Schalke 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea FC missed the chance to book their place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League but maintained a four-point cushion to third-place FC Schalke 04 with a draw at the Arena AufSchalke.
Schalke chances
Heiko Westermann brought two fine saves from Petr Čech in a first half the German side dominated, although Didier Drogba also called home goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into action twice. Rafinha and Peter Løvenkrands came closest to breaking the deadlock after the break when their respective shots cannoned back off the crossbar and post for Schalke, who moved above Valencia CF in Group B with their point.
Injury concerns
The omens were not good for the home side with a spate of injuries, including influential strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Halil Altıntop, leaving them only able to name five substitutes. Even so, Schalke began brightly with Ivan Rakitić firing over a free-kick after Gerald Asamoah had been fouled 20 metres from goal by Alex. Chelsea responded by creating an excellent chance in the sixth minute when Marcelo Bordon gave away possession cheaply but Didier Drogba's low drive was well tipped wide by Manuel Neuer after Joe Cole had put the striker through.
Schalke press
Čech's first action of the game came after 18 minutes when he comfortably gathered a low effort from Mesut Özil and moments later he was forced to tip a bouncing drive from Westermann wide. From the resulting corner, Søren Larsen bundled a shot into the side-netting at the far post with Čech struggling to get across his goal. Westermann brought another good save from the Chelsea stopper after an identical run and shot before Bordon headed Rakitić's corner over from close range.
Drogba chance
On 27 minutes an inspired Schalke came even closer when Özil's corner was dropped by Čech under pressure only for Juliano Belletti to bail out his goalkeeper with a goalline clearance from Westermann. Chelsea stood firm in the face of the onslaught and nearly took a lead into the interval when Cole slipped in Drogba on 41 minutes only for Neuer to deny the striker with his chest.
Cudicini on
Schalke began the second half on the offensive and carved out another good chance on the counterattack. Rakitić found Özil who bustled past Belletti and swept in a shot from the edge of the area which was saved by Carlo Cudicini, a half-time replacement for Čech. The Italian goalkeeper was called into action again on 58 minutes when he parried Rakitić's low drive after a short corner routine involving Asamoah.
Schalke come close
Schalke coach Mirko Slomka was forced into a change with Løvenkrands replacing Özil while Chelsea introduced John Obi Mikel for Belletti as they tried to instigate a change of fortune. The visitors then had a sustained spell of possession, but with the game beginning to drift Schalke suddenly rattled the crossbar when Rafinha's chip deceived Cudicini and Essien was on hand to thwart Løvenkrands' follow-up. With 90 minutes almost up, Løvenkrands beat Cudicini from a narrow angle only for the post to deny the home side victory.
Valencia 0-2 Rosenborg
The Ronald Koeman era at Mestalla began disappointingly as Valencia CF succumbed to a rampant Rosenborg BK to leave their UEFA Champions League qualifying prospects hanging in the balance and the Norwegian side dreaming of reaching the knockout stages of the competition for the first time since 1996/97.
Famous wins
The visitors - who also overcame the Spanish side 2-0 in Trondheim a fortnight ago - defended heroically and then broke away twice to score through Steffen Iversen and make it a happy debut in the competition for new coach Trond Henriksen. It was only Rosenborg's second UEFA Champions League away win in 21 outings; before Matchday 3 they had only a single victory in their last 21 games in the competition.
Adventurous approach
Rosenborg's approach was refreshing; while a draw would have been considered a good result they were intent on making the most of their possession and pushed forward at every opportunity. It made for an interesting first half with Valencia probing down the flanks, although Joaquín's corners seemed most likely to provide a breakthrough. Twice Iván Helguera got on the end of them, the second time drawing a splendid save from Lars Hirschfeld.
Villa threat
David Villa, back after an ankle injury, added vital sharpness to the Valencia attack, expertly collecting a long pass from Luis Miguel only to shoot hastily wide. Rosenborg countered with pace and showed they had the means to worry Valencia at the back. When Abdou Razack Traoré swung over a cross, Iversen pursued it beyond the far post and struck the upright with his attempted knock-back.
Iversen breakthrough
It was therefore less of a surprise than it might have been when the visitors took the lead in the 31st minute. Per Ciljan Skjelbred started the move after another Valencia attack had fizzled out and Marek Sapara carried it on, passing to Iversen who turned to crack a low shot beyond Timo Hildebrand and in off the post. Stung, Valencia rallied with Hirschfeld smothering at Villa's feet but Rosenborg promptly broke with menace again, the unmarked Yssouf Koné heading down and over the bar. On the stroke of half-time Hildebrand denied the same player with his legs while Hirschfeld was at full stretch to keep out a Villa thunderbolt.
Morientes off
With Valencia commtted to attack, Rosenborg were finding ample space when they had the ball and with their confidence at a high level they looked capable of punishing the home team again. Koeman had withdrawn Fernando Morientes at the break, the striker seemingly affected by an early challenge which left him requiring treatment. Valencia's frustration mounted; there was little fluency to their game now and their fans sensed more disappointment was round the corner.
Two for Iversen
It arrived in the 58th minute as Hildebrand missed Mikael Dorsin's corner, allowing Iversen to head his second goal. The final score might have been even worse for Valencia, Iversen and Yssouf Koné being denied by Hildebrand and the post respectively in the same second-half move and the latter spurning two golden opportunities - although a famous Rosenborg win was already secured.
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