porto 1-0

The Times

Nicolas Anelka swoops late as strolling Chelsea take care of business

Porto 0 Chelsea 1
Tom Dart Oporto

It was here at the Estádio do Dragão last season that Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational 40-yard goal for Manchester United.
The memory of that goal will endure for many years; last night’s match will be forgotten by tomorrow, save for the one abiding impression it generated: this Chelsea vintage have a savvy and solidity that recalls the title-winning sides under José Mourinho.
With seven clean sheets in their past eight games, having scored in all their matches this term, Chelsea head for the Emirates Stadium on Sunday in rude health. The same could not be said of Frank Lampard, who tore a thigh muscle two weeks ago and missed this match, but he could make a surprise return to the starting line-up against Arsenal.
The midfield player flew to Serbia last week to visit Marijana Kovacevic, the “miracle healer”, who uses fluids derived from horse placenta and has treated Premier League players such as Robin van Persie, the Arsenal forward.
Lampard would be back at least a week ahead of schedule if he plays this weekend, but it is understood that he met with Kovacevic for only an initial hour-long consultation that involved conventional treatment and decided, along with Bryan English, the club doctor, that the placenta option was not for him.
He trained yesterday at Chelsea’s base in Cobham, Surrey, and his team-mates in Oporto did not fret without him. While Liverpool implode if Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard is absent, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad has the depth and resolve to shrug off the loss of key players. That, too, was another hallmark of the best Mourinho years: consistency of results, performance and attitude regardless of personnel.
The only variety was when Chelsea gradually eroded opponents rather than demolish them outright. Last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers was crushing; this result came without fuss or drama.
Didier Drogba returned from his rib injury and lasted the whole game, suggesting that he will be fine to face Arsenal. This weekend’s is the second of four successive away fixtures for Chelsea, with Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup and Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League also looming large.
A monochrome match was settled by a second-half winner from Nicolas Anelka that confirmed first place in group D for Chelsea with a game to spare. “It was our objective to get first in this group and it is not easy to win here,” Ancelotti said. “The team did not play fantastic, but just good. We took some risks in the first half, but the second half was much better and we deserved to win.
“There was personality and courage in the team. If we want to win the Champions League, those are qualities we need. It is very important to keep momentum up and we have to keep this high moment. The players are in good condition and in good form and we know that Sunday will be a very difficult match, but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal.”
With Porto and Chelsea already through to the knockout stages, it was not surprising that there was little urgency on show. Deco featured against the club with whom he lifted the European Cup in 2004, and was received warmly by the home fans, but the most interesting of Ancelotti’s selections was Yuri Zhirkov at left back in place of Ashley Cole. The Russia player had made only two appearances since joining from CSKA Moscow for £18 million in the summer because of persistent knee problems.
Porto were fitfully impressive during their 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the opening group game, but worse here even though they had been unbeaten at home this season. Playing in the same kind of fluorescent orange strip that was no help to Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane last Sunday, Porto were pushed back in the opening stages and struggled to contain Anelka, who tested Beto, the goalkeeper, with a swerving shot from distance after 15 minutes.
It turned out to be Chelsea’s only shot on target in the first half. Porto grew into the game and shortly before the half-hour, Fernando Belluschi, given space on the left, cut inside and curled a shot from the edge of the box on to the crossbar.
Deco crashed an effort narrowly wide in the 52nd minute, but it did not herald an improvement. If anything, the game became more slapdash. The nadir came midway through the half when the Portugal playmaker mis-hit the ball so badly that from the edge of the Porto area he found Falcao, the opposition striker, on the halfway line.
A winner from nowhere was located in the 69th minute, though, when Florent Malouda found room on the left to cross for Anelka, who headed in from close range. Porto attacked with more focus after that, and Hulk, a substitute, went close — but Chelsea were fine, their fierce sense of purpose holding firm on a placid night.
Porto (4-3-3): Beto — C Sapunaru (sub: E Farías, 79min), Rolando, B Alves, Á Pereira — F Belluschi (sub: F Guarín, 71), Fernando, R Meireles — S Varela (sub: Hulk, 60), Falcao, C Rodríguez. Substitutes not used: Nuno, D Valeri, Maicon, T Costa. Booked: Fernando, Meireles.
Chelsea (4-1-3-2): P Cech — B Ivanovic, R Carvalho, J Terry, Y Zhirkov — J O Mikel — M Ballack (sub: M Essien, 68), Deco (sub: J Cole, 76), F Malouda — D Drogba, N Anelka. Substitutes not used: R Turnbull, A Cole, S Kalou, Alex, J Belletti. Booked: Ballack.
Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).


