Chelsea cruise into Champions League quarter-finals
Ballack set Chelsea on their way with an early goal
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Wednesday, 05, Mar 2008 10:48
Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals after a comfortable 3-0 win over Greek side Olympiakos at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues suffered an injury scare prior to the kick off when it was revealed goalkeeper Petr Cech had picked up a thigh injury in training, although replacement Carlo Cudicini had little to do.
The first leg two weeks ago had been a tense affair but the Blues showed they had the measure of their opponents with an early goal before Frank Lampard doubled their lead midway through the first half.
Salomon Kalou made it 3-0 just after the break as the west London side cruised into the last eight of the competition.
Chelsea began in a 4-3-3 formation and it appeared to suit them more then the 4-4-2 Avram Grant used during their Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last week.
With Claude Makelele anchoring the midfield Lampard and Michael Ballack were able to maraud forward to great affect.
Indeed those two players combined to create Chelsea's first goal. Lampard crossed from the left wing and found the German in the box who headed past Antonis Nikopolidis in the Olympiakos goal.
Later in the half Nikopolidis failed to hold on to Ballack's fiercely hit shot and Lampard was on hand to follow up and give the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.
The tie was put completely beyond the visitors immediately after half time when Kalou converted Lampard's corner to make Avram Grant's side the third English team into the quarter-finals.
Late in the game Fernando Belluschi struck the bar but Chelsea were never truly tested by their opponents.