheampong 63), Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto (George 63), Joao Felix (Chukwuemeka 76), Mudryk; Nkunku (Guiu 76)
Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Colwill, Fernandez, Washington
Bookings: Felix 44
Goals: Nkunku 8, 15, 75, Farman OG 28, Neto 48

Barrow: Farman, Feely (Eccleston 46), Vassell, Stokes (Worrall 85), Jackson, Campbell, Foley, Newby (Kouyate 65), Spence, Acquah (Telford 46), Garner (Tiensia 65)
Unused substitutes: Stanway, Canavan, Dallas, Weston
Bookings: Foley 27

Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 38,868