leverkusen 1-2

Independent:

Lacklustre Chelsea add to the agony for Villas-Boas
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1

RORY SMITH BAYARENA

And so the hangman tightens his noose. Andre Villas-Boas's talk of execution before his side's domestic nightmare infested their European dreams might have seemed premature, almost paranoid, testament to how the spectres of his predecessors, each of them destined to feel the breath hot on their neck and the dreaded touch on their shoulder, loom over the post of Chelsea manager. Now, for the Portuguese too, the shadows lengthen.
Once again, it is Villas-Boas's devotion to the high line which has placed him on the high wire. Against Bayer Leverkusen Chelsea looked safe, he looked safe, thanks to Didier Drogba's ability to summon the spirit of the past even as the power fades. Then his defence, that shimmering chimera, disappeared again. The trapdoor opened.
There is no taste for pointing fingers at Cobham; on that, and almost that alone, Villas-Boas and his players stand in a unison borne of self-protection, of self-delusion. The manager, of course, is responsible; Roman Abramovich will make sure his young charge understands that should, as is eminently possible, Chelsea fail to secure the victory or goalless draw against Valencia in the final group game they require to qualify.
But so, too, are his players. Daniel Sturridge: he is to blame, for allowing Sidney Sam to ghost into space down Chelsea's right, with 20 yards radius of space around him before the nearest blue shirt as he collected Gonzalo Castro's pass, miscontrolled by Eren Derdiyok.
Branislav Ivanovic and Alex: them too, for disappearing as the winger raced towards goal. Petr Cech: him as well, for standing, frozen, on his six-yard box, neither closing down the advancing attacker nor back-tracking towards his line. It was as though he was sinking, weighed down by his own indecision. Sam acted unilaterally, delicately floating a cross past the stranded, marooned goalkeeper and to Derdiyok, who headed home.
There was more: with Chelsea, there is always the sensation that there will be more. Castro floated in a corner and Arne Friedrich, a moment before fortunate not to be punished for clearly tripping Drogba in his penalty area, rose far above any of the blue shirts around him to head home. Chelsea sank to their knees. Chelsea are on their knees.
This was their fourth defeat in seven games. With every loss, the fear which engulfs them, consumes them, becomes more and more apparent. Panic runs among Villas-Boas's players, each of them tortured by self-doubt.
That is how this game started, and how it ended. David Luiz, a player with an unmatched genius for making sure he is the centre of attention, gave the ball away with his first touch. Ninety minutes later, his team-mates – by that stage, he was off the field with sickness – gave the game away.
In between, Chelsea managed to highlight the scale of their identity crisis. Their defensive line, a matter of such scrutiny, ebbed and flowed like the tide, one moment high, the next deep. The Germans took full advantage: Castro, electric, harried Jose Bosingwa, employed at left-back in the absence of the injured Ashley Cole. Lars Bender and Simon Rolfes hared into tackles. A pace ahead, even his face mask could not conceal Michael Ballack's identity. The cocksure strut, the languid, arrogant grace is still unmistakable.
At 35, Ballack remains the sort of presence his former club so plainly lack. He might have given Robin Dutt's side the lead in the first half, heading Castro's corner on to the bar, and he might have had a hat-trick after the break, denied first by Cech's flailing arm, then by his charging shins.
In between, Drogba had scored, Chelsea had rallied, and the German side had wilted. The Ivorian, like Juan Mata and Sturridge, had missed a chance before the interval, rounding Bernd Leno but finding only the side-netting; after the break, he was rather more ruthless, holding up Sturridge's pass, holding off Friedrich, twisting, spinning and rifling a low, fizzing shot into the bottom corner. It was the Drogba of old; squint, and you might have glimpsed the Chelsea of old, too.
That was an illusion, too. The guests' confidence evaporated almost as soon as Frank Lampard, an irrelevance on the night, and Ivanovic has stung Leno's palms. Ballack offered them a warning. As Drogba appealed for a penalty, and Florent Malouda strolled through the Germans' defence only to allow Leno to smother his effort, it seemed irrelevant. Chelsea looked to have survived. The blade, though, was being sharpened. The night was just beginning.
Now, Villas-Boas would be forgiven for allowing his mind to wander the to idea of severance. The severance package, of course, the one he almost seemed to dare Abramovich to offer him after the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday extended their point deficit to Premier League leaders Manchester City to 12 points. The Russian billionaire, he insisted, would not shell out yet another fortune simply to be rid of his precocious protégé.
As Derdiyok and then Friedrich headed in, as his players collapsed on the turf, as the shadows lengthened, that boast, that gambit, seemed rash. Now, there is another sort of severance to consider, the sort brought about by the hangman who stands guard by the seat of the Chelsea manager. Villas-Boas's next game is against Wolves. How fitting.


