CHELSEA ' ROAD TO THE FINAL

GROUP STAGE MATCH 1

18/09/2007, Chelsea vs. Rosenborg




Chelsea got their 2007/2008 Champions League campaign off to a less-than-convincing start after a 1-1 home draw with Norwegian side Rosenborg. The Blues dominated possession but were unable to convert that into chances and were shocked to go 1-0 down after 24 minutes. Chelsea drew level soon after the break however, as Andrei Shevchenko rose to head in a Florent Malouda cross.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 2



03/10/2007, Valencia vs. Chelsea




Chelsea travelled to the Mestalla after having failed to score in their previous four Premier League matches, but they managed to find the net again in what was Avram Grant’s first European game in charge. Valencia went ahead with a goal in the ninth minute, but the Blues fought back and leveled through a 21st minute Joe Cole strike, eventually taking the lead in the 71st minute through Didier Drogba. Although Valencia then proceeded to throw everything they had at the Chelsea goal, the English side held firm to record a valuable 2-1 away win.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 3



24/10/2007, Chelsea vs. Schalke




Avram Grant’s first home match in Europe proved to be a comfortable win over German side Schalke. Florent Malouda opened the scoring with a shot that Schalke keeper Manuel Neuer allowed to roll through his arms and into the net. Didier Drogba then doubled the score just after the break to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead. Although Shalke had a number of chances and Chelsea defender Alex was lucky to avoid seeing red after tugging back Soren Larsen following a careless pass back to Petr Cech, the score remained the same and Avram Grant made it two from two in Europe.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 4



06/11/2007, Schalke vs. Chelsea




The Blues travelled to Germany on the back of a seven win streak, but that came to an end with a nervous 0-0 draw against hosts Schalke. The German side were all over Chelsea, and Avram Grant’s side can count themselves lucky that they didn’t go behind as a result of their woeful defending. Petr Cech limped off with a calf injury to further complicate matters for the visitors. However, courtesy of their rather fortunate point, Chelsea only needed a single win from their remaining group matches to ensure qualification for the Second Round.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 5



28/11/2007, Rosenborg vs Chelsea




After a disappointing 1-1 draw at home with Rosenborg in the duo’s previous meeting, Chelsea set out to erase any hopes of a shock Rosenborg victory. Although possession was split relatively evenly thoughout the match, the chances went all Chelsea’s way. Drogba gave Chelsea a two-goal lead with strikes in the seventh and 20th minutes before Alex rounded off the half with a 40-yard free kick. Joe Cole added a fourth for Chelsea in the 71st minute to give Chelsea a 4-0 victory, and guarantee progression through to the knockout stages.




GROUP STAGE MATCH 6



11/12/2007, Chelsea vs. Valencia



Chelsea hosted Valencia in the last group stage match with qualification already assured, and duly turned in a sloppy and uninspiring performance. Perhaps the fact that the match came before a crucial Premier League fixture against Arsenal gave the Blues a reason to conserve their energy, but the wasteful finishing of strikers Andrei Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro would still have worried the manager as the match ended 0-0.




SECOND ROUND, LEG 1



19/02/2008, Olympiacos vs. Chelsea




Didier Drogba returned to the side following the African Cup of Nations, but couldn’t find the back of the net in a tight match with the Greek side. Chelsea looked content to play out the draw and kept things tight throughout the match. The match ended 0-0, Chelsea’s second consecutive goal-less draw, but the result put Chelsea in the driving seat for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.




SECOND ROUND, LEG 2



05/03/2008, Chelsea vs. Olympiacos




Chelsea welcomed Olympiacos to Stamford Bridge with the advantage after a 0-0 draw in Greece and they made the most of it with a comfortable victory over an Olympiacos side that lacked creativity and energy. The Blues dominated from the start of the match and consistently created chances. Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salmon Kalou sealed a comfortable 3-0 win and progression through to the quarter-finals.




QUARTER-FINAL, LEG 1



02/04/2008, Fenerbahce vs. Chelsea




Chelsea travelled to Istanbul to take on Turkish outfit Fenerbahce in the first round of the Champions League quarter-final first leg. Chelsea dominated for long periods of the game, but as so often happens, failed to covert this possession into goals. Chelsea struck first after a Florent Malouda cross was deflected into the Fener goal by a hapless Deivid. Fenerbahce began to look dangerous and equalised in the 64th minute though a Kazim-Richards strike. Fenerbahce’s Deivid made up for his own goal in the 80th minute with a superb strike that condemned Chelsea to an unexpected 2-1 defeat.




QUARTER-FINAL, LEG 2



08/04/2008, Chelsea vs. Fenerbahce




It was normal service resumed for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge during the return leg of their quarter-final match up with Fenerbache. The Blues grabbed an early lead through a Michael Ballack header and then proceeded to play a slow, steady, passing game which allowed them to control the play. Chelsea grabbed a second as Fener pushed forward looking for a desperately needed goal, leaving gaps at the back. Frank Lampard did the honours and sent Chelsea into the semi-finals with a 2-0 win.




SEMI-FINAL, LEG 1



22/04/2008, Liverpool vs. Chelsea




Chelsea faced Premier League rivals Liverpool once again in a Champions League semi-final, with the first leg played at a hostile and intimidating Anfield. In a tight game where both sides looked dangerous in spells, Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt put the Merseysiders 1-0 up just before half time. The game looked to be settled with the final whistle approaching before substitute John Arne Riise dived in and powered a header into his own net. The blunder gave Chelsea a crucial away goal and meant the tie was theirs to lose come the second leg at Stamford Bridge.




SEMI-FINAL, LEG 2



30/04/2008, Chelsea vs. Liverpool




Chelsea began their second leg match with Liverpool strongly, and were deservedly ahead at the break following a 33rd minute strike by Didier Drogba. In the second half Liverpool began to show signs of a comeback and drew level through Fernando Torres in the 64th minute. Chances were scarce for both sides after that however and with the score at 1-1, the game went to extra time. After a Michael Essien goal was chalked off because of Chelsea players in offside positions, Sami Hyypia made a rash challenge to give away a penalty. Frank Lampard converted from the spot and only a few minutes later the Blues were three up after an Anelka cross was powered home by Drogba. Ryan Babel pulled one back for Liverpool with a long range effort, but it was too little too late as Chelsea advanced to the Champions League final.