Schalke have hung on for a vital point at Stamford Bridge, drawing with Chelsea 1-1.
In the context of Group G, this is a huge result for the Germans, who put behind their poor Bundesliga form to take away a result that few would have expected.
In truth, Chelsea have only themselves to blame, as their poor finishing cost them. Not even the arrival of Diego Costa could save them in the end, as chance after chance went begging for the Blues.
While disappointing, Jose Mourinho’s team also began with a draw at Basel last season, and went through easily. In the slightly easier group they have in Group G, they will see this as a minor setback.
They still have both Maribor and Sporting CP to face, and they both present less challenging opposition than Schalke.
FINAL SCORE:
Chelsea 1
Schalke 1
High flying Chelsea will begin their European campaign this season as they host German side Schalke 04 at Stamford Bridge. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:30am (AEST) on Thursday morning.
Having been drawn in last season’s group stage, where Chelsea amassed six goals to none, the visit of Schalke should hold no fears for Jose Mourinho’s men.
Truth be told, it is the Germans that should be sweating at what may transpire, given Chelsea’s imperious start to the season.
Having managed to incur a profit in the transfer market despite purchasing both Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas and reclaiming Thibaut Courtois, as well as their four from four start to the Premier League, Chelsea have begun season 2014/15 as Europe’s form team.
An added boost came with their placing in Group G, where the Blues stand strong favourites in a group featuring Schalke, Sporting CP of Portugal and Slovenian champions Maribor.
In short, Chelsea have it all to win every trophy this season, and no manager does confident swagger like Jose Mourinho.
If seeing Diego Costa take to English football wasn’t good enough news, then the influence of Fabregas on Chelsea’s approach has brought on the beautiful football that Roman Abramovich has craved for a decade.
But the real good news story may come from the bench in veteran Didier Drogba. His last act in Chelsea colours in Europe was to kick the winning penalty that sealed them Champions League glory in 2012. If nothing of the above were positive omens, then the Ivorian’s mere presence may convince that further good times are in short order.
Getting a draw at Stamford Bridge may be considered a success for Schalke, given last season’s travails against this opponent, as well as bouncing back from a disappointing 4-1 loss to Borussia Moenchengladbach on the weekend.
Aside from boasting World Cup winner Benedikt Hoewedes in central defence (a key man if ever there was), the Germans will likely rely on the likes of Joel Matip in defensive midfield to deny Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Andre Schuerrle of the space they will look to occupy.
If Schalke can exploit a weakness, it may come in Chelsea’s defence, where youngster Julian Draxler and evergreen finisher Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may find joy around a central defence of Gary Cahill and John Terry, if they can find a way past Nemanja Matic that is.
For this reason, Schalke boss Jens Keller may opt to start both Matip as well as new signing Dennis Aogo to nullify Chelsea’s threat. But many teams come to Stamford Bridge looking to defend and fail, and few have had to face a Chelsea team so high in confidence and playing ruthless, attacking football.
If Keller and Schalke find a way, that may be the first speed bump in what is so far a flawless start for Chelsea.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Chelsea 1-1 Schalke 04 It's been a pleasure bringing the Matchday 1 of 2014/15 Champions League action on The Roar. The Champions League resumes in two weeks time. Before then, The Roar will bring you more football action. Watch out for our live blogs of the Premier League this weekend. I will be back in the early hours of Monday morning, to bring you the mouthwatering Premier League clash of Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium. Until then, the final score at Stamford Bridge in this Group G encounter was Chelsea 1-1 Schalke 04
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
ROARING THE SCORES Group E AS Roma 5-0 CSKA Moscow (Roma: Iturbe '6, Gervinho '10, '31, Maicon '20, Ignashevich OG '50) Bayern Munich 1-0 Manchester City (Bayern: Boateng '90) Group F Barcelona 1-0 APOEL (Barca: Pique '28) Ajax 1-1 PSG (Ajax: Schoene '74) (PSG: Cavani '14) Group G Chelsea 1-1 Schalke 04 (Chelsea: Fabregas '11) (Schalke: Huntelaar '62) Maribor 1-1 Sporting CP (Maribor: Zahovic '90) (Sporting: Nani '80) Group H Porto 6-0 BATE Borisov (Porto: Brahimi '5, '32, '57, Martinez '37, Adrian '61, Aboubakar '76) Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Slight tech issues, but Schalke have hung on for a vital point at Stamford Bridge! In the context of Group G, that is a huge result for the Germans, who put behind their poor Bundesliga form to take away a result that few would have expected! In truth, Chelsea have only themselves to blame, as their poor finishing cost them. Not even the arrival of Diego Costa could save them in the end, as chance after chance went begging for the Blues. While disappointing, Jose Mourinho's team also began with a draw at Basel last season, and went through easily. In the slightly easier group they have in Group G, they will see this as a minor setback. They still have both Maribor and Sporting CP to face, and they both present less challenging opposition than Schalke. FULLTIME: Chelsea 1-1 Schalke 04
