Nkunku has six goals in seven appearances this season, but the Frenchman has yet to establish himself as a regular in Enzo Maresca’s squad. Maresca made 11 changes to the side that defeated West Ham 3-0 on Saturday, but he may still start with almost 400 million pounds ($533 million) in talent.
Joao Felix was another of the Blues’ high-profile acquisitions to impress. His scooped pass brought up Nkunku for the opening. Nkunku then clipped home a second, before Felix’s free-kick struck the post and bounced off Barrow goalkeeper Paul.
Pedro Neto scored his first Chelsea goal by tapping in a cross from Mykhailo Mudryk. Nkunku completed his first hat-trick for the club after he dispossessed Farman and rolled into an open goal.
Rodri, City’s important midfielder, sustained a probable knee ligament injury in a furious 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, and his absence is expected to last several months.
City returned to play a little over 48 hours after their top-of-the-table battle, and Pep Guardiola made nine changes, including the debut of 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite.
After five minutes, Jeremy Doku, one of two players who kept their spot, scored the first goal off a feed from Jack Grealish.
Rodri’s absence might give Matheus Nunes a more prominent position, as the Portugal international scored his first goal since joining City for 53 million pounds a year ago. Watford’s Tom Ince, son of legendary Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince, scored a late consolation goal, but it was too little, too late.
Aston Villa’s second string was similarly tested by lower-league opponents, but Emi Buendia’s header and Jhon Duran’s penalty were enough to secure a 2-1 victory against Wycombe. Walsall, in fourth place, came closest to pulling off a shock when they drove Leicester to penalties following a 0-0 stalemate.