Group E Chelsea 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0, September 13, 2011 Brazil defender David Luiz showed Fernando Torres how it should be done when he netted a fine strike as Chelsea opened their campaign with a victory over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge. Misfiring £50million striker Torres was given another chance - but it was centre-half Luiz who curled a fine 18-yard effort on 67 minutes, with Juan Mata wrapping things up from close range in stoppage time. Valencia 1 Chelsea 1, September 28, 2011 Andre Villas-Boas' recall of Frank Lampard was totally vindicated in Spain but the then Chelsea manager's decision to substitute him backfired spectacularly as Valencia snatched a draw at the Mestalla. Lampard looked to have scored a trademark winner that would have put the visitors in complete command of Group E but Villas-Boas brought him off for Salomon Kalou with seven minutes remaining and the new man immediately conceded a penalty, which Roberto Soldado scored. Chelsea 5 Genk 0, October 19, 2011 Torres celebrates a goal against Genk Torres doubled his goal tally for the season by scoring a brace as Chelsea thrashed Belgian champions Genk. The Spaniard calmly stroked past Genk stopper Laszlo Koteles in the 11th minute after Raul Meireles had opened the scoring with a 25-yard strike - his first for the club. Torres headed home his second from a Meireles cross before Branislav Ivanovic and Kalou completed the rout to help the Londoners consolidate their place at the top of the table at the halfway point of the group stages. Genk 1 Chelsea 1, November 1, 2011 Chelsea blew the chance to put one foot in the knockout stage but their failure to beat Genk was overshadowed by another racism storm. The Blues threw away a half-time lead at the Cristal Arena, with Ramires putting them ahead and Luiz missing a penalty before Jelle Vossen exposed more bad defending by netting Genk's first goal of the competition. However, of far more concern to Chelsea was the behaviour of their fans, who repeatedly chanted about QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in response to the John Terry racism inquiry. Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1, November 23, 2011 Chelsea crashed to defeat to put them in real danger of failing to reach the knockout stage and pile the pressure on Villas-Boas. For the third time on their travels the Blues took the lead, Didier Drogba scoring his second goal of the season shortly after half-time. But, as against Valencia and Genk, the visitors threw away victory, Eren Derdiyok equalising before Manuel Friedrich completed the comeback in stoppage-time. Chelsea 3 Valencia 0, December 6, 2011 Chelsea avoided an early Champions League exit thanks to a Drogba-inspired win. The 33-year-old rolled back the years to net twice as the Blues secured progression to the knockout stage as group winners. Drogba broke the deadlock with a third-minute drive and, after Ramires prodded home at second, secured victory by neatly flicking in a Mata through-ball in the second half. Round of 16 Napoli 3 Chelsea 1 (first leg) February 21, 2012 Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba enjoy the win over Napoli Out-of-sorts Chelsea produced more poor defending to throw away yet another lead to deservedly lose their last-16 first leg, with an Ezequiel Lavezzi brace sandwiching a controversial Edinson Cavani goal. Mata had given Chelsea the lead. Chelsea 4 Napoli 1 (second leg) March 14, 2012 Interim manager Roberto di Matteo helped Chelsea beat the odds to progress to the quarter-finals. The west Londoners took a first-half lead through Didier Drogba and doubled their advantage two minutes into the second period thanks to a Terry header, which would have been enough to put the home side through on away goals. The tie turned back Napoli's way after Gokhan Inler netted eight minutes later, although Frank Lampard struck from the spot to force extra-time in which Ivanovic hit a 105th-minute winner. Quarter-final Benfica 0 Chelsea 1 (first leg) March 27, 2012 Makeshift Chelsea put one foot in the semi-finals thanks to Kalou's late winner at Benfica. Kalou slid home Torres' low cross 15 minutes from time after the Blues completely snuffed out their opponents' threat at the Estadio da Luz. Di Matteo had raised eyebrows with his team selection but resting six players paid off spectacularly in what was mostly an insipid game. Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (second leg) April 4, 2012 Lampard marked his 550th Chelsea appearance with a penalty midway through the first half after makeshift centre-back Javi Garcia was adjudged to have brought down Ashley Cole. Referee Damir Skomina was the main talking point of the game, though, as he handed out eight yellow cards, with Maxi Pereira sent off for the visitors for picking up two of them in the first half. Benfica ensured a nervy ending when Garcia nodded home from close range, although Meireles scored in stoppage time. Semi-final Chelsea 1 Barcelona 0 (first leg) April 18, 2012 Torres kills of Barcelona at Camp Nou Drogba's first-half strike gave Chelsea a narrow yet hugely impressive victory. Totally against the run of play Drogba got on the end of Ramires' cross in first-half injury-time and slotted past Victor Valdes. Alexis Sanchez hit the bar and missed a sitter and Cesc Fabregas had a shot cleared off the line as Chelsea took a battering. Barcelona 2 Chelsea 2 (second leg) April 24, 2012 Barca took the lead through Sergio Busquets and things got worse for the Blues less than two minutes later when John Terry was sent off for kneeing Sanchez from behind. Barca went 2-0 ahead through Andres Iniesta, although Ramires clawed a goal back in first half stoppage. Lionel Messi hit the bar with a penalty and later a post, but Chelsea somehow held out and Torres came off the bench to score late on and cap a memorable night at the Camp Nou. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/15116/7700643/Route-to-final