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Guardian:

Bayer Leverkusen's Manuel Friedrich shatters Chelsea at the death
Dominic Fifield at the BayArena

Chelsea's campaign continues to close inexorably around them. For a while on Wednesday night the Londoners had flirted with qualification from the group phase, a rare away victory in Europe and a clean sheet to ease their recent defensive jitters. In the end, pegged back and then beaten in added time, they departed the Rhineland choked in defeat and with their confidence in tatters. Progress into the knockout phase suddenly feels in serious jeopardy.
The Germans leapfrogged Chelsea to confirm their own passage courtesy of Manuel Friedrich's header deep into stoppage time after the centre-half had leapt away from the substitute Alex to convert. Leverkusen conclude their programme with a fixture against Genk, the whipping boys, to suggest they will go on to top Group E. Chelsea require a clean sheet or a victory against Valencia in next month's finale at Stamford Bridge just to finish second. Both feel like stiff targets.
Normally, they would welcome the opportunity to have their destiny in their own hands, yet matches are veering away from them too easily. The sense that progress is inevitable – born of eight successive years in the latter stages of this competition – now feels deceptive. Indeed, the lapse of concentration in time added on was all too familiar. David Luiz may have been removed from the fray complaining of dizziness by then – the Brazilian, so gung-ho at times, had actually been more conservative in his approach here – but the fragility remained.
Alex is a rugged, aggressive defender who would have hoped to have shored up this rearguard alongside John Terry, yet he had entered with his side ahead and departed with his team-mates defeated. The Brazilian would have been dismayed that Friedrich eked out space to convert though, in truth, composure had been draining from the visitors' approach ever since their lead had been cancelled out. Theirs was a muddle in the six-yard box rather than any organised barrier. Last- minute losses no longer feel surprising.
The colour had rather drained from Villas-Boas in the aftermath, his deflated mood understandable given he has never experienced a run as dismal as this in his fledgling managerial career. His side have now lost four of their past seven games in all competitions, though the frustration here was a realisation that the Chelsea of the not-too-distant past would have prevailed having led. They had roused themselves from a becalmed opening, the shock of Michael Ballack looping a header on to the crossbar raising the visitors from their slumbers. For 20 minutes either side of the interval they dominated and squeezed out a lead in the process. Ultimately, that was still not enough to see them through.
Their passing had admittedly been sloppy even when they were in the ascendancy, Daniel Sturridge's busily slippery approach alone threatening to unsettle Bayer until the England striker found Didier Drogba three minutes after the interval. The Ivorian turned Friedrich, claimed an extra yard and rasped a left-footed shot into the corner. That was the 33-year-old's second goal of the season, and his first for two months. Drogba might have established a lead before the break, only to strike the side-netting with his shot. Even so, with Raul Meireles and Ramires offering a nervous and rejigged backline added protection, there had appeared little threat of a riposte.
Yet, even with José Bosingwa relatively impressive as a stand-in left-back for the injured Ashley Cole, the soft underbelly was to be exposed yet again. Leverkusen were becoming desperate, conscious of the cricket score Valencia were rattling up at the Mestalla, with their approach ever more direct, when Alex failed to cut out a diagonal pass from right to left which Sidney Sam collected. Petr Cech, who had expertly suffocated another Ballack attempt from close range, tore to the right of his penalty area in an attempt to snuff out the danger but Sam still mustered a cross that retreating defenders were in no position to repel. The substitute Eren Derdiyok leapt beyond the far post to convert with his first meaningful touch.
Even a draw would have represented a solid evening's work, but good fortune has long since deserted Chelsea. Lars Bender escaped after fouling Drogba in the area, the latter's team-mates left mystified and apoplectic at the decision not to award a penalty, before the cataclysm at the end.
It had once felt unthinkable that this team might fail to make the knockout phase. Now the Londoners must fret on their progress for a fortnight. These are startling times.