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Telegraph:

Porto 0 Chelsea 1

By Jeremy Wilson at Estadio do Dragao

As Carlo Ancelotti paused to reflect on another ruthlessly efficient victory and the surprise boost of Frank Lampard’s return to full training, there was an almost ominous tone to his assessment of Sunday’s match against Arsenal.
"It is a very good moment for us and we have to keep this moment," he said. "The players are in good condition and good mentality. I think it is a good moment to play Arsenal."
Sport on television For a man hardly prone to hyperbole, it was a positively bullish statement. And with good reason. To the wider world, this might have been a match of limited importance. To a relatively meagre Porto crowd of 35,000, it was also an occasion of only occasional entertainment.
Yet for Chelsea, it was further evidence that John Terry was justified in suggesting the players are recapturing the aura of invincibility that was so evident under Jose Mourinho.
Indeed, if the hallmark of a successful team is an ability to accumulate victories with either swagger or efficiency, the trophy cabinet at Chelsea may again find itself under some strain by the end of the season.
After the flair that had accompanied the 4-0 drubbing of Wolves, this was Chelsea at their remorseless best. A second-half goal from Nicolas Anelka clinched what is a seventh win in eight matches, although equally impressive is the fact that those victories have all come without conceding a single goal.
Chelsea are now unassailable in Group D and should avoid the likes of Barcelona or Real Madrid when the draw for the last-16 is made next month. Attention now swings to the Premier League and just the presence in training of Lampard yesterday morning has further lifted the squad.
Amid initial fears that a small tear to his thigh would keep him out until Christmas, Lampard has taken just two weeks to heal and now expects to be fit to start against Arsenal. Lampard did undergo treatment in Serbia with Marijana Kovacevic - the so-called ‘placenta doctor’ - although he simply had around one hour of massage with conventional oils.
Chelsea were last night playing down talk of a "miracle cure" and it is understood that Lampard and club doctors actually concluded that the treatment in Serbia was not worth pursuing beyond the initial massage.
Ancelotti said that Lampard had looked "good" in training and the Italian was also delighted that his team showed the "courage and personality" he demanded when placing the utmost significance on gaining a positive result in Porto.
With his vast Champions League experience, Ancelotti will be well aware that Liverpool remain the only recent exception to the rule that the winners of this competition have almost always benefited from advantageous seeding in the knockout phase. "It’s important because now we have to think about the Premier League," he said.
Having suggested that Didier Drogba would not be risked last night, Ancelotti duly started the Ivorian alongside Anelka. Other selections, however, were clearly made with the looming match against Arsenal in mind and the presence of Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Michael Essien among the substitutes underlined the likelihood of changes come Sunday.
Chelsea were the more adventurous in a generally tepid opening as Drogba and Anelka continued to expose the myth of their incompatibility. Anelka was regularly finding space in front of Porto’s defence and prompted the first test of Beto, the hosts’ stand-in goalkeeper, with a powerful effort.
Beto’s weak block was unimpressive, although Petr Cech was little more convincing from Porto’s first attack of note. Fernando Belluschi had shot from long range and, while Cech moved well to his right, he was forced to make a double save after directing his parry into the path of Falcao.
The opportunity galvanised Porto and they gradually began to demonstrate the slick passing which had persuaded Ancelotti to declare that they were a club of an equal stature to Chelsea.
Three consecutive league titles illustrate Porto’s strength even in their post-Mourinho era and they were unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time. Belluschi was pulling the strings and, after an incisive run, his curling effort hit the crossbar.
The Argentine midfielder’s threat as the roaming playmaker was in marked contrast to Deco. Last night represented another opportunity to answer those who regard his arrival at Chelsea as a costly mistake but there was precious little industry, invention or even urgency from him.
Michael Ballack was largely anonymous and, when he was replaced on 68 minutes by Essien, Chelsea were more incisive.
Yuri Zhirkov teed up Florent Malouda and his sweet cross was converted by Anelka’s header. It was the third time Anelka has made a decisive contribution in the past five Champions League matches. For Chelsea, it was mission accomplished.

