michael ballack said bayer 04 leverkusen's group e meeting with chelsea fc will have special resonance as he prepares to face the club where he enjoyed four successful years.
a member of the chelsea fc team which agonisingly lost the 2008 uefa champions league final on penalties, michael ballack is readying himself for a sentimental return to stamford bridge when bayer 04 leverkusen face his former employers in their group e opener.
when the midfielder left chelsea in june 2010 to rejoin the club with whom he enjoyed much of his early success, he did so with fond memories. a fruitful four-year spell yielded a premier league winners' medal, three fa cup final victories and a league cup success.
describing his feelings when the draw was made, the ex-fc bayern münchen player told uefa.com: "i was very happy. "for me the draw could hardly have been any better. i am looking forward to travelling there again, to playing there. emotionally this will certainly be a special match for me"""."
many of his team-mates will no doubt say something similar given that the bundesliga outfit are returning to europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2004/05. that season ballack scored a penalty at stamford bridge in bayern's 6-5 aggregate loss in the quarter-finals.
"we have a bit of international experience thanks to the europa league [last season, reaching the round of 16], but of course it's completely different to be playing in the champions league," said the 34-year-old. "i know from experience that it's a different level. yet in the opening match in london, where we can go without any pressure, we may spring a surprise."
chelsea's record of seven matchday one wins from nine attempts illustrates the size of the rhineland side's task, however. unsurprisingly, the former germany captain expects the west london outfit to be among the contenders vying to depose fc barcelona as european champions.
"you must always rate chelsea as strong," explained ballack, who also experienced uefa champions league final disappointment with leverkusen in 2002 against real madrid cf. "you just have to look at the names of the players to know what they are made of. beyond any doubt, they have huge potential."
david luiz struck with 23 minutes remaining and juan mata clinched victory in added time against a skilful leverkusen side at stamford bridge.
goals from david luiz and juan mata steered chelsea fc to their eighth uefa champions league matchday one victory in ten attempts and ensured new manager andré villas-boas got off to a satisfying start in a competition that has become a real focus for the stamford bridge club.
luiz, making his first appearance of the season in place of captain john terry, struck in the 67th minute to reward an improved second-half display from the hosts. however, they were never completely comfortable against a skilful bayer 04 leverkusen side until mata struck to settle the group e fixture in added time.
the ball was in the net – at both ends – inside the first four minutes but neither effort counted with simon rolfes denied by the referee's whistle then raul meireles flicking in from an offside position. before that fernando torres had sent an acrobatic volley over his shoulder but also wide of the mark: it was some start to the night and not surprisingly the rest of the half struggled to live up to that billing.
torres, seeking his first goal of the season, was working hard to get on the end of things as mata and daniel sturridge sparkled down the flanks. he might have scored in the tenth minute but allowed bernd leno to save with his left hand. sturridge did better with a couple of stinging drives. meanwhile the bundesliga team were working hard, funnelling back to deny space and then counterattacking with stealth when the opportunity arose.
just after the break, torres twisted to get a header on target. it heralded a period of added urgency from the home side though they were nearly undone at the back as michael ballack, returning to the club where he had a trophy-laden four years, raced through only for petr Čech to deny him with an outstretched leg.
a great save from leno then kept out sturridge but chelsea were building a head of steam and it was about yield the first goal. luiz began the move with a strong run from deep and when ashley cole played it in and torres knocked it back, the portuguese swept the ball stylishly beyond the goalkeeper. at the death torres broke through and this time set up mata for an easy second.
yardımcı hakemler: eric dansault (fra), frédéric cano (fra)
4. hakem: hervé piccirillo (fra)
çizgi hakemler: olivier thual (fra), ruddy buquet (fra)
chelsea: petr Čech (gk) (c), branislav ivanović, ashley cole, david luiz (dk. 76 alex), fernando torres, juan mata, john obi mikel, florent malouda, raul meireles (dk. 64 frank lampard), josé bosingwa, daniel sturridge (dk. 64 nicolas anelka)
yedekler: hilário (gk), paulo ferreira, josh mceachran, salomon kalou
teknik direktör: andré villas-boas (por)
leverkusen: bernd leno (gk), stefan reinartz, simon rolfes (c), lars bender (dk. 80 hanno balitsch), andré schürrle, stefan kiessling, michael ballack (dk. 66 renato augusto), sidney sam (dk. 73 eren derdiyok), ömer toprak, michal kadlec, gonzalo castro
yedekler: david yelldell (gk), daniel schwaab, manuel friedrich, karim bellarabi
teknik direktör: robin dutt (ger)
goller: dk. 67 david luiz (1-0) dk. 90+2 juan mata (2-0)
sarı kartlar: dk. 9 fernando torres, dk. 59 david luiz (chelsea) dk. 38 gonzalo castro, dk. 72 lars bender, dk. 74 eren derdiyok (leverkusen)
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