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Telegraph:
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1
By Jason Burt, BayArena

Two players on the pitch wore masks — Petr Cech and Michael Ballack protecting facial injuries — but there was no disguising the damage this shocking defeat inflicted onChelsea's chances of progressing in the Champions League.
There was even greater damage done to André Villas-Boas’s hopes, despite his precocious talent, of maintaining the belief in him. Chelsea need to protect him as he protects the players. As Manuel Friedrich, in the 91st minute, rose powerfully between Alex and John Terry to head home Leverkusen’s winning goal, Villas-Boas stayed crouched in the technical area. Frozen in time.
Chelsea should still progress to the knockout stages for a ninth successive season — anything else is unthinkable — but they now have to defeat
Valencia in their last group match in two weeks’ time at Stamford Bridge having now lost four of their last seven matches in all competitions.
It is unlikely they can win this group in any case having now, astonishingly, led in all three away matches only to surrender their advantage. The last 16 becomes a more dangerous place for them should they reach it.
A goalless draw would also be enough but would anyone bet on Chelsea managing a clean sheet any time soon? No, didn’t think so. Oh — and Valencia scored seven times last night against Genk. What a difference a goal makes.
On the eve of this encounter Villas-Boas had spoken about “execution” – wrongly claiming the media wanted his head – and the “e” in Group E could stand for that if he is not careful as Chelsea threw it away. It could have been even worse with Ballack, their former midfielder of course, striking the crossbar with a first-half header and then, twice, being thwarted by that other masked man, Cech, who saved brilliantly from close-quarters.
So much attention has focused on the defensive recklessness of David Luiz but, yesterday, the mistakes were made by the stalwarts Terry and Branislav Ivanovic. The malaise is spreading; the confidence ebbing. Luiz was withdrawn feeling “dizzy and sick” in the second half having played with more assurance after a first-minute lapse. But he was not the only one from Chelsea who felt like that by the end.
Chelsea were without Ashley Cole, with a damaged ankle which makes him a doubt for Saturday’s home match with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but that is no excuse either. They have enough to play better than this.
The Wolves are coming and last night Chelsea, at the BayArena, could not keep the wolves at bay. There is a growing sense of bloodlust about them right now. Villas-Boas has talked of being bold and attacking and wanting to win every match but in doing so he is walking a tightrope without a safety net. He is too often sliding into defeat, too often facing what he has termed a “negative spiral”. Spiralling out of control right now.
They should have won last night. They should have taken Group E as theirs. Early in the second half there was a vintage goal by Didier Drogba, who cushioned Daniel Sturridge’s pass, used his guile and strength to spin Friedrich and fire a low shot beyond impressive young goalkeeper Bernd Leno. It was his 34th goal in this competition, the most scored by an African, and the eighth highest total of any player, and should have been a cause for celebration, as should another exhilarating display by the young tyro Sturridge.
But it was not enough and that was maddening in a contest which Chelsea had began with nerves afflicting them and the initiative surrendered as Leverkusen, who have now won all their home matches and should improbably win this group, pegged them back. Ballack, 35 and in his 100th appearance in a European match, was imperious and appeared unaffected by the broken nose he has suffered while Frank Lampard, pushed forward in support of Drogba with Fernando Torres once more benched, struggling to impose himself.
Half-chances were traded in a lukewarm half before Ballack met a corner, his header coming back off the bar and Ramires clearing. Then Drogba was released by Sturridge with a clever pass, rounded Leno but the angle was tight and his right-foot shot struck the side-netting. Leno then held Juan Mata’s volley, after more good work from Sturridge, and Chelsea looked more threatening.
That threat hardened with Mata’s involvement growing for a while and Leverkusen marred in a flurry of frustrating cautions. It was unsurprising, then, when Chelsea made their breakthrough but the goal pricked Leverkusen back into action and they earned a series of corners with Cech denying Ballack and, then, Stefan Kiessling reaching a cross only to head tamely at the goalkeeper.
As the Germans’ desperation grew they laid themselves open to the counter-attack and Sturridge sped from his own half, creating space inside the area only for Leno to block.
The teenage goalkeeper then denied substitute Florent Malouda but just as it seemed Leverkusen had lost hope, they equalised with Ivanovic caught infield and out of position and Sidney Sam released down the left-wing. Cech hurtled from goal, realising he could not reach the ball and the winger crossed to substitute Eren Derdiyok — who had played him clear — who headed calmly back across goal and into the net.
A draw would suffice. But Chelsea were desperate for victory — perhaps too desperate, did they really need to go for it? - and Drogba was unlucky not to earn a penalty when he was brought down by Lars Bender. Soon after Drogba volleyed wide.
It proved costly. The clock had ticked beyond 90 minutes when Leverkusen won a final corner. It was sent in deep and, inexplicably, Friedrich was between the two central defenders to head powerfully beyond Cech. There was no time left. Chelsea’s world was turned upside down and Villas-Boas was left with it all to do and pleading for support from fans.