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Independent:

Anelka pops up to pick Porto's pocket
Porto 0 Chelsea 1
By Mark Fleming at Estadio do Dragao

A pattern is starting to develop in Europe, one that gives credibility to the idea that Carlo Ancelotti is the man to deliver the coveted Champions League trophy to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The game plan is pretty simple: keep it tight and then Nicolas Anelka poaches the winner. The blueprint worked last night here, as it has done in three out of five European matches this season, and it ensures Chelsea will finish top of Group D and will be one of the seeded clubs when the competition goes to a knockout format.
Anelka's goal, a close-range header after 69 minutes, was his first in eight games. The Frenchman has become Chelsea's pickpocket, the man who can steal a goal to win a close contest. It could be a priceless knack if Anelka can keep doing it all the way to the final in Madrid in May.
Ancelotti's Chelsea side are proving to be a very different proposition in Europe than the side that has taken the Premier League by storm. In the domestic game they have blossomed into a free-scoring team that play with a real flourish.
In the Champions League however they have become far more cautious, one that is content to keep its shape, bide its time and take whatever the chance when it comes, like Anelka's simple finish that decided this match. This is Continental Chelsea, when goal-mouth excitement is at a premium. The key is not to lose.
The goal was pretty much Chelsea's one and only real chance to score. Their only other opportunity was a long-range effort from Anelka, again, that reserve keeper Beto kept out with a flapping arm.
The Italian instincts of their manager, who led Milan to the Champions League title twice, come to the fore whenever Chelsea face European opposition. Ancelotti had asked for "courage and personality" from the team on the eve of the match and said: "I didn't see it for the whole game but there was personality and courage in the team. If we want to win the Champions League and to arrive in the final then those are qualities we need."
With Sunday's visit to Arsenal at the back of his mind, Ancelotti made six changes from the side that beat Wolves 4-0 last Saturday. He recalled Didier Drogba for the first time since the Ivorian bruised a rib during the 1-0 victory over Manchester United earlier this month.
Yuri Zhirkov, the man signed for £18m in the summer, was also given a rare outing, playing at left-back and had a part to play in the goal. His pass released the dashing Florent Malouda and the Frenchman crossed for compatriot Anelka to score with his head.
Not that Chelsea managed to keep Porto at arm's length for the whole game. In fact Chelsea looked horribly out of sorts in the first half. Petr Cech fumbled a long range effort from the inventive Fernando Belluschi but redeemed himself with a point-blank save to deny Falcao. The Argentine midfielder Belluschi, the best player on show last night, also rocked the Chelsea crossbar with a stinging drive from 25 yards.
Lampard saddles up to take on Arsenal after placenta healer trip
Frank Lampard is set to play for Chelsea against Arsenal on Sunday, after seeing the horse placenta healer Marijana Kovacevic for treatment on his torn thigh muscle.
Lampard remained at Chelsea's Cobham training ground while his team-mates were in Porto for their Champions League tie and the Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, said: "He will train with the team on Thursday. We hope he'll be fit for Sunday."
Lampard tore a thigh muscle two weeks ago before England's friendly against Brazil in Qatar. Last weekend he flew to Belgrade to visit Kovacevic who uses fluids derived from horse placenta in internal and external processes to speed up the healing process.
Chelsea claimed the player would be out of action for two weeks, although privately it was feared it would be six. The news that Lampard may face Arsenal gives them a huge lift before a game that could put Ancelotti's side 11 points ahead of their London rivals. Didier Drogba also returned after a rib injury last night. Ancelotti said: "The players are in good condition and form and we know that Sunday will be a very difficult match but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal."

