Two goals from Fernando Torres has helped Chelsea record a 3-0 victory over Schalke 04 in the Champions League.
The Spanish frontman gave his side an early lead with a header at the back post, but Schalke hit back to dominate the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.
However, Torres struck again midway through the second half to put the Blues in control, before Eden Hazard sealed the points with a fine finish with three minutes remaining.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Gelsenkirchen.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the clash between Schalke 04 and Chelsea in the Champions League.
When the draw was made and the fixtures were decided, it appeared unlikely that Chelsea would be arriving in Gelsenkirchen three points adrift of the German outfit. However, after their respective results against Swiss side Basel, it's Schalke who go into this game with the advantage after two matches.
Chelsea were expected to ease past Basel in their opening encounter of this year's competition, but they were stunned by an inspired comeback from the Swiss side. Two weeks later, Schalke went to Basel as the underdogs, but they came away with a narrow success. Who knows how this match is going to pan out this evening!
The Chelsea team news is in from the Veltins-Arena. I suppose that it would only be polite of me to bring you the details.
CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Lampard, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard; Torres
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Schwarzer, David Luiz, Bertrand, Mikel, Willian, Mata, Eto'o
So then, Chelsea have made a total of five changes following their victory over Cardiff City at the weekend. Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta are preferred to David Luiz and Ryan Bertrand in defence, Oscar and Andre Schurrle are restored in midfield, while Samuel Eto'o has dropped to the bench, with Fernando Torres taking his place as the lone striker.
A notable absentee for the Blues is left-back Ashley Cole. He is still struggling with the rib injury that kept him out of England's two World Cup qualifiers and didn't travel to Germany with the rest of the squad.
SCHALKE 04 XI: Hildebrand; Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Aogo; Neustadter, Jones, Clemens, Meyer, Draxler; Boateng
SCHALKE 04 SUBSTITUTES: Fahrmann, Hoogland, Felipe Santana, Kolasinac, Goretzka, Fuchs, Szalai
Schalke suffered a blow at the weekend when Marco Hoger suffered a serious knee injury, which is likely to keep him out for the remainder of the season. However, Kevin-Prince Boateng starts in attack for the Bundesliga side
Most of you will be aware of how Chelsea have performed domestically during the first two months of the season, but what about Schalke? Jens Keller's side have enjoyed a solid start to their league season, picking up 14 points from nine fixtures, but they are already nine points adrift of the early pacesetters in the division.
Their defensive displays in Germany have been in stark contrast to the ones that they have produced in Europe. The Gelsenkirchen-based outfit have conceded more than two goals per game in Germany, but they have earned two clean sheets during the group stages in the Champions League.
Schalke may be without star players Jefferson Farfan and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but they still have a standout performer in Julian Draxler. The 20-year-old netted the decisive goal in Switzerland on matchday two, and has already scored 25 goals in 122 appearances for his side.
What does everyone make of Mourinho's decision to bench Samuel Eto'o? The Cameroonian hasn't performed to his best since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, but he appeared to have turned a corner when opening his Chelsea account at the weekend. He probably has every right to feel aggrieved at not starting tonight.
Chelsea wll be hoping that they can avoid defeat this evening, but if they lose, the ramifications could be huge. They would find themselves six points behind Schalke with three games to play, with Basel possibly adding to their woes with a win over Steaua. Chelsea could really do with three points, but a draw wouldn't be the end of the world with Schalke still to visit Stamford Bridge in two weeks time.
PREDICTION! This is a difficult one to call. Schalke are unbeaten in their last 13 matches in the group stages of this competition and will have the backing of a passionate home crowd. However, Mourinho would have made it clear to his players that they owe him a performance after the Basel debacle on matchday one and if they can perform to their potential, they should win the match. Chelsea 2-1.
Of course, this isn't the only Champions League fixture that we are covering this evening. Arsenal, Celtic and Barcelona are all in action, with all the matches easy to select from our homepage.
A final note before the the two teams come down the tunnel - Fernando Torres is making his 100th start for Chelsea tonight, which isn't too shabby for someone who has been below his best since signing for the club.
The two sides are exchanging pleasantries on the halfway line. We will be kicking off in just a couple of minutes.
Schalke 04 get us underway.
Strangely, despite playing at home, Schalke are in their away kit, and Chelsea their home.
It's been a bit of a slow start in terms of tempo, but it's the home side who are bossing possession. However, Chelsea have a corner.
GOAL! Schalke 04 0-1 Chelsea (Torres)
Well that isn't a bad way to celebrate making your 100th start for Chelsea. The corner from the left was flicked on by Ivanovic, and Torres was on hand to head into the roof of the net at the back post. Super start from the Blues.
Chelsea look much more comfortable after that opening goal. They are spraying the ball around with patience and confidence, while Schalke are content to sit on the back foot.
Chelsea may have taken the lead but it has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of the home crowd, who are ensuring that the Veltins-Arena is rocking. One notable tactical move from Mourinho is that Oscar is playing a lot further forward than usual, staying in close proximity to Torres.
Schalke are on the wrong end of a couple of contentious refereeing decisions that has got the crowd on their feet. Either incident could have resulted in a free kick to the home side.
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech pulls off an excellent save to deny Aogo, but the assistant had already raised his flag. That was the first time that either goalkeeper have been tested.
A neat one-two between Hazard and Ivanovic releases the full-back, and after his cross is cleared, Oscar attempts a first-time effort on goal, but he mis-cues it horrendously and the ball goes out by the corner flag.
A misunderstanding between Oscar and Torres allows Matip to break forward and he wins a corner for his side. The initial corner is cleared by Terry, but it only gives possession back to the German side.
