CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SCHALKE 04 0-5 CHELSEA TEAM NEWS Mourinho went with the same side as began the widely praised performance against West Brom last time out, which meant the first Champions League action of the season for Cesar Azpilicueta. Roberto Di Matteo was able to name a more experienced defence than his Schalke predecessor for our September meeting with the German side. Captain Roman Neustadter was back in the middle, alongside Felipe Santana who was a change from their previous Champions League outing, as was Dennis Aogo at left- back, Jan Kirchhoff in midfield and Kevin-Prince Boateng in the no.10 role behind Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar. FIRST HALF The starting 11 was the same as on Saturday and so was the quality of Chelsea’s start to the game, although this time the goal came even quicker. So incisive on the break from our own half, Willian headed down into the path of Fabregas who passed forward to Oscar on the flank. The Brazilian’s onward pass was perfect to set Diego Costa away but when the striker checked inside his chaser and shot, the ball clipped the keeper and went for a corner. It was a delay of only a few seconds. Fabregas didn’t go short with his corner this time as he had done with the second goal at the weekend, instead it went deep and there was little the German defence could do when Terry shuffled, leapt high and met it hard than watch the ball hit the net. Matic did well to duck and make it tough for the keeper. Diego Costa looked likely to test the keeper again inside the first 10 minutes when Willian this time found him onside. A very good recovery tackle from Felipe Santana came to the home team’s rescue. Schalke did produce one moment of attacking danger in the first half, however we were able to count our blessings when Choupo-Moting’ shot deflected off Gary Cahill and dropped over Courtois but hit the bar. Hoger was booked for bringing a Chelsea attack to an end midway inside his half – it being no surprise that Hazard was the player felled. He started the day as the second-most fouled in this season’s Champions League. Diego Costa had a shot deflected wide midway through the half after the ball came back his way when his attempted backheel through the defence to Hazard was blocked. The corner again caused Schalke big problems but the whistle went for a foul on the keeper. Chelsea were well in control of the game and the goal to reflect that came just before the half-hour mark. The move started in the Chelsea half before Fabregas collected Hazard’s pass and swivelled having popped up wide on the right. The pace increased as his ball inside was played by Willian to Hazard and back to Willian again. The Brazilian’s shot was firm but it really shouldn’t have found Fahrmann wanting at his near-post. It did and we were 2-0 ahead. Chelsea were catching Schalke players dawdling in possession – Matic and Fabregas especially - and groans from the home fans towards former Pompey and Tottenham man Boateng were audible. That dissent turned to huge whistles when they watched their side run out of ideas as they approached halfway and then play a ridiculous back pass that was a perfect through ball for Diego Costa. Unfortunately he slipped having just battled it past the keeper. Fahrmann saved well from Diego Costa as half-time approached but he was rooted as Schalke’s self- inflicted wound made it 3-0. Fabregas sent over a corner and this time it was Kirchhoff heading firmly into the net. The midfielder had been relatively unpressured too. There had been two of his own players closer than any yellow shirt. It was his last contribution to the game. SECOND HALF Diego Costa was quick on the attack again but as in the first half, Felipe Santana proved adept at dispossessing his opponent inside the penalty area. Oscar found Willian left in acres on another Chelsea break but this move broke down too. There were a couple of pieces of defending required inside the first 10 minutes, Courtois making a save and JT blocking a shot from half-time sub Christian Clemens. That was a mere temporary respite for the Schalke defenders as back at the other end, Ivanovic caught a volley from a Willian cross with power but not direction. It was close though. Chelsea probed patiently. Diego Costa was replaced with Drogba with just over 20 minutes to play and what an impact the Ivorian had. Needless to say Cesc Fabregas was involved in the fourth. Both Willian and Drogba made runs that beat the offside call as the Spaniard played the ball long and over the top in their direction. Willian teed up his more senior colleague for a tap-in. In the blink of an eye it was 5-0. Drogba was this time supplied out wide, and in space as Chelsea had been able to find so well throughout the game. His firm cross was ideal for Ramires at the far post to head in like an experienced centre-forward. Now an all-time best away from the Bridge in this competition was in reach, to go with the recent home record set against Maribor. Hazard had the best chance inside added time but his shot was too close to the keeper. No one was complaining. There had been plenty of pressure on Chelsea going into this game. A defeat would have left our continuing participation in the Champions League in some question. The early goal released much of it and from then on it was another performance to greatly enjoy. And as Jose Mourinho made clear before the game, having nothing riding on the remaining Sporting Lisbon match at a busy stage of the season has major benefits. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas (Schurrle 79); Willian, Oscar (Ramires 75), Hazard; Diego Costa (Drogba 66). Unused subs Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel. Scorers Terry 2, Willian 29, Kirchhoff o.g. 43, Drogba 76, Ramires 78. Schalke (4-2-3-1): Fahrmann; Uchida, Howedes (c), Felipe Santana, Aogo; Neustadter, Kirchhoff (Clemens h-t); Hoger, Boateng (Meyer 63), Choupo-Moting; Huntelaar. Unused subs Wetklo, Friedrich, Fuchs, Barnetta, Sane. Booked Hoger 18
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:40:05 +0000
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