Schalke hit back to deny Chelsea victory

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Chelsea 1 Schalke 1

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted a 62nd-minute equaliser to deny Chelsea victory in their opening Champions League game.

Cesc Fabregas’ first goal for the Blues gave them a flying start to their Group G campaign.

Fabregas struck in the 11th minute when he found Eden Hazard on the left and then collected the Belgian’s pass before steering his shot beyond keeper Ralf Fährmann.

Schalke were unhappy because Fabregas appeared to foul Max Meyer before scoring, but the tables were turned in the second half because Chelsea felt the Spaniard was fouled in the build-up to Huntelaar’s leveller.

After Fabregas was bundled off the ball, Julian Draxler burst downfield and picked out skipper Huntelaar, who fired into the bottom corner.

It came against the run of play as Chelsea appeared to be in control.

Fabregas' first goal for Chelsea gave them an early lead
Fabregas’ first goal for Chelsea gave them an early lead

They made a bright start and Ramires should have put them ahead but miscued after being found by Didier Drogba, who made his first start since returning to Stamford Bridge, while fellow summer signing Filipe Luis was given his full debut.

After the opener, Hazard’s low shot was blocked before Fabregas might have scored a second but blazed over following great work on the right by Branislav Ivanovic.

At the other end, Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois did well when he was finally called upon, palming away an effort from former Tottenham man Kevin-Prince Boateng.

In the final minute of the first half, Draxler missed a great chance for the German side when he shot wide of the far post.

Drogba looked set to score with a tap-in early in the second half but he failed to make contact with Willian’s excellent ball into the danger area.

And he missed another golden opportunity shortly before Schalke’s equaliser, dragging a shot wide after being put through by Hazard.

Diego Costa, who has been nursing a slight injury, replaced Drogba in the 76th minute, when Loic Remy was also brought on as Chelsea looked to regain the lead.

Remy scored soon after coming on at the weekend and he almost did so again but Roman Neustadter cleared his shot off the line after Fährmann had fumbled a free-kick.

Fährmann quickly redeemed himself. A minute after Hazard volleyed just over, he again went close to putting Chelsea back in front but was denied by a good save after stretching to meet Fabregas’ chip.

John Terry also went close with an injury-time header from Fabregas’ cross.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires (Oscar 67), Willian (Remy 76), Hazard; Drogba (Costa 76).
Subs not used: Cech, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Mikel.

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