Chelsea 3 - 0 Valencia: Drogba inspires Blues to reach last 16

With the Blues in danger of crashing out of Europe’s premier club competition before Christmas for the first time, manager Villas-Boas abandoned the cavalier tactics that have been the hallmark of his reign in the club’s final Group E game against Valencia. The counter-attacking approach paid off spectacularly as Chelsea emerged from the brink of elimination to top the group thanks to a brace from the outstanding Didier Drogba, a goal from Ramires and Bayer Leverkusen’s failure to win at Genk. That meant the Blues avoided a last-16 clash with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Inter Milan.

Villas-Boas said: “In terms of the result I’m very happy. The players worked very hard for the win. Guess what? We finished top of the group against all odds.

“It was good to score straight away. Valencia started a bit uncomfortably and struggled a couple of times. Our strategy was always to keep our line of defence close to our goal.

“The Premiership games – in our last four games we have had three clean sheets so our defence isn’t that bad. I think the players have given everyone a slap in the face today. What matters is that Chelsea finished top of the group. We eagerly await the draw to see how far we can go.”

The 34-year-old had flexed his muscles this week by banishing Nicolas Anelka and Alex from his first-team squad and he was ruthless again by axing Frank Lampard from his starting XI. It was not the first time Lampard had been left out this season, but the midfielder’s omission was arguably the most significant of his entire Chelsea career.

It demonstrated the 33-year-old was no longer guaranteed to start the big games. Chelsea went into their final group match in the unfamiliar position of needing to win to be certain of avoiding the humiliation of dropping into the Europa League, having thrown away victory in three of their previous five games. So the fastest goal they had ever scored in the Champions League could hardly have been better timed as Drogba put them ahead inside three minutes.

Daniel Sturridge picked out Juan Mata at the far post and the Spaniard squared to Drogba, who was given an age to fire left-footed beyond Diego Alves.

Valencia responded well, but the pressure was suddenly relieved midway through the half when the Spaniards produced an absolute howler in their own rearguard. Drogba’s pass looked too heavy for Ramires, but the Brazilian brushed off the feeblest of challenges from Victor Ruiz before slotting underneath the stranded Alves.

Drogba finished the job with 14 minutes left after being slid in by Juan Mata and poking the ball past Alves with the outside of his right foot for his fourth in the last four games. The Ivorian’s work was done and he was replaced by Fernando Torres.

With the final whistle looming, two of Chelsea’s fans got carried away and invaded the pitch, symbolising the sense of joy and relief that reverberated around Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Romeu, Meireles, Ramires (Mikel 65), Sturridge, Drogba (Torres 77), Mata (Malouda 83). Subs not used: Turnbull, Lampard, Ferreira, Kalou.

Valencia: Diego Alves, Barragan, Rami, Victor Ruiz, Jordi Alba (Aduriz 54), Feghouli (Pablo 64), Tino Costa (Parejo 76), Albelda, Mathieu, Jonas, Soldado. Subs not used: Guaita, Topal, Piatti, Dealbert.

Referee: G Rocchi (Italy)

Attendance: 41,109