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: Replays show Obasi's timing was true and he got the ball before Oscar could do anything. Good decision by Bebek not to spoil the game with a poor penalty decision so late! Chelsea now in deep midfield trying to attack at the other end. Schalke happy to take a point, and have one more minute to hang on. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+1: Three added minutes in London, as Chelsea continue to apply the pressure. Obasi concedes another corner, and the chances are piling up for Chelsea. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Ivanovic won the header, but is deflected for another corner! Late pressure,and Chelsea keeping the ball after Scahlke again deal with it! Now Obasi wins a diving challenge inside the box, and he got the ball! No penalty, despite the Chelsea claims! 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'89: Now a cheap foul conceded as Costa goes to ground. Chelsea are now dominating possession, and this looks dangerous for Schalke. They concede another free kick, and now a corner is conceded, and we are mere minutes away. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: That change from Jens Keller suggests he's seen enough, and will be happy to leave London with a point. Now a yellow for Hoeger for apparent timewasting. Yep, it looks like Schalke will seek to defend this one out. Could that cost them? They've been so good this game when they've taken Chelsea on. It looks like handing the advantage over for me. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'86: Corner conceded by Schalke, who now also take off Julian Draxler. He has been superb. On comes Nigerian Chinedu Obasi, whose first task is to defend this corner. Claimed by Faehrmann convincingly, and Schalke now attempt to break. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'85: Great ball from Fabregas nearly found Hazard! It was a great save by Faehrmann denying Hazard, who could only get a piece of his boot to it! That pass was nearly the perfect one. Schalke live on! 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'83: Both teams consolidate their central midfield to nullify the counterattack. Now Remy with a threading run through the left, and his pass was met in time by the Schalke defence and is cleared! Now Hazard with another golden chance! It broke for him after the flick-on header from Costa fell to him, and his first-time volley was sprayed over! Hazard grins in disbelief. Chelsea have had so many chances to win this, but their finishing has been a true Achilles heel. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'80: We have 10 minutes remaining, and either side look likely here. It's a rather muted Stamford Bridge, as Schalke threaten a boilover here. They are on the ball here, as Fuchs' cross is cleared by Cahill and now Chelsea work it out of danger. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'78: Now Huntelaar brings down Ivanovic, and it's another Chelsea free kick. Replays of that Remy effort indicated Fuchs had the vital header away off the line! Now the Swiss playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta replaces Sidney Sam for Schalke, as the free kick is taken and cleared by Schalke. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Free kick Chelsea, which Fabregas stands over. He now has Costa, Remy and the centre backs Terry and Cahill to target. Free kick taken, and it's fluffed by Faehrmann, as it fell to Remy, whose effort was cleared off the line! Edgy stuff from Schalke and their goalkeeper, but they hang on! 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'74: Schalke though with the first change, as Max Meyer makes way for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and now Chelsea make their changes. It's actually Loic Remy, not Mikel who comes in along with Diego Costa. Off are Didier Drogba and Willian. Both teams fancy their chances to win this. Don't look away. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: It's a Schalke free kick that is cleared by the offending Willian. Now another Schalke player is down, and it looks like the defender Ayhan got a stray head to the face in competing for that free kick. He's up again now though. Diego Costa and John Obi Mikel being readied by Chelsea, as Mourinho sees to unleash his full hand in this game. Schalke yet to make a change. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'69: Schalke growing in confidence since the goal. Chelsea lost possession, and the visitors broke quickly, with Draxler pulling off a superb backheel midfield pass that found Sidney Sam, who was dispossessed by Filipe Luis before the threat became larger! Chelsea definitely not having everything their own way, as Schalke beginning to gather strength. Now Draxler with a bullet that Courtois parries away! And now Fuchs is down and in real pain! The challenge was heavy and late from Willian, and he sees yellow for it. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'66: You think of the spate of chances Chelsea have created this game. Apart from Fabregas' goal, he had a golden opportunity in the first half. Drogba had a weak header that he could have done better with. He also had an angled shot inches away from the post, and John Terry's effort was headed for the goal until it was pulled up for a foul. Alright, he may have been harshly punished, but that's the measure of how Chelsea have failed to capitalise. Now Oscar is on in place of Ramires, as Mourinho begins the repair job. 1-1
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'64: There is slightly less than 30 minutes for either side to find a winner, but surely Jose Mourinho must now consider unleashing Diego Costa, and maybe Loic Remy, to retake this lead? You can say Chelsea began this game without their absolute best 11, but do not take anything away from Schalke. They should be maybe 2 or 3 down, but that is due to Chelsea's poor finishing, and not anything else. Chelsea 1-0 Schalke 04
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'63: Fabregas was robbed in midfield, and the transition was quick, and Huntelaar from slightly outside the penalty area, placed the shot superbly past Courtois! After a string of strong Chelsea chances, Schalke level in a game they have been second best in for major parts! Jose Mourinho with a look that can kill. 1-1