MATT BARLOW: Puzzles are emerging for Thomas Tuchel to solve after Chelsea’s defeat by Juventus

There will be no bullet before bedtime for Thomas Tuchel. Unlike the last man who led Chelsea into Turin as European Champions and lost, he will live to fight another day.

It was nine years ago when a defeat in the group stages at Juventus proved the end for Roberto di Matteo, who left out record-signing Fernando Torres, lost 3-0 and was sacked before his head was on the pillow.

Many things were different back then but another date with the Old Lady of Italian football has ended in another defeat. Early season momentum is lost and puzzles are emerging for Tuchel to solve.

Unlike the last man who led Chelsea into Turin as European Champions and lost – Roberto di Matteo – he will live to fight another day

On Saturday, they lost without a shot on target against Manchester City and a handful of injuries are testing what appears to be such a well-stocked squad.

Without Mason Mount, tactically crucial last season for club and country, the balance has proved elusive. Mount started this campaign as if the heavy workload might be starting to catch him up and he missed this game with a knock.

Chelsea have suffered without his eye for a quick pass, his ability to spring forwards into dangerous areas.

Possession was never a problem for Chelsea in Italy. There was lots of the ball but there were long spells when they found it impossible to create despite plenty of the ball.

But the Blues’ early season momentum is lost and puzzles are emerging for Tuchel to solve

Without Mason Mount, tactically crucial last season for the club, balance has proved elusive

It had been much the same for 45 minutes at Tottenham, recently, when the introduction of N’Golo Kante turned the game in their favour. This time Kante was absent, too, and Tuchel’s half-time switch was to send on Ben Chilwell on the left.

Within seconds of the restart, however, they were behind. Juventus, missing strikers Alvaro Morata and Pablo Dybala, had been wasteful in the first half, unable to take advantage of unforced errors made deep in midfield by Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho.

Federico Chiesa made no mistake after the interval and the home crowd, still operating at only about half its capacity with less than 20,000 in attendance, responded.

From the first blast of ACDC, they were up for this tie, proof, if needed, that Chelsea as defending champions represent a significant scalp.

Federico Chiesa made no mistake after the interval and the home crowd duly responded

There were whistles and jeers for Romelu Lukaku, when the teams were read out and when he missed an early chance. Lukaku is not a popular figure in Turin after scoring the goals that wrenched away the Serie A title after nine years.

They shrieked again when a pass hit him on the back of the head. And yet again when he broke clear and overhit a cross from the left in the second half.

In Italy, the game had been billed as the £97.5million former Inter Milan man, up against veteran centre-half Leonardo Bonucci, who offered a rallying call in an interview on the eve of the game, calling for Juventus to recover their sense of ‘humility’ and ‘sacrifice’.

It seemed to be something of a battle cry for a new era, one without Cristiano Ronaldo. And if it was designed to lift the mood after a difficult start to Max Allegri’s second spell in charge it seemed to work.

There were whistles and jeers for Romelu Lukaku, who is not a popular figure in Turin

Juventus summoned a reaction. They were quicker and sharper than Chelsea. They showed great respect to the champions and fought with tenacity across the pitch to keep them at bay.

They took the lead and forced Chelsea to search for answers. On came fresh legs but they could not prevent a second successive defeat. Then it will be Tuchel’s turn to respond.

Qualification from Group H is not in peril. There is no need to panic but the ghosts of Turin have not been banished.