Chelsea took on FC Nordsjaelland this evening in a must-win Champions League tie.
The Blues entered the match with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. Only a win and a Juventus loss would see them progress into the next round.
Chelsea held up their side of the bargain with a comfortable win courtesy of goals from David Luiz, Fernando Torres (2), Gary Cahill, Juan Mata and Oscar, but Juventus managed to beat Shakhtar to send the reigning champions out.
The match provided bittersweet feelings for Chelsea, as they claimed their first win under Rafael Benitez, performing well along the way, but their elimination means that they are the first defending champions to be knocked out at this stage.
Read how it all unfolded below.
Good evening! We're sure to have an entertaining night ahead of us tonight. Chelsea simply must win if they are to stand any chance of going through to the next round of the Champions League.
However, qualification is not in the Blues' hands tonight. They need a favour from group leaders Shakhtar Donetsk, who play Juventus. The only scenario that will see Chelsea go through is a win for them and a loss for Juventus.
You'd really expect Chelsea to hold up their end of the bargain and beat Nordsjaelland, but a draw is the favoured result with the bookies tonight.
So this match is a must-win for Chelsea, but Rafa Benitez will also be desperate for a win from a personal point of view.
The former Liverpool boss was not a popular choice originally, and his spell in charge so far has not endeared him to the Chelsea faithful. He is the only manager in the Abramovich era to have failed to win any of his first three games.
So, we know what scenario is needed for Chelsea to progress, but let's have a more detailed look at the standings in Group E.
Shakhtar Donetsk lead the group with 10 points, one point ahead of their opponents tonight, Juventus.
Chelsea, meanwhile, sit third in the group with seven points, while Nordsjaelland are rock bottom with just the one point.
Benitez has stuck with underfire striker Fernando Torres in attack for the Blues, but John Obi Mikel misses out on the day that he has signed a new five-year deal with the club.
We'll also keep you up to date with all other goings on in Europe tonight, keeping a particularly close eye on events in Ukraine as Shakhtar face Juventus.
There is British interest elsewhere tonight too. Manchester United face CFR Cluj (you can follow live coverage of that here), while Celtic can still qualify if they better Benfica's result tonight. You can follow Celtic's match live with Sports Mole here.
Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez admits that Chelsea's performances in Europe so far have not been up to the expected standard this season. I think you'll find thousands in Stamford Bridge tonight who will agree.
A banner is shown at the Bridge that reads: "Bring back the Special One". They really haven't made Benitez feel loved at the club so far, but the only way to change that is get results, and the Spaniard hasn't done that so far.
The reverse fixture of this tie was a pretty easy away win for Chelsea. They triumphed 4-0 thanks to a brace from Juan Mata and goals from David Luiz and Ramires.
Chelsea fan Rod Stewart has just been interviewed and he is fully expecting a win, but still thinks that there could be heartbreak.
Chelsea are, of course, current holders of the trophy but could find themselves out of the competition at this early stage tonight.
We have just over five minutes until kickoff here at the Bridge.
It's prediction time. Even if this match were a dead rubber, I'd expect Chelsea to win, but as they need a win and Nordsjaelland have nothing to play for then I can't see past the Blues. A first win for Benitez and probably a comfortable win. 3-0 to Chelsea.
The teams are emerging from the tunnel, closely followed by Benitez, who looks slightly nervous. Three matches in and people are already questioning his future. That's football nowadays!
Chelsea are desperate to avoid becoming the first holders of the Champions League to be eliminated at this stage as the Champions League music hits!
We're underway here at Stamford Bridge!
Lively start from Chelsea as they look to come out of the blocks fast here.
Two corners in quick succession for Chelsea at the start of this match, but both come to nothing.
Ramires puts in a heavy aerial challenge, no eyes on the ball. Perhaps lucky not to pick up an early yellow there.
Ivan Runje is down for Nordsjaelland and Benitez takes this opportunity to have a word with Ashley Cole. Runje looks in pain.
An early disruption here, Runje is being stretchered off. It may break up Chelsea's bright start...
