Two-goal Torres inspires Chelsea

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Chelsea comfortably moved to the top of their UEFA Champions League group with a professional 3-0 rout of Schalke in Gelsenkirchen.

Fernando Torres – on his 100^th start for the club – was at the double, netting a brace of composed finishes in either half, whilst Eden Hazard marked his spectacular return to form with a fine finish for the Blues’ third late on.

The margin of victory might have been even greater had the woodwork not denied Torres a second headed goal early in the second half as the Blues inflicted the German side’s first defeat in the competition this term.

Indeed, Schalke were yet to concede a goal in their four games in the 2013/14 Champions League, but the ruthless efficiency with which Chelsea disposed of the side touted to be their toughest challengers for qualification from Group E was clear for all to see. This result is a sure-fire indicator of the immense improvement the West London side has demonstrated since the opening night disappointment against Basel.

José Mourinho hailed that performance as “garbage”, but he will have been encouraged by the degree of ease with which his side triumphed in the Veltins Arena.

Schalke may well have been missing a number of key first-team players, not least star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but an unusually abject display from the hosts meant Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech was relatively untested throughout – though the Czech did have to excel himself to tip over a bullet header from Roman Neustadter just before the break to maintain a lead provided through a fifth-minute Fernando Torres goal.

The Blues began the game positively by winning a succession of corners, and one such Frank Lampard delivery was flicked on at the front post by the stooping Ivanovic, allowing Torres to convert from inside the six-yard box with a diving header.

The vociferous sell-out home support was soon muted, and whilst Cech had to pull off a couple of excellent saves – both of which later counted for nothing as the hosts were denied by a tight Chelsea offside trap – Mourinho’s charges were able to exert their total dominance throughout the opening half-hour.

Schalke took courage from spells of possession as the half came to a close, but their two best efforts of the night – the aforesaid header from Neustadter that Cech superbly palmed over, and a later effort from captain Benedikt Howedes following a mêlée in the box – either side of the interval were isolated incidents on an evening where defensive pairing John Terry and Gary Cahill were at their imperious best.

The German side, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga on the final day of last season have had an indifferent start to the new campaign, with their main issue being translating periods of possession into goalscoring opportunities. And, having failed to take either of their earlier chances, Schalke were made to suffer when Torres rounded Hildebrand to net his second of the evening.

Picking up a loose pass on half-way, diminutive Brazilian star Oscar showed both incredible pace and strength that belied his stature, before showing enough composure to cross to the unmarked Torres. The Spaniard made no mistake – and that might have been his hat-trick goal had the woodwork not so cruelly have denied his magnificent header from Frank Lampard’s worked free-kick.

Eden Hazard, whose form prior to the international break had been criticised by some elements of the Chelsea support, then added a further layer of gloss to the result when he broke forward and netted his fourth goal in three matches.

The brilliant, rampaging Ramires surged forward and supplied Hazard, who, using the hat-trick craving Torres as a decoy, drove into space and found Hildebrand’s bottom corner with a fine finish to complete a perfect European away night for José Mourinho and his team.

Professional and clinical, the Blues look a totally different outfit from the side that so meekly surrendered to defeat against Basel at Stamford Bridge back in September. Consecutive away wins mean the Blues now top the group after just three matches; and with two of the final three fixtures to be played at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho’s in-form team look hot favourites to progress.

In Torres, Mourinho has a red-hot striker who picked up where he left off in his controversial performance against Tottenham before the international break. That game was heralded as the Spaniard’s best display in a Blues shirt, but the ease with which he converted his two big chances and – perhaps more importantly in Mourinho’s mind – the extent he worked for the team, means he is likely to retain his place against Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.

With City and then Arsenal in the Capital One Cup the opponents in the Blues’ next two fixtures, it is fortunate that they have embarked on their best run of the season so far. Seven matches unbeaten; including six wins in that run, has seen the side stake their respective claims both domestically and in Europe. Mourinho’s Chelsea juggernaut rolls on…

[Barbara 15,149]

why so good, @?

Great article, man

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Thanks, B! x

[Barbara 15,149]

Thanks, B! x

you know I call you my writing other half, right? I've told you this before - though I'm positive I've used the word soulmate back then

Now in all seriousness. I really like your writing style. It's sophisticated although not snob, straight, but still engaging.

And the 'elements of Chelsea support' made me laugh so loud because in Portuguese we call elements suspicious people, and when talking about some supports that word describes it even better

Always a pleasure reading from you, you should do it more often

[BlueLion. 21,491]

you know I call you my writing other half, right? I've told you this before - though I'm positive I've used the word soulmate back then

Now in all seriousness. I really like your writing style. It's sophisticated although not snob, straight, but still engaging.

And the 'elements of Chelsea support' made me laugh so loud because in Portuguese we call elements suspicious people, and when talking about some supports that word describes it even better

Always a pleasure reading from you, you should do it more often

I am going to try and write a match report for every game. 800 words only takes me half an hour - I'm sure I can find the time to do that twice a week!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Match report by @! :woo:

Brings back memories of when I first joined the forum :')

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Match report by @! :woo:

Brings back memories of when I first joined the forum :')

Between 2007 and 2011 I did a report for literally 90% of matches... what happened? Oh yeah, university