Champions League - Group G
Chelsea 6-0 Maribor
Chelsea romped to a straightforward win over Slovenian champions Maribor with a series of crowd-pleasing goals - not least a penalty from Didier Drogba.
Drogba revived memories of Blues' 2012 Champions League triumph, the last occasion on which he scored for the club, and at the same time helped take them within a win of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Chelsea didn't take too long to break through Maribor's two banks of four – finding the back of the net after just 13 minutes.
John Terry sent a pinpoint pass through from the centre circle, which picked out Loic Remy on the right.
The forward cut in, turned, and unleashed from the edge of the box – the ball flying past Jasmin Handanovic.
But the goal, so needed for Remy's confidence, was to be his last involvement in the game – having appeared to strain his groin in scoring it.
He was replaced by Drogba, to set up a memorable moment 10 minutes later.
Willian, coming down the left, flicked the ball in the box and found Ales Mertelj's hand with it.
Referee Danny Makkelie pointed straight to the spot and, for the first time since a momentus night in Munich, Drogba placed the ball down in the area.
With Stamford Bridge in uproar, the Ivorian thumped his kick into the left corner – and lapped-up the adulation.
Another eight minutes, another goal.
Eden Hazard, on the right, played-in Cesc Fabregas – who crossed to find John Terry.
The Blues captain, on a pitch-long run, slotted in the third.
Nine minutes after the break came a fourth – Eden Hazard taking the ball wide of the goal, before shooting from an acute angle, via the leg of Mitja Viler.
Chelsea were coasting, but for the small matter of a clumsy penalty given away by Nemanja Matic just after the hour. Agim Ibraimi, the fouled man, could not capitalise – hitting the post.
Hazard did get his goal – a 78th minute penalty that came courtesy of a foul on Branislav Ivanovic by Marko Suler. And he added a sixth right at the end.
