Chelsea faced Sporting Lisbon tonight at Stamford Bridge and cruised into the Champions League group stages as group winners with a 3-1 victory against a very good Sporting side.
In turn, the Sporting were denied a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Cesc Fabregas scored from the spot and put the home side ahead after 10 minutes of play from a penalty after Felipe Luis was fouled and brought down in the box by Esgaio.
Chelsea’s fringe players struggling for a regular place responded well including Andre Schurrle who doubled the lead 10 minutes after Cesc’s goal.
Chelsea retained possession of the ball well, and clearly dictated most of the first half.
At half time, Chelsea led 2-0 but the Portuguese side responded well after the break and halved the deficit when Jonathan Silva scored.
Sporting Lisbon needed a draw to progress through to the knock out stages, knowing that in the other game, Di Matteo’s Schalke were leading 1-0 against Maribor.
Cech selected ahead of Thibault Courtois, had to stay awake when Diego Capel’s header hit the back of Azpilicueta, but only to rebond in front of his feet. Later on, he did well when he had to stop Islam Slimani’s powerful header, clutching the ball right on the line as Sporting players appealed for a goal.
Sporting Lisbon were really pushing on for the draw but catching up two goals against the blues seemed really difficult as Chelsea hung in there to clinch top spot.
Jose Mourinho, handed the 18 years old Loftus Check his first debut for the blues on 83 minutes.
Chelsea finished first, ahead of Schalke making a total of two draws and four wins.
Chelsea will play Hull on Saturday and try to keep their 1st place on the Premier League table