CHANCE! Schalke create their best chance of the half when Neustadter plays the ball inside Schurrle for Uchida to run on to, but the Japanese full-back can only blaze his shot skywards after sliding for the ball.
As we reach the half-hour mark of this encounter, Chelsea are very much second best. They are struggling to keep hold of the ball and if they don't improve, you would expect Schalke to capitalise.
The other match in the group between Bucuresti and Basel is currently goalless. That would be a result that both Schalke and Chelsea would be in favour of.
Apart from his goal, I can't remember Torres making any sort of positive contribution. The Schalke backline have soon pressure the Spaniard when he has received possession. Hazard has also had a quiet game for the Blues.
Me and my big mouth. Hazard picks up the ball just inside Schalke's half before gliding past several players and playing a one-two with Oscar, but just as he attempts to get a shot away, he is dispossessed by a well-time challenge.
SHOT! The desire of the Chelsea attackers to hold onto possession has been shocking. First of all, Torres loses the ball and Boateng tests Cech with a long-range effort. From the resulting corner, the Czech stopper does well to deny Neustadter from netting an equaliser. Chelsea need the half-time whistle.
Chelsea are defending for their lives. Draxler sees a goal-bound volley superbly blocked by Azpilicueta, and the Blues eventually clear. A couple of minutes ago, Terry made a gesture to the bench indicating that he could have a problem. David Luiz is currently warming up.
There will be one minute of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Schalke 04 0-1 Chelsea
The half-time whistle goes in Gelsenkirchen, and Chelsea have managed to hold out until the break. Despite taking an early lead through Fernando Torres, they have been second best during the opening 45 minutes and Mourinho will be demanding a huge improvement.
Schalke had a huge chunk of possession during the first 45 minutes, keeping hold of the ball for 61% of the time. They also have the advantage in terms of shots on goal, leading by seven shots to five.
No news as of yet regarding John Terry's possible injury problem, or whether David Luiz is going to be introduced after the break. It wouldn't surprise me if Mourinho is considering further changes, with John Obi Mikel a possible candidate to come in the centre of midfield.
Chelsea get us underway. The Blues haven't made any alterations.
BOOKING! Schalke wouldn't have welcomed the half-time break, but it's now up to them to re-find their momentum. The referee gets his yellow card out for the first time this evening for Jermaine Jones, after he clattered into Ramires.
Schalke appeal for a handball inside the Chelsea penalty area, but it looked to be optimistic. Up the other end, Hazard wins a free kick for Chelsea on the right-hand side.
WOODWORK! How unlucky! That's an incredible header from Torres. He got away from his marker to send a 14-yard header towards goal, but with the goalkeeper beaten, the ball hit the underside of the crossbar.
BOOKING! Gary Cahill goes into the book for a late challenge on Boateng in the centre circle. The referee appeared to have played advantage, but he opted to bring back play to hand a yellow card to the defender.
Basel have taken the lead in the other game in this group. If everything stays the same, three teams would reach the halfway stage on six points. There's a long way to go yet though...
Torres has looked much more lively since the break. He plays in a fine delivery but no-one is there to convert in the six-yard box. The ball is diverted out for a corner, and from the resulting set piece, the Spaniard heads wide at the back post, but the play had already been halted for a foul.
It's getting to that stage where both managers will be deciding whether to make a change, although both teams are playing quite well at the moment. There's definitely more goals in this match.
Schalke win a corner when a 30-yard strike from Meyer is deflected wide of the post. From the resulting set piece, Howedes sends a header marginally wide of Cech's left-hand post. A near miss for Chelsea!
BOOKING! Neustatder is the third man to go into the referee's book after a cynical pull back.
GOAL! Schalke 04 0-2 Chelsea (Torres)
Chelsea double their lead with a superb breakaway goal. Hazard is the instigator after halting a Schalke attack, and after gliding past two players, Oscar took up the running into the penalty area before cutting the ball back for Torres. The Spaniard took one touch to wrong-foot the goalkeeper before converting the ball into an empty net.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Mourinho brings on Mikel in place of Schurrle as he attempts to see out the final 18 minutes. Moments earlier, the home side made two substitutions of their own, introducing Szalai and Kolasinac.
Chelsea are more than happy with their night's work so far. They are comfortably holding onto the ball, but they have to be careful not to concede anything, because Schalke have already shown this evening that they are more than capable of breaching Cech's defence.
Draxler's impact in this game has lessened as the match as gone on, and his shot from all of 30 yards is purely out of desperation. 10 minutes remaining in Gelsenkirchen.
Whatever Mourinho said to Torres at the break, it has worked. The former Liverpool man's work-rate has been phenomenal. Chelsea are preparing to bring on David Luiz.
SUBSTITUTION! David Luiz looks to be coming on in midfield, with the Brazilian replacing his countryman Oscar. Just before the change, Uchida fired a shot towards goal, but it was never threatening the far corner.
GOAL! Schalke 04 0-3 Chelsea (Hazard)
Game, set and the match. Chelsea score a third, and it comes on the break again. Hazard and Torres ran towards the sole Schalke defender, with the Belgian using the striker as a decoy before firing the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
The match is just petering out now. Chelsea have done what they needed to.
FULL TIME: Schalke 04 0-3 Chelsea
That was the perfect away-day performance from Chelsea. Schalke were the better team during the first 45 minutes, but the Blues were magnificent after the break.
There's more good news coming in from Romania. Bucuresti have netted a late equaliser to earn a share of the spoils against Basel. That could prove significant at the end of the group.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match, but please stick around for the reaction from Gelsenkirchen, and all of the other fixtures this evening. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