CHANCE! Some good link-up play between Torres and Cole ends in the latter sending a cross over to Victor Moses, whose volley is well controlled but saved well at the near post.
It doesn't look like that injury has disrupted has Chelsea! They come forward again and Torres sends a delightful dink over the keeper but only after he has been called back for offside!
CHANCES! Chelsea are really peppering the Chelsea goal with shots here! Torres forces a save from the keeper and, from the resulting corner, the ball goes through to Luiz who is again denied.
Mata is also denied by the keeper straight after! Surely only a matter of time before they break through!
Eden Hazard skips down the left flank beautifully before trying to send a cross in with the outside of his boot, but it's well blocked. One-way traffic.
Looks like a definite foul on Moses done the right but the referee only gives a goal kick! Poor decision.
The ref does give a free kick for a foul on Mata and Chelsea build another attack.
Victor Moses looks like he's beaten the offside trap but the linesman flags, slipping over for his troubles which always brings a big cheer from the fans. The cheers are interspersed with outrage, however, as they disagree with the offside decision.
Half-chance for Chelsea as Torres flicks the ball to Mata, who returns the pass but the Spaniard couldn't get enough on his shot.
Another half-chance for Torres as he gets his head on the ball from a free kick but sends it over.
ANOTHER half-chance for Torres! Luiz floats the ball over and Torres controls it well enough and, with his back to goal, attempts a bicycle kick but a defender steps in just in time.
Nordsjaelland are defending their keeper more effectively now, reducing the number of shots that he has to face, but Chelsea are still dominating possession.
OFF THE BAR! Moses races down the right and fizzes in a dangerous cross which Stokholm slices against his own bar! Very close to an own goal there!
Just two goals so far in Europe tonight. Bayern have taken the lead against BATE, while Celtic are one up against Spartak Moscow.
Back to the Bridge and Adu unleashes a speculative long-range drive that is on target, but it's never troubling Cech.
PENALTY TO NORDSJAELLAND!
SAVED!
Some good play on the edge of the Chelsea box results in a shot that clearly hits Cahill's arm. The ref takes his time but eventually awards the penalty, although replays suggest that it was outside the box. It doesn't matter in the end, however, as Cech denies Nordsjaelland taking a shock lead by saving Stokholm's penalty!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
SAVED!
WOW! What a dramatic few minutes! Cahill, the man who gave the penalty away, heads in an effort that is stopped by the hand of a Nordsjaelland defender. Again, the ref takes an age to make up his mind but eventually gives it. Hazard takes it, but Hansen saves low to his left!
BOOKING! Anders Christiansen becomes the first man in the book today. I'm struggling to keep up here!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA!
Chelsea 1-0 Nordsjaelland (David Luiz)
What are the chances! Three penalties in the space of eight minutes, and finally one is scored! Hazard hands over the duties to Luiz, who takes a big run up before smashing the ball into the top corner. Great pen.
Luiz makes an important interception at the other end to halt a Nordsjaelland attack and launch an attack of their own, which results in Mata squeezing a cross in but Torres can't divert it goalwards.
Spartak Moscow have equalised against Celtic, bad news for the Scots!
GOAL! Fernando Torres
He's finally scored!! I hate to take anything away from him, but there was a hint of luck about it. Victor Moses sends a ball through to Torres, whose movement and pace get him into a a one-on-one situation. His first effort is saved but comes back off Torres, who is left to lift it into the open goal.
A hint of a handball in the rebound for Torres but definitely not intentional.
Chelsea 2-0 Nordsjaelland
A very eventful half! Chelsea dominated the early stages but couldn't find a breakthrough. It looked as if Nordsjaelland would take a shock, and undeserved, lead with the penalty, which was very harsh. They squandered that chance, however, as Chelsea did their chance with a missed penalty just minutes later. Luiz atoned for Hazard's miss, however, converting another harsh penalty decision to break the deadlock. Torres got his name on the scoresheet after missing a few chances, although he has looked lively all game.
All in all a very entertaining half of football! Chelsea take a deserved lead into the break.
Right, time for some half-time updates from across Europe. Bayern, Braga and Valencia all have taken one goal leads into the break, while Celtic are level with Spartak.
