ATLETICO MADRID 2-2 CHELSEA

Carlo Ancelotti made six changes to the side that beat Bolton at the weekend, with Joe Cole getting a start alongside Alex, Belletti, Kalou, Malouda and Ashley Cole who returned from his spell out injured. Didier Drogba made his first Champions League start of the campaign having served his suspension and despite any reservations I had about risking him ahead of the weekend’s big game, his presence turned out to be crucial.

Having scored 17 goals without conceding in our last 4 games, I suppose we knew the goalfest couldn’t last and there was always the possibility we might not win this one – and so it proved.  We looked ok in the first half, not blowing anyone away but our passing and movement marked us out the better side. Drogba, Kalou and Lampard all failed to hit the target in a half where, for the most part, you’d have been forgiven for thinking we were the home side given the way we dictated the game.  Unfortunately, Michael Essien used his strength a little too much, bringing a yellow card for a challenge on Reyes. The former Arsenal man had a fairly busy half himself, forcing a save from Petr Cech with a curling 25 yarder and picking up his own booking for a foul on Ashley Cole.

It looked a different side to the one we’d beat 4-0 in the last game, they were closing us down well and putting the odd counter attack together, with not just Reyes but Forlan and Simao all having shots – albeit from distance – but they were letting us know they were there right up to the break.

Second half was a different story though, with a bored, lacklustre showing from us. JT looked frustrated, having a moan – has to be said though, I think there’s something in the rules about not having a handful of the opposition’s shirt and our captain should know better than to give away free-kicks in dangerous areas. Fortunately Cech stood up to it, although there was sod all he could do when our defence saw fit to give Aguero an acre to shoot in – and what a shot. Great goal, and we’re 1-0 down.

Cue Deco on for Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka on for Kalou, who clearly couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo.  Our Second half performance certainly didn’t warrant it but we got back on level terms courtesy of a Didier Drogba header.  And then on 87 minutes, the Ivorian appeared to have single-handedly turned the tie around, getting his second goal out of virtually nothing. And from someone who, for the past couple of season’s has had very little good to say about him – even I have to admit, he’s nothing short of phenomenal this season. 

You had to feel for Atletico, it really wasn’t a good game for us and yet here we were 2-1 up with a couple of minutes on the clock – gutting – maybe not though, because with a foul from Ashley Cole, that man Aguero steps up for the free-kick, again in a dangerous area – to level the game again.  Fair play to them because you can’t argue they deserved at least a draw. 

There was just the faintest chance they might not even get that, with Didier Drogba poised over a free-kick in stoppage time but if he really wanted a hat trick, he’d have been better off banging it from the off instead of messing about with it first. Final whistle then and 2-2 the score.

As it turned out, a draw was enough and we’re through to the knockout stages with games to spare.

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TEAMS

ATLETICO: Asenjo, Juanito, Ibanez, Lopez, Perea, Assuncao, Santana, Simao (Jurado, 83), Reyes (Rodriguez, 73), Forlan, Sinama-Pongolle (Aguerro 54).

CHELSEA: Cech, Terry, Alex, Essien (Ballack, 59), A Cole, Belletti, J Cole (Deco, 70), Malouda, Lampard, Kalou (Anelka, 70), Drogba

Filed under: Europe, Match report