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Mail:

Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1: Germans pile pressure on Villas-Boas with late winner

By MATT BARLOW

Stumbling to the worst start to a Barclays Premier League season in the Roman Abramovich era is one thing for Andre Villas-Boas, but failing to reach the knockout rounds of the Champions League is quite another.
Villas-Boas may have Abramovich on his side at the moment but Chelsea’s alarming slide must be halted before Valencia visit Stamford Bridge next month.
When the Russian billionaire bought the London club in 2003 with designs on conquering a continent he was not dreaming of glory in the Europa League.
This was simply an awful night for the Blues by the Rhine and one which no-one could have predicted when Didier Drogba fired them into the lead early in the second half.
Chelsea had looked solid if unspectacular until that point but Bayer Leverkusen responded brilliantly. As they did so, the confidence drained from Villas-Boas’ team and they went under.
Eren Derdiyok equalised in the 73rd minute and Manuel Friedrich climbed above substitute Alex to head in the winner in the first minute of stoppage time.
The Londoners have lost four of their last seven games in all competitions and must beat Valencia — 7-0 winners at home to Genk last night — at Stamford Bridge next month to be sure of a place in the knockout phase for the ninth successive year.
A goalless draw will also be enough for Chelsea to qualify, but any other draw will send Valencia through (unless minnows Genk beat Lever-kusen) and Chelsea will fail to qualify from the group stage for the first time.
Preparations had not gone to plan, with Ashley Cole aggravating his troublesome ankle in training on the eve of the game. He was unable to play and is given only a 60 per cent chance of being fit for Saturday’s game at home to Wolves.
David Luiz also played despite feeling sick and dizzy, something Villas-Boas thought might be food poisoning. Luiz lasted until the 68th minute when he was replaced by Alex, who was beaten in the air by Friedrich for the winner.
Cole’s absence meant a shift for Jose Bosingwa at left back. He played there against Barcelona in the first leg of a semi-final in 2009 and performed well against Lionel Messi in a 0-0 draw. Last night he looked comfortable again.
The first half passed quietly in the BayArena. Michael Ballack prowled Leverkusen’s midfield with authority, wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, and he went closest to scoring before the interval.
Ballack leapt high at the back post to meet Gonzalo Castro’s corner with a firm header which struck the bar and was scrambled to safety by Ramires.
Chelsea’s early chances had been limited to a couple of very optimistic free-kicks from 40 yards. First Frank Lampard fired one a long way high and wide. Drogba at least hit the target but his effort was easily saved by Bernd Leno.
Drogba kept his place at centre forward ahead of Fernando Torres, who now appears to be moving into the Phase Two of the Andriy Shevchenko story, where the manager lavishes him with praise but gives him fewer and fewer games.
Once the woodwork had rattled, Chelsea stirred. Daniel Sturridge, bright on the right, released Drogba with a neat pass and the Ivorian drove past Leno only to slice a shot wide from a tight angle. The teenage German keeper then saved from Juan Mata and Sturridge.
Drogba and Sturridge came ambling out of the dressing room for the second half a little late but the pair needed only three minutes to break the deadlock.
Mata and Lampard were involved in the move and it was Sturridge who played the ball in to the feet of the centre forward. Drogba gathered it, rolled his marker and fired the ball low into the far corner with his left foot.
It was only his second goal of a season disrupted by bans, injuries and squad rotation — his other came in a comfortable win against Swansea — and his first in the Champions League since a goal at Old Trafford in April.
Leverkusen fought back with Ballack in the thick of everything. Robin Dutt sent on Andre Schurr-le, who had not been fit enough to start after a week fighting flu, and he made an impact.
Cech stood firm, tipping over an overhead kick from Ballack and blocking a fierce volley at point-blank range from his former Stamford Bridge team-mate. Ballack could not believe the save. He stood holding his head. Cech saved again from Stefan Kiessling’s header.
Leverkusen finished strongly —perhaps a result of last playing on Friday night as opposed to Sunday like Chelsea — and they deserved the equaliser, scored by Derdiyok, less than two minutes after he came off the bench.
Cech hesitated and failed to close down Sidney Sam, who appeared unmarked in the box and he lifted the ball over the stranded goalkeeper for Derdiyok to head into an open net.
A draw seemed a fair result but Leverkusen drove on, forcing a corner and Friedrich looped a header into the top corner.


