Chelsea 3 - 0 Valencia - Match Report

An inspired performance from Didier Drogba helped Chelsea confirm their place in the next stage of the Champions League and ease the pressure on his manager Andre Villas Boas. Villas Boas started the game with a starting eleven very similar to the team that defeated Newcastle 3-0 over the weekend, the only change being Raul Meireles replacing Frank Lampard in the middle of the park. Chelsea started the tie in top gear, instantly getting straight down the throats of the opposition with sheer attacking intent and it only took three minutes for them to take the lead. A cross from Daniel Sturridge made it all the way to Juan Mata on the opposite wing and was given plenty of room to compose himself after a trip from former Liverpool defender Antonio Barragan. Mata pulled the ball back for Dider Drogba to pull off a nifty bit of footwork and fire in a shot low into the corner. Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves got a touch to it, but it wasn't enough to steer the ball off its course to the back of the net. Valencia responded equally impressively. Only a couple of minutes later a lofted through ball from Tino Costa found Jordi Alba in space on the left wing. The Spanish international fired in a shot from a very tight angle that cannoned off the post. The experienced David Albelda was next up to test Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal. The midfielder latched onto the ball around 25 yards out and fired a vicious shot that had Cech at full stretch to keep out. Whilst the Valencia onslaught appeared to be pinning Chelsea into their own half, it was a counter attack out of the blue that secured Chelsea that all important two goal lead in the 22nd minute. Didier Drogba got the best of the Valencia midfield, after holding the ball up well, to play a perfectly weighted ball toward Ramires. It seemed that centre back Victor Ruiz had the situation under control but Ramires forced Ruiz into an unnecessary mistake which the Brazilian instantly capitalised on. His pace was too much for Ruiz and found enough space to squeeze the ball into the net at the near post. Chelsea were handed another great chance to extend their lead even further five minutes later. Juan Mata found Daniel Sturridge in space on the right hand side with an accurate lobbed ball, Sturridge's pace brought him through on goal but failed to get his shot past Alves in the Valencia goal. However, the opportunity to square the ball across to an unmarked Meireles on the far post could've put the game to bed so early in the match. Ramires' goal certainly seemed to knock the confidence of the visitors. Whilst still maintaining possession well, their efforts in the final third were lacking the clinical edge that they'd shown earlier in the game. The second half started similarly to the first, Valencia again keeping the ball well but unable to really penetrate the Chelsea defence. Chelsea also continued to demonstrate their danger on the break, often robbing the ball off long, flowing Valencia moves to create chances of their own on the counter attack. Didier Drogba attempted to test the goalkeeper from a free kick scenario early in the half, but the angle of the set piece was a little too wide to steer around the Valencia wall. Daniel Sturridge continued to be a threat on the right wing with his pace becoming a key element of Chelsea's counter attacking threat. Long cross field balls were delivered to the young England international which he often controlled with ease however the angle he approached the goal often was the demise of the move. Valencia's first good chance of the second half came from Sofiane Fegouhli. Fegouhli managed to ease his way through the Chelsea back line and struck a thunderous effort on goal forcing Petr Cech to push the ball behind for a corner. Drogba continued to work his heart out throughout the match and his hard work almost culminated in a second goal for the Ivorian 72 minutes into the game. Yet another Chelsea breakaway found Drogba deep into the Valencia half with Adil Rami in combat with him for the ball. Drogba's strength got the best of the French defender but his shot just skewed wide after further pressure from Victor Ruiz. However a few minutes later, the second goal came. A through ball from Juan Mata put Drogba through on goal and he calmly delivered, rolling the ball into the back of the net with utter composure from the one-on-one situation with Diego Alves. Chelsea were more than happy to run the game out once the third goal was scored and their efficiency of negating Valencia's offensive efforts made the job even easier. Other results in the group saw Bayer Leverkusen fail to get three points away to Belgian team Genk and by doing so allowed Chelsea to snatch the top spot from beneath their feet. Andre Villas Boas will no doubt be pleased with the slip up by Leverkusen as it ensures they will miss the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the next round.