Champions League: Spartak Moscow v Chelsea full time report
Spartak Moscow 0 Chelsea 2
Chelsea turned in a professional performance as they comfortably beat Spartak Moscow on their first return to the Luzhniki Stadium since losing the Champions League final there in 2008.
Russian international Yuri Zhirkov lashed in his first goal for the Blues midway through the first half, before Nicolas Anelka – who missed a crucial penalty in that final shootout against Manchester United two-and –a-half years ago – coolly slotted home his 50th Chelsea goal after being found by Michael Essien.
Anelka and Essien both went close to extending the Blues’ lead in the second period, as Chelsea kept their hosts largely at arm’s length.
Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady saw an effort deflect narrowly over for Spartak, while Brazilian forwards Welliton and Ari both went close.
Chelsea – on the occasion of Carlo Ancelotti’s 100th Champions League match as a manager – were looking to prolong their 100% Group F record on their return to the Luzhniki, and began to get a strong early foothold in the game on Spartak’s plastic pitch. Salomon Kalou – returning to the side after injury – volleyed the first effort wide.
The Spartak threat was soon to become apparent though, as an excellent run from skipper Sergei Parshivlyuk resulted in a chance for Dmitri Kombarov, which he fired just over, before the dangerous Welliton saw his shot on the turn well saved by Petr Čech’s boot.
Florent Malouda drove wide at the other end, but it was the returning Zhirkov who was soon to have his spectacular say.
Nicolas Pareja could only nod the ball out to the edge of the penalty area, where Russian international Zhirkov – an £18million capture from CSKA Moscow in 2009 – let fly with a spectacular left footed effort that flew into the back of the net. It was his first goal for Chelsea, and it’s doubtful he’ll score a better one.
Anelka was soon firing wide and then over, as Zhirkov’s goal had quietened the previously boisterous Moscow crowd. It appeared to be affecting the players too, as more errors allowed Anelka in, only to be denied by alert goalkeeper Andriy Dikan. The Frenchman was soon to have his moment though.
Essien burst from midfield, and after he fed Anelka, the forward cut inside a despairing Parshivlyuk before coolly slotting into the back of the net with his right foot. It brought up a landmark half century of goals for Chelsea, and was typically clinical.
Spartak’s Irish winger McGeady was eager to take the fight to the Londoners early in the second period, and soon saw an effort from the edge of the box deflected over the bar, before his curling shot was comfortably saved by Čech.
Brazilian Ibson was next to worry Čech with two well-struck attempts, as Chelsea appeared to already be playing out time midway through the second half, however Essien could have settled matters when Anelka allowed Kalou’s cross to reach the Ghanaian, but he could only sidefoot narrowly wide.
Spartak were pressing well but lacked the quality to really hurt Chelsea, with several goalmouth scrambles and a couple of efforts from the Brazilian forward Ari coming to nothing.
It was comfortable for Chelsea, as the Blues created breathing space in the group between them and Spartak. With nine points from three games, qualification already looks assured.
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