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Mirror:

Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea: Injury time winner heaps even more pressure on Villas-Boas
By Martin Lipton

It is no longer a blip, no longer a misfortune, no longer a small-scale version of the "bad moment".
Now, without question, it is a full-blown crisis - a calamitous fall that shows no signs of stopping.
And while Andre Villas-Boas claims his critics want to put his head on the "execution" block, the Portuguese is the one dragging himself towards the axe.
As Manuel Friedrich climbed above Alex to head past Petr Cech and leave Villas-Boas and Chelsea facing the Champions League unthinkable, there was no salvation, no passing driftwood for the manager to cling to.
And the highest level, no matter how experienced you are, however much potential, a manager is judged by results and his decisions.
Results speak for themselves.
Four defeats in seven matches during a black month that has seen Chelsea's season explode into acrimony and disbelief, that means they must beat Valencia next month, or draw 0-0 (a score draw is no use), to avoid the humiliation of playing in the Europa League.
It is a record that would make any manager nervous, let alone one who has Roman Abramovich as his owner.
But worse for Villas-Boas is that he is making it so much harder by his refusal to acknowledge the mistakes, even if he publicly accepts his "responsibility".
The decisions Villas-Boas is making are starting to look fundamentally flawed, each one peeling away another layer of the onion skin, leaving only the pulp in the middle and the bitter sting of tears.
It may not be fair.
Indeed, it probably isn't.
After all, when Didier Drogba, again preferred to Fernando Torres, span superbly to put Chelsea ahead three minutes after the interval, they were in control and, with 17 minutes to play, they could taste qualification for the knock-out stage with a match to spare.
It seemed as though Villas-Boas would be rewarded for his strength of faith.
Even the much-criticised David Luiz, adopting the back to basics approach that many have called for as Chelsea reverted to a deeper defensive line, was not the gaffe-prone player he has been in recent weeks.
It was not Villas-Boas' fault that Drogba missed chances to finish the match off, that Chelsea were denied a penalty when the Ivorian was downed inside the box by Lars Bender, that Alex, on for Luiz, went AWOL when he was needed most.
But the manager is the man who ultimately has to carry the can and while Chelsea could, maybe should have carried the day, that that will have been forgotten in the final analysis, as their inability to hold on to a lead reared its ugly head once again.
Villas-Boas, looking sallow, drawn, pained, cut a sad figure as he faced his inquisitors, the bounce he exhibited at the start of the season long gone.
That is what happens when you fail to live up to Abramovich's expectations and as Michael Ballack drove Leverkusen from imminent elimination to qualification the lack of his on-field leadership in the Chelsea ranks was apparent.
Drogba, of course, was one of the men who supplied that in the recent past and what was only his second goal of the season, holding off two defenders when he received from Daniel Sturridge before turning to fire home, would have been enough in previous Chelsea campaigns.
The Blues were worth the lead as well, even though Ballack had headed against the bar in the first half.
Drogba, found by the lively Sturridge, rounded Bernd Leno but missed the target, the keeper saved from Sturridge and Juan Mata and after Chelsea went in front, Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic both had sights of goal.
But Ballack refused to accept the inevitable, changing the mood even though two superb saves by Cech won the battle of the masked men and after Luiz - victim of a bug - was replaced Chelsea simply fell apart.
Leverkusen's leveller was fortunate, as substitute Eren Derdiyok's failure to control Gonzalo Castro's ball forward threw the Chelsea defence off-kilter as the ball ran through to the unmarked Sidney Stam.
Cech, on the back foot, could not get there as Sam lofted in for Derdiyok, half a yard offside, to nod home.
But while Drogba and Sturruidge could have won it, there were no excuses for the shocking defending that was punished as Friedrich forced home Castro's corner in stoppage time.
The truth is that the situation is beyond serious. It is potentially fatal.
Now is Villas-Boas' moment of truth.

