Starting Line-up

By dixon9
March 6 2008

A masterful display which saw Chelsea bludgeon Olympiakos into submission in the first half. The Greek side had beaten both Lazio and Werder Bremen away from home and came to the Bridge with the advantage of no away goal conceded - nerves were there amongst the Chelsea faithful but thanks to excellent displays by Ballack and Lampard concerns soon eased.

Ballack and Lampard aren’t supposed to be able to play together and the reduced 3 men midfield in a 4-3-3 formation would make the combination supposedly even less advantageous, however, recent performances against West Ham and Olympiakos go against the grain of popular and media opinion. 

Don’t get me wrong – I am/was one of those who preferred “one or the other” and I’m against the current 4-3-3 formation for other reasons but I have to admit that it may well be (perish the thought!) that Grant and co know a bit more about the squad and football in general than I do?!!!   

Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves; one swallow doesn’t make a summer and all that. This really was an excellent display of football – just what the doctor ordered and whilst I wouldn’t personally count this as a feather in Grant’s cap (I’d save that challenge for the next CL opponents or the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal at home coming up) it was nevertheless a demonstration that Grant may know some onions after all.

Keeper Cech was the only thorn in our preparation plans after picking up an ankle injury which may keep him out for 3 weeks but such is our strength in depth we can call upon probably the 2^nd best keeper in the league in Cuducini.

Chelsea attacked right from the off and the Greek goalmouth was under siege practically every time we went forward. 

In the 6^th minute, Lampard swung his penetrating cross into the box from deep before Ballack rose first and directed his header into the net past Nikopolidis at the near post.

Joe Cole featured among the front three in and buzzed along around, behind and in front of Drogba causing the normally rigid 2 lines of 4 Greek defence all sorts of problems.

Olympiakos were struggling with the constant blue wave and could little to break into our half and on 25 minutes came that badly needed 2^nd goal. 

Ballack broke free from the right and his diagonal vector in on goal was met was stifled by an excellent parry out from the Greek keeper – only for Lampard to have anticipated first and knock in from close range.

It stayed at 2-0 for the remainder of the first half with the Cuducini only being slightly troubled by a cross from Torosidis.Just after the break we won a corner which brought us the 3^rd and final goal.   

Lampard produced a decent inswinging corner which was touched on by Drogba and Carvalho before Kalou prodded home.

Terry seems to be almost back at his imperious best at the back and Joe Cole appears to be making it more and more difficult for Grant to leave him out despite the rotation policy.  Drogba, a lone figure in the centre would benefit magnificently with the partnership of Anelka but alas with the insistence on 4-3-3 we are unlikely to see this potential spectacle.

Kalou, Lampard and Joe Cole were all taken off for rest in the 2^nd half, replaced by Essien, Malouda and Wright-Phillips with the only Olympiakos scare being Belluschi striking the bar from his 25 yard effort.

This was an emphatic victory.

So ourselves, Man Utd and Arsenal through to the quarter finals – Liverpool should make it 4 English teams.  I just hope that we the draw is a fair to us for a change and that we don’t get Barcelona yet again.

HIGHLIGHTS

http://goal442.com/videos/latest-highlights/chelsea-3-0-olympiacos/

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Essien 76), Kalou (Malouda 70), Drogba, Joe Cole (Wright-Phillips 79). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Alex, Belletti, Anelka.

Booked: Lampard, Ferreira, Terry.

Goals: Ballack 6, Lampard 25, Kalou 48.

Olympiakos: Nikopolidis, Zewlakow, Julio Cesar, Antzas, Pantos, Ledesma (Belluschi 53), Patsatzoglou, Torosidis (Sisic 75), Djordjevic (Leonardo 57), Stoltidis, Kovacevic.
Subs Not Used: Sifakis, Nunez, Mendrinos, Konstantinou.  

Booked: Pantos.

Att: 37,721

Ref: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).

Ballack & Lamps Shine:Chelsea 3 Olympiakos 0+Video

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 06/03/2008 19:47

50 Years Over 100 Years
06/03/2008 19:47

Ballack & Lamps Shine:Chelsea 3 Olympiakos 0+Video

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Padre Pio
09/03/2008 10:46

Oi! Put those lights back on

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dixon9
09/03/2008 19:15

?




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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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