Drogba steers Chelsea in last 16

Didier Drogba’s double fired Chelsea to a 3-0 victory over Valencia at Stamford Bridge that sent the Blues into the Champions League knockout-stages as Group E winners last night.

Andre Villas-Boas’ side knew a defeat or score-draw in this qualification shoot-out would put Valencia through at their expense, but two goals from Drogba either side of a Ramires strike eased Chelsea’s path into the last 16.

Drogba’s early goal settled any nerves and Ramires’s strike midway through the first half put the Blues in a commanding position they never looked like squandering.

Drogba netted again in the closing stages and there was even better news from Belgium where Genk held Bayer Leverkusen to allow Chelsea to leapfrog the Germans into top spot.

That means Chelsea will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter in the draw for the last 16.

Mathieu Valbuena’s dramatic late strike booked Marseille’s place in the last 16 after the French side rallied from two goals down to win 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund.

Valbuena popped up with the clinching strike three minutes from full-time after goals from Loic Remy and Andre Ayew had earlier cancelled out a Jakub Blaszczykowski strike and a Mats Hummels penalty for the hosts.

With Olympiacos beating Group F winners Arsenal in Greece, only a victory would have sufficed for Marseille, and Valbuena’s heroics ensured the Mediterranean club finished just a point behind the Gunners, with Olympiacos forced to settle for a place in the Europa League.

In Greece, Algeria striker Rafik Djebbour slotted home on 16 minutes to put Olympiakos ahead, before substitute keeper Vito Mannone made a hash of his clearance as David Fuster made it 2-0 at half-time.

Yossi Benayoun slotted home a consolation before Francois Modesto secured victory with a minute left but, with Marseille producing a late rally to win 3-2 in Dortmund, it was not enough to see the Greeks through to the last 16.

Zenit St Petersburg are through to the knock-out stages at Porto’s expense after holding the Portuguese club to a goalless draw at the Estadio do Dragao.

Zenit knew a point would be enough for them to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time, and despite rarely troubling home ‘keeper Helton, they defended stoutly and deservedly progress.

However, one point was not enough for them to finish ahead of APOEL Nicosia, the Cypriot club winning Group G by virtue of a better head-to-head record despite losing their final game at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Barcelona’s youngsters showed the club’s future could be just as bright as the present with an impressive Champions League 4-0 victory over BATE Borisov at the Nou Camp.

The Catalans’ passing was as tight and crisp as ever as goals from 19-year-old Sergi Roberto, 20-year old Martin Montoya and two from Pedro, at 24 the third oldest player in the starting line-up, earned them a convincing win.

Viktoria Plzen produced a grandstand finish to snatch a 2-2 against qualified Milan to secure third place in Champions League Group H and qualify for the Europa League.

A weakened Milan had looked to be cruising to victory after goals from Brazilian pair Pato and Robinho put them in the comfort zone.

But David Bystron struck a minute from the end and Michal Duris equalised three minutes into injury time to launch a party in Prague.

Milan, who were under the cosh for much of the game, finished the group second behind Barcelona.

Summaries

Chelsea 3
Drogba 3, 76; Ramires 22;
Valencia 0

Genk 1
Vossen 30;
B. Leverkusen 1
Derdiyok 79;

Olympiakos 3
Djebbour 16; Fuster 36; Modesto 89;
Arsenal 1
Benayoun 57;

B. Dortmund 2
Blaszczykowski 23; Hummels 32 pen;
Marseille 3
Remy 45; Ayew 85; Valbuena 89;

Porto 0
Zenit SP 0

Apoel 0
S. Donetsk 2
Adriano 62; Seleznyov 78;

Missed penalty: Adriano (SD) 62.

Barcelona 4
Roberto 35; Montoya 60; Pedro 63; Pedro 88 pen;
Bate Borisov 0

Vik Plzen 2
Bystron 89; Duris 90;
Milan 2
Pato 46; Robinho 49;

Group E

Chelsea vs B. Leverkusen - 2-0
Genk vs Valencia - 0-0
Valencia vs Chelsea - 1-1
B. Leverkusen vs Genk - 2-0
B. Leverkusen vs Valencia - 2-1
Chelsea vs Genk - 5-0
Valencia vs B. Leverkusen - 3-1
Genk vs Chelsea - 1-1
B. Leverkusen vs Chelsea - 2-1
Valencia vs Genk - 7-0
Chelsea vs Valencia - 3-0
Genk vs B. Leverkusen - 1-1

Group F

Olympiakos vs Marseille - 0-1
Bor. Dortmund vs Arsenal - 1-1
Arsenal vs Olympiakos - 2-1
Marseille vs Bor. Dortmund - 3-0
Marseille vs Arsenal - 0-1
Olympiakos vs Bor. Dortmund - 3-1
Arsenal vs Marseille - 0-0
Bor. Dortmund vs Olympiakos - 1-0
Arsenal vs Bor. Dortmund - 2-1
Marseille vs Olympiakos - 0-1
Olympiakos vs Arsenal - 3-1
Bor. Dortmund vs Marseille - 2-3

Group G

Porto vs S. Donetsk - 2-1
Apoel vs Zenit SP - 2-1
Zenit SP vs Porto - 3-1
S. Donetsk vs Apoel - 1-1
S. Donetsk vs Zenit SP - 2-2
Porto vs Apoel - 1-1
Zenit SP vs S. Donetsk - 1-0
Apoel vs Porto - 2-1
S. Donetsk vs Porto - 0-2
Zenit SP vs Apoel - 0-0
Porto vs Zenit SP - 0-0
Apoel vs S. Donetsk - 0-2

Group H

Barcelona vs Milan - 2-2
Vik. Plzen vs Bate Borisov - 1-1
Bate Borisov vs Barcelona - 0-5
Milan vs Vik. Plzen - 2-0
Milan vs Bate Borisov - 2-0
Barcelona vs Vik. Plzen - 2-0
Bate Borisov vs Milan - 1-1
Vik. Plzen vs Barcelona - 0-4
Milan vs Barcelona - 2-3
Bate Borisov vs Vik. Plzen - 0-1
Barcelona vs Bate Borisov - 4-0
Vik. Plzen vs Milan - 2-2

Playing today

Group A
Napoli vs Man. City
B. Munich vs Villareal

Group B
Lille vs Trabzonspor
Inter vs CSKA Moscow

Group C
Basel vs Man. United
Benfica vs Otelul Galati

Group D
D. Zagreb vs Lyon
Ajax vs Real Madrid