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Sun:
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea:

THE executioner is sharpening his axe and Andre Villas-Boas' neck is well and truly on the chopping block.
Manuel Friedrich's stoppage-time winner means Chelsea must beat Valencia at home in their final Champions League group game to be sure of reaching the knockout stages.
A goalless draw would also be enough to see them through. But no one would bet on this lot keeping a clean sheet right now.
For the third time on their travels in Europe this season, the Blues surrendered a lead after putting themselves into a winning position.
They have now lost four of their seven games in the last month, the kind of run which has cost plenty of previous Chelsea managers their job.
And even if they manage to beat Valencia next month, the best they can realistically hope for now is the runners-up spot in Group E as Leverkusen are not going to slip up against Belgian whipping boys Genk.
That leaves them at the mercy of the last-16 draw, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all potential opponents if Chelsea do finish second.
Their night got off to a bad start when Ashley Cole was ruled out by an inflamed ankle and got progressively worse.
With Jose Bosingwa at left-back and out-of-form David Luiz keeping his place at the heart of the back-four, it was hardly a defence to inspire confidence among the travelling fans.
The real surprise was that it was a full 73 minutes before they conceded their first goal to sub Eren Derdiyok. But once they had been breached once, it was only a matter of time before they conceded again.
And, sure enough, in the last attack of the night, Friedrich muscled his way over Alex to power in Gonzalo Castro's corner.
Alex had only come on for the final 20 minutes because Luiz had been feeling sick and dizzy. But it was AVB who was left with that nauseous feeling as his team once again fell apart.
It had all looked so promising for Chelsea when Didier Drogba had fired them into a 48th-minute lead with only his second goal of a season which has been disrupted by suspension and injury. Drogba was a surprise inclusion after his half-hearted display in Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool.
But Villas-Boas clearly has such little faith in record buy Fernando Torres he stuck with the Ivorian.
Daniel Sturridge's ball from the right found Drogba in the area with his back to goal, but the striker, 33, expertly rolled his marker to curl home into the far corner.
He had gone close minutes earlier, pushing Sturridge's through ball past advancing keeper Bernd Leno but was then unable to squeeze his shot in from a tight angle.
His link-up with the lively Sturridge was promising to undo a Leverkusen team who did not look capable of taking advantage of Chelsea's recent crisis of confidence.
It had taken the Germans more than half an hour to even test Chelsea's dodgy defence when Michael Ballack headed Castro's corner against the bar.
Like Petr Cech, Chelsea old boy Ballack was wearing a mask to protect a broken nose on the occasion of his 100th European match.
The German, 35, desperate to put one over on the club who dumped him 18 months ago, almost cancelled out Drogba's opener with an acrobatic overhead kick and was then denied by a magnificent close-range save from Cech.
But Cech had no answer when Alex failed to deal with a 73rd-minute cross-field ball and Sidney Sam crossed for Derdiyok to nod in unchallenged.
Now it was simply a question of whether Chelsea could hold out. Predictably, they could not.
Now they must stop the rot at home to struggling Wolves, but even three points on Saturday will count for nothing if they fail to see off Valencia on December 6.
No Chelsea team has failed to reach the knockout stages in eight successive years in Europe's top competition.
Unless AVB makes it nine in a row, he could just be looking for a new job by Christmas.

