Match Summary
Chelsea out-classed Schalke with a five-star performance to secure top spot of Group G with one match to spare.
The Blues, who travelled to face Roberto di Matteo’s new team Schalke, were in the ascendency from the second minute and now can concentrate on the domestic fixtures on December as the passage way into the knock-out rounds have been secured.
There was a lot of pre-match respect for Di Matteo’s previous Champions League conquests with Chelsea but you would struggle to find as dominant an away performance in Germany by the Blues.
The same team was picked as on Saturday but no fatigue showed. Terry got Chelsea up and running from the game’s first corner, heading home from Fabregas’ corner.
Schalke did have a chance when Choupo-Moting’s shot hit the bar but Chelsea were not deterred.
A second goal came before the half-hour mark with Hazard and Willian exchanging passes and the Brazilian unleashing the ball goalwards.
A third would follow soon after from another Fabregas corner as Kirchhoff followed the old adage of “if you can’t beat them, join them” with a bizarre own goal when unchallenged.
This would have been shut-up-shop time for Mourinho typically but there was further blood to be smelt in the second half. Fabregas did most of the work but Willian’s pull-back to Drogba wrapped it up.
A fifth came soon after. Drogba this time turned provider for fellow substitute Ramires who leaped high to quite literally head Chelsea in to the next round.
Man of the Match
CESC FABREGAS: Slotted seamlessly back into regular football, dictating play for Chelsea both in England and in Europe. Startling composure but refreshing to see a fantastic eye for the killer pass. Assisted from through-balls, corners, the lot. A snip at £27 million. 9/10
Manager Reaction
Mourinho was emphatic in his praise: “The team played a fantastic match. At this moment this team is very mature and very confident. To win 5-0 away in the Champions League, and in Germany, is not normal. The performance was complete.”
Ex-Chelsea boss echoed Mourinho’s praise: “Chelsea were super in the way they played. They were ice cold. We played against a really great team.”