Mark Fleming

Porto (4-1-4-1): Beto; Sapunaru (Farias, 80), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira; Fernando; Varela (Hulk, 59), Belluschi (Guarin, 71), Raul Meireles, Rodriguez; Falcao. Substitutes not used: Nuno (gk), Valeri, Maicon, Costa.
Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Zhirkov; Mikel; Ballack (Essien, 68), Malouda; Deco (J Cole, 76); Anelka, Drogba. Substitutes not used:Turnbull (gk), A Cole, Kalou, Alex, Belletti.
Referee: J Eriksson (Sweden).
Group D
Results so far: Chelsea 1 Porto 0, Atletico Madrid 0 Apoel Nicosia 0; Porto 2 Atletico Madrid 0, Apoel Nicosia 0 Chelsea 1; Porto 2 Apoel Nicosia 1, Chelsea 4 Atletico Madrid 0; Apoel Nicosia 0 Porto 1, Atletico Madrid 2 Chelsea 2; Apoel Nicosia 1 Atletico Madrid 1, Porto 0 Chelsea 1.
Remaining fixtures: Tue 8 Dec: Atletico Madrd v Porto, Chelsea v Apoel Nicosia.

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Guardian:
Nicolas Anelka sinks Porto and secures top spot for Chelsea
FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1 Anelka 69
David Hytner at Estádio do Dragão

Nicolas Anelka seems to reserve his best for closely contested Champions League ties. This was the third time Chelsea had won by the only goal in Group D and on each occasion the France striker has been the scorer.
It was the same story against Porto at Stamford Bridge in the opening game. His predatory instincts here ensured Chelsea will advance as group winners and, moreover, it meant that they will travel to Arsenal on Sunday for the Premier League derby with momentum strong and confidence high.
Few teams emerge victorious at Porto's stadium but Carlo Ancelotti's men heeded his call to show "personality and courage". Having been second best for spells of the first half, Chelsea raised themselves to produce a performance that hinted at the grinding intensity of old. Ancelotti noted that "the team did not play fantastic, just good" but there is a certain satisfaction to spiriting away victory in such fashion.
The solidity of the Chelsea defence, particularly in the second half, gave cause for optimism. This was a seventh clean sheet in eight matches. "It is very important to keep the momentum up," said Ancelotti, who will have Frank Lampard back for Arsenal; the midfielder trained fully in Cobham today, having had massage therapy in Serbia for his thigh muscle complaint. "The players are in good condition and good form," Ancelotti said, "and although we know that Sunday will be difficult, we know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal."
This was a test of Chelsea's strength in depth. With an eye on the game at Emirates Stadium, Ancelotti had rested Alex, Michael Essien and the Coles, Ashley and Joe. Essien did come on as a substitute but he failed to get the booking that would have seen him suspended for the meaningless final group tie against Apoel and wiped the disciplinary slate clean for the knockout phase.
Ancelotti also welcomed back Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba from injury. Both players proved their fitness, Drogba growing in strength and menace as the 90 minutes wore on. This would appear to be ominous for Arsenal, whom he loves to torment.
Porto, as ever, were intuitive and technically accomplished. They might consistently sell their best players – the striker Lisandro López departed for Lyon over the summer – but they always seem to have talent coming through. They, too, had already qualified for the last 16, for the sixth time in seven seasons, and, despite a raft of empty seats and an atmosphere that was flat for spells, they were determined to exact revenge for their defeat in west London.
They advertised their intent in the 20th minute. The impressive Fernando Belluschi's shot ought to have been straightforward for Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper succeeded only in parrying the ball to the onrushing Falcao. The Czech, however, redeemed himself with a brave block at the striker's feet. Shortly afterwards Belluschi was denied only by the crossbar. Having checked inside, he curled a right-footed effort which evaded the clutches of Cech and deserved better.
Chelsea, who worked tirelessly to keep their defensive shape, merely flickered as an attacking threat in the first half. Anelka looked sharp but Chelsea's only efforts in the opening 45 minutes were from a distance. Ancelotti's tactics can appear stifling in European away ties. There are clear shades of the Italian catenaccio philosophy, in which defensive security is prized. Mikel John Obi's role in front of the defence was designed to keep the back door bolted while Anelka would drop deep to make the system 4-3-2-1 when his team did not have the ball.
Chelsea raised the tempo in the second half; gradually they tightened their grip. The somewhat erratic Deco, who received a generous ovation on his return to his former club together with Ricardo Carvalho, fired wide from the edge of the area. There was a territorial shift in Chelsea's favour after half-time. Anelka's performance merited a goal and his sixth of the season, and first in eight appearances, crowned slick Chelsea penetration.
Zhirkov supplied Florent Malouda and his driven centre found Anelka's forehead at point-blank range. The Porto goalkeeper Beto had no chance. Cristián Rodríguez and the substitute Hulk had half-chances for Porto but they came to nothing. There was a comfort and assurance about Chelsea as they closed out the victory.