Barca, Man United and, importantly for Chelsea, Juventus are all still goalless so, despite leading 2-0, the Blues are heading out of the Champions League as it stands!
You can read a half-time report of tonight's match here.
The teams are out for the second half and we're about to restart.
We're off!
GOAL! Joshua John
Wow! Huge shock at the very start of this half! Nordjaelland pour forward straight from the kick off and their initial attack is rebuffed, but a fine ball over the top finds Joshua John, who just lifts the ball over the onrushing Cech to make it 1-1!
Well, well, well. There is a spring in the step of the Danish champions now! They look more confident on the ball, but Chelsea also look threatening on the counter attack.
Moses threatens to break away but the ref pulls it back for an earlier foul. He should have played advantage there.
GOAL! Gary Cahill!
There'll be no complaints about the lack of advantage now! The ball is lofted into the box and Cahill rises highest to plant a fine header past the keeper. Great goal from centre-back. 3-1!
There'll be no complaints about the lack of advantage now! The ball is lofted into the box and Cahill rises highest to plant a fine header past the keeper. Great goal from centre-back. 3-1!
GOAL! Fernando Torres
Torres has his second of the game! Eden Hazard makes his way to the byline on the left and pulls it back to Torres who gets ahead of his man and pokes it in to the roof of the net. 4-1 to Chelsea, and they look like they’ve done their bit now.
Another shout for a penalty, and again it comes Chelsea’s way as Torres is pulled down. Nothing doing from the ref, however.
GOAL! Juan Mata
Juan Mata dances through on the edge of the box before exchanging passes with Hazard. His first shot is superbly saved by the feet of Hansen, but the ball falls straight back to Mata and it’s a simple tap in for the Spaniard. Game over.
SUB On comes Oscar for Ramires in the first change of the match for Chelsea.
GOAL! Oscar
Mata sends a perfectly-weighted through ball to Oscar, and the youngster makes no mistake when one on one with the keeper, who doesn't even move.
Apologies, we're experiencing some technical difficulties here! Back on board now though for the final 15 minutes. Chelsea have this match wrapped up but they're still heading out as things stands as Juventus are leading Shakhtar 1-0.
Strong shout for a penalty for Torres, who takes it past the defender and falls to the ground as the defender leans into him, but the ref waves it away. Torres's touch was a bit heavy but that could've gone either way.
CHANCE! Torres holds the ball up well inside the box before laying it off to Oscar on the edge of the box. His effort is tipped over by Hansen, however.
Hazard is brought down on the edge of the box and Mtiliga gets a yellow card for his troubles. Free kick in a dangerous position for the Blues.
CLOSE! David Luiz takes one step before firing the free kick over the wall and just over the crossbar.
A couple of outrageous moments of showboating from Chelsea. First Torres crosses the ball with his right foot coming behind his left before Moses picks up the cross and attempts a cheeky backheel. The keeper is equal to it, however.
CHANCE! Yet another chance for Chelsea as Hazard whips a ball in to the head of an unmarked Moses, but he completely miscues his header and it goes well wide.
BOOKING! David Luiz thunders into a tackle and it looks pretty bad. The opposing player is up quick enough but Luiz gets a yellow for the challenge.
Two minutes added time at the Bridge.
CHANCE! Another great chance for Torres as he's clean through on goal, but he attempts to lob the keeper and can't get enough on it to get it over Hansen.
Chelsea 6-1 Nordsjaelland
So it's a very easy win for Chelsea tonight but it's bittersweet. Juventus recorded a fine 1-0 win in Ukraine against Shakhtar to book their place in the next round at the expense of the defending champions.
Goals from Luiz, Torres (2), Cahill, Mata and Oscar ensured that Chelsea did their part but they were victims of their own previous poor results this season and must suffer the indignation of being the first defending Champions League champions to be knocked out in the group stages.
I'll leave you with our match report on this match of contrasting emotions for the Blues. Thanks for joining and be sure to stay with Sports Mole for match analysis, which should be on site within half an hour, as well as reports, news and reviews! Thanks for joining and good night!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
