Chelsea hold Schalke at bay

Schalke chances

Injury concerns
The omens were not good for the home side with a spate of injuries, including influential strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Halil Altıntop, leaving them only able to name five substitutes. Even so, Schalke began brightly with Ivan Rakitić firing over a free-kick after Gerald Asamoah had been fouled 20 metres from goal by Alex. Chelsea responded by creating an excellent chance in the sixth minute when Marcelo Bordon gave away possession cheaply but Drogba's low drive was well tipped wide by Manuel Neuer after Joe Cole had put the striker through.

Schalke press
Čech's first action of the game came after 18 minutes when he comfortably gathered a low effort from Mesut Özil and moments later he was forced to tip a bouncing drive from Westermann wide. From the resulting corner, Søren Larsen bundled a shot into the side-netting at the far post with Čech struggling to get across his goal. Westermann brought another good save from the Chelsea stopper after an identical run and shot before Bordon headed Rakitić's corner over from close range.

Drogba chance
On 27 minutes an inspired Schalke came even closer when Özil's corner was dropped by Čech under pressure only for Juliano Belletti to bail out his goalkeeper with a goalline clearance from Westermann. Chelsea stood firm in the face of the onslaught and nearly took a lead into the interval when Cole slipped in Drogba on 41 minutes only for Neuer to deny the striker with his chest.

Cudicini on

Schalke come close