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Mail:

FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1: Clinical Nicolas Anelka adds a gloss finish to a dull night in Portugal

By Matt Barlow

Nicolas Anelka is developing a talismanic quality for Chelsea in Europe after scoring the winning goal for the third time in five Champions League games.
Anelka dived to head home Florent Malouda’s left-wing cross, 21 minutes from the end of a mundane and largely uneventful game on northern Portugal’s wet and windy Atlantic coast.
With it, he secured Chelsea top spot in Group D but, perhaps more importantly, with a Barclays Premier League clash against Arsenal coming up on Sunday, ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s team did not lose their impressive momentum in a game which ultimately mattered little.
This was an economical performance for the Premier League leaders, the sort which used to make Jose Mourinho glow with pride. There was none of the stylish football which has lit up much of Ancelotti’s first few months at the club but it is a notable result against a Porto team unbeaten at home since Manchester United’s win in the Estadio Dragao last season.
Further evidence of Chelsea’s growing self-belief came in the shape of a seventh clean sheet in eight games and the fact that their unbeaten run away from home in Europe now stretches back more than a year.
Ancelotti said: ‘It is very important to keep momentum up, and we have to keep this high moment. The players are in good condition and in good form. We know Sunday will be a very difficult match but we also know that we are in a very good moment to play Arsenal.
‘It was our objective to finish first in this group. It is not easy to win here and the team did not play fantastic but just good. We took some risks in the first half, but the second half was much better and we deserved to win.’
Ancelotti rested players with Sunday’s trip to the Emirates in mind. Ashley and Joe Cole were among the substitutes, as were Michael Essien and Alex. There was a rare chance for Yuri Zhirkov at left back and returns from injury for Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba.
There was a dreadfully slow early tempo and absence of urgency throughout, with both teams already assured of a place in the last 16. It is debatable how beneficial top spot in the group actually is, but Chelsea have never failed to reach the quarter-finals after winning their qualifying section.
On the two occasions they have finished as runners-up in the last six campaigns, they have been drawn against Barcelona and Juventus, winning one and losing the other.
In such an atmosphere, it took 15 minutes before either goalkeeper was required to make a save. Anelka, scorer of the only goal when the teams met at Stamford Bridge in September, supplied the first test, cutting in from the left and having a go from 25 yards. Beto, deputising in goal for the injured Helton, made a meal of the shot and parried it unnecessarily.
Porto were playing for the first time in 17 days after the international break and a postponement last weekend caused by a waterlogged pitch, and they surrendered lots of early midfield possession to their visitors.
Deco, one of five former Porto players in the Chelsea squad and, along with Ricardo Carvalho, one of two in the starting line-up, was warmly applauded as he prepared to take a corner. He responded with a little wave and boosted his popularity further by over-hitting the set-piece. The Portuguese champions stirred midway through the first half. Fernando Belluschi was gifted the space to advance from midfield and unleash a shot which had Petr Cech stretching to his right. Cech blocked the effort and then reacted brilliantly to smother Falcao’s attempt on the rebound.
Five minutes later and Belluschi had Cech beaten. This time, the Argentine midfielder drifted in from the left and curled the ball beyond the Chelsea goalkeeper with his right foot, only for it to strike the bar and bounce to safety.Enlarge Porto finished the first half on top, moving with more fluency and passing the ball more crisply than Ancelotti’s team, who looked utterly disjointed in comparison to their slick performance against Wolves last weekend.
Chelsea possessed greater adventure after the break. Deco fizzed a 20-yarder narrowly wide and Malouda wriggled to the line on the left twice in quick succession before lashing low crosses into the goalmouth. On both occasions, Malouda’s good work was not matched by a finish.
Deco continued to misfire spectacularly. Lining up an inswinging free-kick from the Chelsea left, he sliced it horribly towards his own goal and sparked a Porto counter attack, which ended with Cech gathering a centre at his near post from Raul Meireles. Ancelotti threw up his arms in despair but soon the Chelsea manager was celebrating.
Anelka applied a finish to more excellent play from Malouda for his sixth goal of the season. His goals have won two games against Porto and one away to APOEL Nicosia.

