CHAMIONS LEGUE GROUP E: Chelsea 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0:THE THEORY that Chelsea did not sign a regular goalscorer in January continues to be exposed as a myth. Andre Villas-Boas's first brush with the Champions League ended victorious here last night, courtesy of a goal by an elegant, eye-catching and big-money signing. The only anomaly is that the player in question was still not Fernando Torres, but David Luiz.
The Brazilian centre-half, absent from the Chelsea first team since early May, conjured this game’s one moment of real class to dispatch a stubborn Bayer Leverkusen. Luiz may still need to reassure as a defender, but he has now scored three goals in 13 appearances for this club.
Torres, in contrast, still has only the memory of his solitary reward against West Ham last term from almost twice as many games. His burst into space in stoppage time and unselfish delivery for Juan Mata for the second goal hinted that better times lie ahead.
Torres had drawn the focus even in the build-up to this match. Whether he had indeed suggested his “older” club-mates had been “too slow” in their approach play, and by implication nullified his own impact since his move to London, is still under investigation by the club.
His inclusion from the start here felt inevitable, given Didier Drogba’s recent head injury and Romelu Lukaku’s ineligibility. The line-up selected still hinted that Villas-Boas had an eye on Sunday’s trip to Manchester United, but it should have suited the Spaniard better. His compatriot Mata and the new arrival Raul Meireles shifted on possession smartly, and Daniel Sturridge at Torres’s side was quick-thinking whenever he was found around the area.
There was a fluidity to the London club’s approach that suggested Torres might thrive. Cue the bright start with an effort hooked wide within the opening two minutes, a flicked header deflected over the bar, and Bernd Leno mustering a smart save with his left hand to turn away a scuffed attempt.
It was 0-0 at half-time but, having chosen to rest John Terry and Frank Lampard, Chelsea were still confident Leverkusen could be deflected. The Germans, their domestic form improving by the week, had represented an awkward early challenge in this group. Omer Toprak had been baffled at seeing a goal disallowed three minutes in – Meireles suffered similar disappointment within seconds at the other end when he was caught offside from Torres’s flick – and there was a ruggedness to their midfield that suggested they would not wilt easily.
Michael Ballack, presented with a silver plate prior to kick-off to commemorate his four-year spell as a Chelsea player, Lars Bender and Simon Rolfes had harried and disrupted effectively. If their own opportunities to score had been limited, the hosts had cause to thank Branislav Ivanovic around the hour for a timely challenge on Bender and, moments later, Petr Cech for impressive saves from Ballack and Andre Schurrle.
This rearguard can appear fragile when Terry is absent, with the centre-half partnership still something of an experimental pairing. Yet, in Luiz, Chelsea boast a defender always capable of attacking flamboyance to supplement their forward forays.
The €27 million signing from Benfica had not featured for club or country since being hauled from the fray by Carlo Ancelotti at half-time at Old Trafford in early May. There had been a thigh injury since, but Luiz needed game time. If his defending can be risky at times, his ability to gallop upfield is breathtaking. It was his charge midway through the second period that forced Leverkusen into retreat. Florent Malouda and Torres had touches before the defender, loitering on the edge of the area, curled a first-time shot into the corner.
Guardian Service
CHELSEA:Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Luiz (Alex 76), Cole, Mikel, Sturridge (Anelka 64), Malouda, Meireles (Lampard 65), Mata, Torres. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ferreira, McEachran, Kalou. Booked: Torres, Luiz.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN:Leno, Castro, Reinartz, Toprak, Kadlec, Rolfes, Bender (Balitsch 80), Ballack (Renato Augusto 66), Sam (Derdiyok 73), Kiessling, Schurrle. Subs Not Used: Yelldell, Schwaab, Friedrich, Bellarabi. Booked: Castro, Bender, Derdiyok.
Referee:Stephane Lannoy (France).
