toptop
Chelsea
produced a dogged defensive display as their UEFA Champions League semi-final
first leg with Atletico Madrid ended in a 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon.
But the result came at a cost, with Petr Cech and John Terry both forced off
through injury and Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel receiving bookings which
will see them miss the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday through
suspension.
Jose Mourinho sent his side out with the clear intention of keeping a clean
sheet, with five men in midfield providing a solid screen to the back four and
only former Atletico striker Fernando Torres operating in a lone attacking role.
The match had been billed as a showdown between Chelsea goalkeeper Cech and the
heir to his Stamford Bridge throne, Thibaut Courtois, who is taking in his third
season on loan with the Spanish league leaders.
But Cech's night was brought to a premature conclusion when he was injured after
falling awkwardly onto his elbow after a collision with Raul Garcia as he pushed
a 15th-minute Koke corner over the crossbar, with 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer
sent into the fray after a lengthy stoppage.
Schwarzer had very little to do through the opening half, with Diego Simeone's
side unable to find a way through and any crosses which were swung into the box
comfortably dealt with by Terry and Gary Cahill, with Cesar Azpilicueta and the
returning Ashley Cole providing good support.
Diego Costa squared up to Terry in the opening exchanges after a clearance from
the Chelsea skipper with referee Jonas Eriksson forced to step in, before Cole
got away with taking an additional touch on the edge of his box as Raul Garcia
was penalised for his challenge on the left-back.
Cahill nodded a corner narrowly wide in the 21st minute but the whistle had
already gone before, as the half-hour mark approached, Willian burst forward and
fed Ramires, but his effort from the edge of the box was not a threat to the
under-employed Courtois or close enough to Torres.
After being a spectator for much of the time since entering the fray, Schwarzer
was forced to scramble across his line to cover a fine curled effort from
midfielder Mario Suarez which shaped just the wrong side of his left upright.
Azpilicueta had to throw himself in front of a powerfully struck Diego Costa
effort as half-time approached, with the Spain striker's hopeful penalty appeals
rightly ignored.
Courtois was finally called into action early in the second period as he dropped
to gather a Lampard shot from distance, before David Luiz required treatment
after coming off second best in an aerial challenge with Diego.
Schwarzer came haring off his line to punch clear in the 55th minute, with the
ball dropping kindly to Diego, but he could only fire a weak shot straight into
the arms of the grateful goalkeeper, before Torres found Courtois' midriff after
working a yard of space for a shot outside the Atletico box.
Arda Turan was sent on in place of Diego, with Lampard going into the book for a
late sliding challenge on the Atletico substitute.
Mikel took responsibility to head Juanfran's cross away ahead of Schwarzer with
Diego Costa lurking before Chelsea suffered another significant blow, as Terry
limped off after injuring his left ankle in a seemingly innocuous incident
involving Diego Costa and David Luiz.
Mikel and Gabi were booked following a melee in the wake of a Lampard handball,
with suspension now ruling both men out of the return, and Gabi curled the
resulting free-kick narrowly wide of goal.
Arda Turan headed just off target at the far post from Juanfran's cross after
getting up above Cahill before Raul Garcia's looping header landed on the roof
of Schwarzer's net as Chelsea held out, while David Luiz fired a late free-kick
well wide for the visitors.
Teams
Atletico Madrid Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Diego Godin, Luis,
Garcia (Villa 86), Gabi (c), Suarez (Sosa 80), Koke, Diego (Turan 60), Diego
Costa
Subs Not Used Aranzubia, Tiago, Rodriguez, Alderweireld
Booked Gabi, Miranda
Goals
Chelsea Cech (Schwarzer 17), Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry (c)
(Schurrle 73), Cole, Mikel, Luiz, Lampard, Ramires, Torres, Willian (Ba 90+4)
Subs Not Used Oscar, van Ginkel, Ake, Kalas
Booked Mikel, Lampard
Goals
Attendance 50,000
Referee Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)