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Sun:
FC Porto 0 Chelsea 1

From IAN McGARRY in Porto

NICOLAS ANELKA entered the Dragon's Den last night and fired Chelsea to a Champions League top spot.
Porto were stunned by his 69th minute strike which secured victory at the Estadio Dragao - and first place in Group D.
And if the Portuguese were feeling a sense of deja vu then that's because this is one nightmare they have lived already.
Anelka scored the only goal in the match between these teams at Stamford Bridge in September.
The France striker is proving to be something of a specialist in the art of putting teams to the sword in this competition.
This was his third winning goal in the five matches Chelsea have played in the Champions League this season. Apoel Nicosia also felt the cutting edge of Blues' D'Artagnan when they won there - also by a single Anelka strike.
The result means Carlo Ancelotti's side have guaranteed a top seeding for the knockout phase with a game to spare.
And that could prove significant as they return to the battleground of the Premier League and then the crucial Christmas period.
Now Ancelotti can - and most probably will - play a reserve team at home to Apoel Nicosia in two weeks' time, allowing his top players a valuable rest.
Just as important in the meantime is retaining the formidable momentum which has made them look so invincible of late.
Chelsea have dropped just eight points at home and abroad all season - two defeats in the Premier League and one draw in Europe.
Against Porto, they even managed to play sloppily in the first half before turning the contest on its head in the second.
Porto also had first place in the group to play for, as well as a lingering sense of injustice about their defeat in the match at Stamford Bridge.
Their determination was evident every time they looked to attack and after 20 minutes they brought out the best in Petr Cech.
Fernando Belluschi found some space and drove his shot high only to see the Chelsea keeper dive full length to stop it.
Striker Falcao was first to react to the loose ball but Cech recovered brilliantly to block him from opening the scoring. John Terry finally got the situation under control and the keeper collected to restore calm to the Chelsea penalty area.
It was only the start for Cech though as he discovered that Porto had decided to challenge his record of clean sheets.
Belluschi turned tormentor-in-chief and just before the half-hour he rattled the crossbar with another piledriver. Chelsea's big threat through all this was Anelka and one shot had Porto keeper Beto flapping.
At half-time Ancelotti instilled new impetus into his flagging players but the home side also had more to come.
Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira reacted to the situation by bringing on fans' favourite and football monster, Hulk.
His omission from the starting line-up was a surprise but he quickly got in on the action. A cross swung in from the left and he threw himself to connect with a volley that flew too high.
Ancelotti responded by taking off Ballack and putting on Michael Essien. The effect was immediate.
Essien gathered the ball in space and looked for options. Deco took it on and fed Yuri Zhirkov who found Florent Malouda.
The France winger motored to the by-line and squared for Anelka to head into the net from all of two yards. It was his sixth of the season. And unlike a certain other France striker, there was no whiff of cheating or skulduggery in Anelka's effort.
Though the goal was reminiscent of William Gallas' controversial winner against the Republic of Ireland there were no hands involved. Well, unless you count the applause of the Chelsea travelling fans who celebrated the strike afterwards.
For the final 20 minutes Chelsea did what former boss of both these teams - Jose Mourinho - made them good at, closing the game out.
Now they can forget about Europe until the competition restarts next February and focus on more pressing issues.
Having sewn up the Champions League group, Chelsea go to the Emirates on Sunday to consolidate their status as Premier League champions-elect.
Victory over Arsenal would put Ancelotti and his team 11 points ahead of the Gunners and sitting pretty even before Christmas.