STAR MAN — DANIEL STURRIDGE (Chelsea)

CHELSEA: Cech 6, Ivanovic 7, Luiz 6, Terry 7, Bosingwa 7, Lampard 7, Meireles 6, Ramires 7, Sturridge 8, Drogba 7, Mata 6. Subs: Malouda (Mata 65) 6, Alex (Luiz 68) 6, Mikel (Meireles 80) 5. Not used: Turnbull, Torres, McEachran, Kalou. Booked: Ivanovic, Meireles.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Leno 6, Schwaab 5 (Schurrle 5), Friedrich 7, Toprak 5, Kadlec 5 (Derdiyok 7), Bender 6, Rolfes 6, Castro 6, Ballack 7, Sam 7, Kiessling 6 (Oczipka 5) . Subs not used: Giefer, Reinartz, Ortega, Jorgensen. Booked: Kiessling, Kadlec, Ballack.
REF: V Kassai (Hun) 6

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Star:

BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2 CHELSEA 1: BAYER MUZZLE CHELSEA
By David Woods

DIDIER DROGBA proved he’s not washed up in Europe – but he couldn’t save Chelsea from another defeat.
The Drog had put the Blues ahead in a game where victory would have clinched top spot in Group E.
But goals from Eren Derdiyok and a stoppage-time winner from Manuel ­Friedrich means they are now sweating on a place in the knockout stages.
It all goes down to a last-day shootout and only a victory at home to Valencia will ensure progress for Andre Villas-Boas’ men, although a draw may still be enough.
Making his first start in the Champions League this season, the Drog showed he still has plenty of bite at the age of 33 with a cracking goal.
Drogba struck in the 48th minute following a fine Chelsea move. Juan Mata worked the ball to Frank Lampard and he picked out Daniel Sturridge on the right.
The Chelsea No.23 showed a good understanding of where Drogba wanted the ball in the box, lifting it in to the Ivory Coast striker with real precision.
Drogba promptly drilled an angled drive across keeper Bernd Leno which crept just inside the far post.
It was only a second goal of the season for Drogba – the other was against Swansea – but it proved he can still be a handful at the highest level.
This one meant much more to under- pressure boss Villas-Boas, whose reputation was starting to look tarnished following a run of three league defeats in four, including two on the bounce at home.
The 34-year-old Portuguese coach knew victory here would give him a little breathing space.
He must have been a worried in the first half to see ex-Chelsea star Michael Ballack – who had a superbly industrious game at the age of 35 – have a header from a Gonzalo Castro cross strike the bar.
But the Blues finished the half well after that. In the 39th minute they created their first real chance – and it was a hint of what was to come.
Sturridge played in Drogba to run into the box. The striker nipped past keeper Leno, but his shot from a tight angle was wide as he lost his balance.
Drogba then tried to repay the compliment, looping up a ball for Sturridge to chase.
The newly-capped England man did well to get control of it and tee up Mata, but his right-foot volley was extremely weak and no problem for Leno.
Then Drogba picked out Mata who laid the ball on a plate for Lampard. But on his trusty right foot, he strangely opted not to shoot from a central position 20 yards out.
Eventually he was able to present an opening for Sturridge, whose left-footed shot was, like Mata’s, lacking in any real venom.
It was a strong finish to the half for the Blues, although Villas-Boas must have wished they could have tested 19-year-old keeper Leno more.
After the Drogba goal things really picked up and Lampard’s diving header from a Drogba flick-on was straight at Leno.
Then Drogba appeared to be clean through again, this time from a fine Lampard ball with the outside of his right foot.
But the hitman miscued badly, not knowing he was offside, and was then booked for stopping Leno taking the free-kick quickly.
Petr Cech made his first serious stop of the night to tip over an overhead kick from Ballack in the 58th minute.
Seconds later he was in action again, blocking a shot from his former team-mate at point-blank range, using his leg to deflect the powerful half-volley for a corner.
Striker Stefan Kiessling headed straight at Cech from five yards out as Chelsea lost their edge following the goal.
Minutes later a superb surge by Sturridge ended with Leno blocking his shot from a tight angle with his legs.
At that stage it all looked good for Villas-Boas, who had suffered a blow on the eve of this match when Ashley Cole aggravated his troublesome ankle in training. He is a doubt for Saturday’s visit of Wolves.
It meant Jose Bosingwa playing at left-back for the first time since the goalless draw in Barcelona in April 2009.
But he looked more than capable there as the Blues defence, including the under-fire David Luiz, looked to keep their shape and composure.
But all too typically they slipped up after Alex came on for his fellow Brazilian.
Leverkusen carved them open and Sidney Sam got clear on the left to float the ball over for sub Derdiyok – who had only just come on – to head into the unguarded net in the 73rd minute.
And it was Alex who was beaten in the air as the game moved into stoppage time.
A corner from the right was floated over and Friedrich leaped highest to loop a header into the top corner, with question-marks over Cech’s attempt at a save.


