Schalke 0-3 Chelsea
Fernando Torres fired Blues to a vital Champions League win in Gelsenkitchen, spearheading one of Chelsea's most impressive wins in Europe of recent years.
A hard-working performance that saw the Spaniard troubling the Schalke defence makes him favourite to start Sunday's Premier League clash against Manchester City.
With City waiting, there were a number of tricky selection dilemmas for Jose Mourinho.
One, whether to risk Ashley Cole, was taken out of his hands – the England left back left at home due to his enduring rib injury.
The question of who to replace him raised an interesting response - usual back-up Ryan Bertrand benched in favour of right-sided fullback Cesar Azpilicueta.
Another source of some surprise was the inclusion of Torres in the starting line-up. The conventional thought was Samuel Eto'o may be played following his weekend goal against Cardiff City.
But it took only until the fifth minute for Torres reward Mourinho for his inclusion.
Andre Schurrle, playing on home turf, crossed the ball from the left – flicked-on by Branislav Ivanovic – for Torres to head past Timo Hildebrand.
Despite the great early advantage, it was the home side that seized the initiative.
Chelsea found themselves giving the ball away all too easily, and exhibiting some bizarre defensive play.
As the half came to a close it was Petr Cech, leaping with agility time and again, who did most to maintain the status quo. Two fine blocks from Azpilicueta were also to be mentioned in dispatches.
Chelsea looked brighter for the start of the second half.
A free kick from Frank Lampard, thirty yards out, was headed on to the angle of post and bar by a totally unmarked Torres – to the bemusement of the seemingly rooted-to-the-spot Hildebrand.
Chelsea battled, none more so than Torres – who looked like a man with a score to settle.
He did exactly that in the 70 minute when Oscar broke with pace in midfield, taking the ball almost too far, before squaring for the number nine to beat the keeper.
And right at the last, another break, this time from Eden Hazard, could have netted Torres his third: this time the striker deciding to run wide, drawing the keeper's gaze, for Hazard himself to finish.
Pre-match this was seen as possibly the hardest of Chelsea's six group games.
Now the trick will be in maintaining that momentum through Sunday's domestic battle.
