Chelsea vs. Schalke: Score, Grades and Reaction from Champions League Game
Chelsea's perfect start to the season came to a halt as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Schalke in their opening Champions League game on Wednesday.
After starting the Premier League campaign with four wins out of four, the Blues were strongly fancied to see off Schalke.
It was all going to script when Cesc Fabregas fired the Blues ahead, but a second-half strike from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar earned the German side a point.
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It wasn't a rip-roaring start by Chelsea, but they settled into the contest and should possibly have taken the lead on nine minutes.
The ball fell to Ramires in the box, and he glided past Dennis Aogo to fashion a shooting chance but scuffed his effort.
It was not a chance they were made to rue, as Chelsea moved ahead two minutes later.
Fabregas has been the assist king for Chelsea so far this season, but he got his opening goal for the club in his first Champions League outing since making the move to Stamford Bridge.
It should come as no surprise that he had a hand in the build-up to his goal by winning possession and slipping the ball to Eden Hazard. Fabregas made a run outside of his team-mate, who slipped a pass into his path.
Fabregas was faced only with Ralf Fahrmann, and he powered his shot under the keeper and into the net.
The Spaniard wheeled away in celebration, while Schalke surrounded referee Ivan Bebek to protest about a challenge by Fabregas in the build-up to the goal. Replays suggested Fabregas played the man and not the ball, but it was not spotted by the official.
The first sign of Schalke as an attacking force arrived on 20 minutes, as Sidney Sam tested the handling of Thibaut Courtois with a low drive which the Belgian gathered in confident fashion.
We were given credible evidence that Fabregas is human on 37 minutes when the Spaniard missed a sitter.
Great work down the right from Branislav Ivanovic forced Schalke on to the back foot. Ivanovic delivered a pass on a plate for his team-mate, but Fabregas was left with egg on his face when he sent the ball high over the bar from 12 yards.
Julian Draxler is the jewel in the Schalke crown and he gave a glimpse of his brilliance at the end of the first half. With the ball at his feet, Draxler drove towards the Chelsea box—seemingly mesmerising defenders with his quick feet.
He kept going and evaded challenges but was unable to put the finishing touch to a run by dragging his shot with his left foot across the face of goal and wide.
Chelsea have the ability to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye and that was demonstrated on 54 minutes. Filipe Luis won the ball deep in his own half and possession was slipped to Fabregas. He got his head up and picked out Hazard, who exchanged passes with Didier Drogba before flashing a shot narrowly over the bar.
Drogba was handed his first start of the season and went close to bagging his first goal since returning to the club in the hour. A poor touch from the Ivorian forced him a little wider than ideal, and it probably cost him, as he was just unable to wrap his foot around the ball and direct his shot on target.
A shade over a minute later, Chelsea were pegged back. Fabregas was robbed of possession in the Schalke half and the German side powered forward.
Draxler drove forward before slipping the ball into the path of Huntelaar, who cut in on to his favoured right foot and slammed an unerring shot low into the corner.
Schalke grew in confidence after the goal and Draxler forced a diving save out of Courtois with a fizzing effort from 20 yards.
Jose Mourinho rolled the dice and threw on Diego Costa and Loic Remy. The latter's first touch almost brought a goal, but his instinctive effort was headed off the line by Roman Neustadter.
Hazard had two late chances to seal the win but blazed the first over and was then denied by the outstretched hand of Fahrmann.
With Maribor and Sporting to face, Chelsea will still have high hopes of topping Group G.
Mourinho gambled by tinkering with his side, possibly with Manchester City in mind at the weekend. He is unlikely to make the same mistake again; and Chelsea will reap the benefits as a result.
Grades
Cesc Fabregas: B+
The Spaniard did not have his international team-mate Diego Costa to pass to, so he took the goalscoring duty on himself. There were a host of big-name signings in the Premier League this summer, but a good case could be made for Fabregas being one of the best.
Once again he looked in a different league, with his brilliant use of the ball and reading of the game—although he loses half a mark for being robbed of possession for the Schalke goal.
Eden Hazard: B
The Belgian has seen Fabregas and Costa hog plenty of the limelight this season, but he has been just as impressive and was red hot on the night.
Didier Drogba: C-
After climbing off the bench for cameo appearances, Drogba was handed his first start since returning to Chelsea. It wasn't the forward's best display of his career, but a decent run out will have blown away the cobwebs for bigger tasks that lie ahead.
Filipe Luis: B+
The Brazilian was handed a full debut and looked completely at home in his new surrounds. Was composed in possession and unruffled when faced with an attacker.
Julian Draxler: B+
The forward was Schalke's star man on the night and he looked a threat every time he gained possession. Expect Schalke to have a fight on their hands to keep him.
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