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Express:

BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2 CHELSEA 1: ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS LEFT ON THE BRINK

By Peter Edwards in Leverkusen

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS might soon be picking up that fortune he talked about on Sunday.
Two Bayer Leverkusen goals in the last 17 minutes added to the creeping doubts about the Portuguese manager’s future at Chelsea.
After the 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool on Sunday, Villas-Boas claimed it would cost billionaire owner Roman Abramovich too much to sack him so soon.
But something is clearly not right with the Blues and the way they turned victory into defeat last night must be a major concern for Abramovich.
Previously in Europe this season they had let away leads slip and ended up with a draw. This time they surpassed themselves.
They now need to either beat Valencia at home or draw 0-0 in their last Group E game – and the Spaniards thrashed Genk 7-0 last night – to make it through to the knockout stage.
Despite all the noises coming out of Chelsea that Abramovich will give 34-year-old Villas-Boas time, it is hard to imagine the Russian accepting seeing mighty Chelsea in the Europa League.
Chelsea did not play that badly last night – certainly not going forward – in the BayArena, but the fact that their former player, 35-year-old Michael Ballack, could have had a hat-trick says a lot about their weaknesses at the back.
After three defeats in four league matches this was just what Villas-Boas – so used to winning week-in, week-out with Porto in Portugal – did not need. He must right now be like a lodger in a dodgy hotel – dreaming of clean sheets.
Didier Drogba, on his first start in Europe this season, had put the Londoners on course for a confidence-boosting victory with a well-taken and well-worked goal in the 48th minute.
But they could not hold out and substitute striker Edin Derdiyok claimed a 73rd-minute equaliser and then centre-back Manuel Friedrich headed the winner in stoppage-time.
Worryingly for Villas-Boas, Swiss star Derdiyok’s goal came after the Chelsea defence let Sidney Sam drift completely free to receive a crossfield ball, which Derdiyok accidentally helped on.
With no one near Sam, goalkeeper Petr Cech had to race out of his goal, allowing the midfielder to lift the ball over him for Derdiyok to head into the unguarded net.
In the first minute of stoppage time Friedrich rose high to power in a Gonzalo Castro corner with his head, beating three men in blues shirts to the ball. There had been a warning in the first half when Ballack – wearing a mask to protect a broken nose – met a corner from the same player to thump his header against the bar.
But it had all looked so promising when Drogba showed he still has plenty left in his locker at the age of 33 with a cracking goal.
He struck in the 48th minute following a fine Chelsea move.
After Juan Mata worked the ball to Frank Lampard, he picked out Daniel Sturridge on the right.
And for the second time on the night the new England international showed a good understanding of where Drogba wanted the ball in the box, lifting it to him with real precision. Drogba had some luck with his control but, when the chance was presented to him, he out-manoeuvred and out-muscled two defenders and, even while falling down, managed to drill an angled drive across goalkeeper Bernd Leno just inside the far post.
It was only a second goal of the season for Drogba – the other was against Swansea – but he proved he can still be a handful at the highest level.
He had already come close to scoring just before the break when he dashed on to a fine Sturridge ball, rounded Leno, but then lost his balance as he shot wide.
Cech had to make his first serious save of the night to tip over from Ballack in the 58th minute, then seconds later blocked his former team-mate again from point-blank range, using a leg to deflect the powerful half-volley for a corner.
In the 76th minute a Jose Bosingwa pass found Drogba in the box and he went down under a challenge from Friedrich and was appalled when no penalty was given.
Following the final whistle, Villas-Boas unbuttoned his dark grey coat and walked off, stoney faced. If things continue like this, Abramovich may well be telling him to pack it along with the rest of his things.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Leno; Schwaab ­(Schurrle 57), Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec (Derdiyok 71); Castro, Rolfes; Bender, Ballack, Kiessling (Oczipka 82); Sam. Booked: Kadlec, Ballack, Kiessling. Goals: Derdiyok 73, Friedrich 90.

CHELSEA (4-1-2-2-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz (Alex 68), Bosingwa, Terry; Ramires; Lampard, Meireles (Mikel 80); Mata (Malouda 65), Drogba; Sturridge. Booked: Ivanovic, Meireles. Goal: Drogba 48.

Referee: V Kassai (Hungary).