Vintage Chelsea Hammer Bordeaux

Chelsea sauntered to an easy 4-0 victory over a poor Bordeaux side this evening, to kick off their Champions League campaign in perfect style.

The city of Bordeaux is famous for its wines, but it was Chelsea who produced the vintage, with Bordeaux more akin to a cheap plonk you’d find in your local off licence.

But that shouldn’t detract from what was another impressive Chelsea performance. They were pleasing on the eye and could have scored more.

The Blues didn’t take long to punish the slack French side, and Jose Bosingwa played a key part in the opening goal. The Portuguese international received the ball on the right wing and played in a first time cross that was met by the on-fire Frank Lampard who nodded it into the corner.

The goal made Frank Lampard Chelsea's joint all-time top goalscorer in European competition with 18 goals, alongside Didier Drogba.

Nicolas Anelka and John Terry then had efforts on goal, before Chelsea scored a second from a Frank Lampard corner. The unlikely scorer was Joe Cole, who nodded the ball over the dive of Rame and into the corner.

Chelsea were in cruise control, and it seemed only a matter of time before a third goal arrived.

Frank Lampard should have provided it, but he missed a sitter, dragging his volley wide when it seemed easier to score.

Bordeaux were limited to shots from distance which didn’t trouble Cech - Bordeaux didn’t have one shot on target all night.

As the second half progressed, Chelsea took their foot of the gas and Bordeaux began to play the ball around in midfield and the Blues became a little sloppy in possession.

Scolari was becoming increasingly agitated in the dugout, and he brought on Michael Ballack for Deco in an attempt to tip the scales in midfield back in Chelsea’s favour.

Nicolas Anelka had a chance to turn Scolari’s frown upside down, but he shot at the side netting from an angle.

One development in Chelsea’s play that has been noted by observers is that it is more aesthetically pleasing, and this was perfectly demonstrated with a beautiful third goal with eight minutes left on the clock.

John Obi Mikel slalomed forward and played the ball to Lampard, who, with his back to goal, played a wonderful flick into the path of Florent Malouda, who shot across Rame and into the far corner.

A fourth goal was almost handed on a plate to Ricardo Carvalho, but his header cannoned back off the bar to safety.

Anelka then hit the post with a shot from the outside of the area.

But a fourth did arrive, and Nicolas Anelka finally got his goal. The Frenchman tapped the ball into the net after Juliano Beletti had smacked a 35 yard rocket towards goal that Rame did well to tip onto the bar.

It turned out to be the last kick of a comfortable evening for Scolari’s men, who go into Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United in scintillating form.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry (c); A Cole; Mikel; J Cole (Belletti 73), Deco (Ballack 60), Lampard, Malouda (Kalou 83); Anelka.

Scorers Lampard 13, J Cole 30, Malouda 81, Anelka 90+1.

Booked Deco 57

Bordeaux (4-1-4-1): Ramé (c); Jurietti, Planus, Diawara, Placente; Diarra; Wendel, Gourcuff (Obertan 65), Gouffran, Fernando (Ducasse 74); Chamakh (Cavenaghi 65).