The Times
March 6, 2008

Michael Ballack puts paid to any sign of nerves in Chelsea talent show
Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0 (Chelsea win 3-0 on agg)

Martin Samuel, Chief Football Correspondent

There may be the international round of fixtures so coveted by Richard
Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, after all. One
difference: it will be going by the name of the Champions League
quarter-finals.

Chelsea became the third English club to enter the last eight of the
most prestigious European tournament last night and, with Liverpool
expected to make it a quartet when they take a 2-0 lead to Inter
Milan's San Siro stadium next week, it is likely that half of the
teams in the draw in Nyon, Switzerland, a week tomorrow will be from
one league: a first.

It is too early to get excited; three is quite common. Since 1998, a
trio of teams from one country has reached the quarter-finals on nine
occasions and from England twice (Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds
United in 2001, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea last season),
but four is the magic number. If Liverpool stay strong in Milan on
Tuesday, English football will have made history.

Liverpool may have it tough, but Chelsea went through without breaking
sweat. Credit to them, this was an assured, commanding performance,
but it helped that Olympiacos were shocking, arguably the weakest team
seen at this stage of the competition since it converted to a 32-club
extravaganza in 1999-2000. One can only ponder the ability of Werder
Bremen and Lazio if the Greek champions were able to finish level on
points with Real Madrid in group C.

Perhaps European football is fragmenting, as the leading domestic
leagues have done, into a two-tier system based on wealth. Olympiacos
keep winning the Greek league because regular Champions League
football gives them the business advantage, but they cannot compete
with the real elite of Europe, whose regular ventures into the
knockout phase bring even greater riches.

Chelsea have reached the quarter-finals in four of their five seasons
in the Champions League. They are in a different class, financially
and technically, and last night it showed. Their bench would have had
the beating of Olympiacos, let alone their first team.

Chelsea were very good, but they did not need to be for long. A goal
up after six minutes, two clear after 25, they scored a third from the
first attack of the second half and declared the event over.
Olympiacos showed a spark only when Fernando Belluschi, a substitute,
came on and Chelsea switched off; he hit the bar and caused a few
problems from free kicks around the penalty area. Chelsea had three
players booked during this period, even if Frank Lampard once more
looked unfortunate to be punished, and that may come back to haunt
them when the stakes grow higher.

That aside, it was a drive in the country. Olympiacos's resistance
lasted no longer than Chelsea's first attack in each half and from the
time the second goal went in, Avram Grant's men were cruising to the
quarter-finals with the windows down and something summery by Van
Morrison on the stereo.

After the delights of Arsenal's win against AC Milan at the San Siro
on Tuesday, this was an anticlimax, but while Chelsea's conservatism
is so often blamed for a dull 90 minutes, for once it was not their
fault. For a team with vast European experience, Olympiacos had
nothing to offer. It was not that they lacked ambition, more that they
lacked anything at all.

Carlo Cudicini, the Chelsea goalkeeper, who was standing in for Petr
Cech after he injured an ankle in training the morning before the
match and will be missing for up to three weeks, was untroubled until
late in the second half, when he let a free kick by Belluschi go and
was startled to see it hit the bar. At the other end, Antonios
Nikopolidis, the Olympiacos goalkeeper, was less fortunate and the
game was only six minutes old when his defence suffered a breach.

Lampard collected a throw-in on the left and whipped in a cross that
Michael Ballack met with his head. Bruce Buck, the Chelsea chairman,
had said before the match that he was mildly concerned that it could
be a nervous night if goals did not come early. He need not have
worried. Olympiacos could not deal with anything in the air and lacked
the grit to match Chelsea's physical presence. The first goal was an
exercise in simplicity and there was no sign of tension in the ground.
Olympiacos did not give anyone time to get nervous.

Within 20 minutes Chelsea had scored a second and the game was as good
as over. Again, Olympiacos had the chance to mount a straightforward
rearguard action but lacked the determination. First, Claude Makelele
won a header from a clearance, then John Terry won another and
Ballack's shot was saved before Lampard got to the loose ball first
for a tap-in.

You want to know how comfortable Chelsea were? Makelele had a crack at
goal. Twice. Once after 19 minutes, again after 68. The crowd roared
and laughed. It was like a testimonial game. Chelsea had further
chances and would not have been flattered had the work of Didier
Drogba and Joe Cole been rewarded.

When the second half brought no change of tempo, Chelsea took
advantage again, scoring from a corner by Lampard, courtesy of another
debacle at the back. Drogba got a touch, Ricardo Carvalho another and
Salomon Kalou scrambled the ball over the line from two yards. "Are
you Brentford in disguise?" the Chelsea fans sang to the
red-and-white-striped visiting team and it would have been an easy
mistake to make. It is Barnsley and Derby County next. Amazingly, they
may give Chelsea more of a game.

Chelsea (4-3-3): C Cudicini – P Ferreira, R Carvalho, J Terry, A Cole
– M Ballack, C Makelele, F Lampard (sub: M Essien, 75min) – J Cole
(sub: S Wright-Phillips, 78), D Drogba, S Kalou (sub: F Malouda, 69).
Substitutes not used: Hilário, Alex, J Belletti, N Anelka. Booked:
Lampard, Ferreira, Terry.

Olympiacos (4-3-2-1): A Nikopolidis – M Zewlakow, P Antzas, Júlio
César, A Pantos – C Patsatzoglou, K Ledesma (sub: F Belluschi, 52), I
Stoltidis – V Torossidis (sub: M Sisic, 75), P Djordjevic (sub:
Leonardo, 57) – D Kovacevic. Substitutes not used: M Sifakis, L Núñez,
K Mendrinos, M Konstantinou. Booked: Pantos. Referee: M González
(Spain).
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Telegraph:
Lampard inspired as Chelsea serve up treat
By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea (2) 3 Olympiakos (0) 0
Agg: 3-0

Chelsea meted out the same treatment to Olympiakos that the Greeks
inflict on their dinner plates. Olympiakos' defence, as brittle as
ancient crockery, was smashed into countless pieces by Chelsea's
superb attacking. The only surprise was that the Londoners managed
only three goals.

Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou all scored while
Lampard delivered one of those fine, box-to-box performances that
marks him out as one of the best midfielders at work in Europe. If
Liverpool survive their visit to Inter Milan next week, as they
should, then half the quarter-finalists will hail from the Premier
League.

No Petr Cech, no Michael Essien, no John Obi Mikel, no Nicolas Anelka,
no problem. Chelsea's resources are so deep that they take any
tinkering, any injuries in their quick-moving stride. Lampard,
contentiously omitted for the first leg in Athens, was terrific,
creating Ballack's early goal, scoring himself and constantly being at
the heart of all that was good about Chelsea.

Fabio Capello, the England manager who was watching from the smart
seats, will have enjoyed the sight of so many Englishmen shining, from
a revitalised Lampard to an untroubled John Terry, from the sprightly
Ashley Cole to the lively Joe Cole. Lampard was the pick of the bunch,
particularly in a first half that he ran.

Lampard's vision and passing were swiftly in evidence. Seizing on
Ashley Cole's quick throw-in after five minutes, Lampard had already
noted his team-mates' forward runs. Two touches nudged the ball in
from the left-hand touchline. Lampard's third picked out Ballack
magnificently, the ball bent towards the near post for the German to
beat the static Antonios Nikopolidis with a firm, well-placed header.

It resembled one of those training-ground rehearsals where defenders
are told to hold their positions while the attackers hone their art.
Olympiakos could have brought over four statues from the Parthenon and
reacted to Chelsea's movement more adroitly.

With Lampard in such dynamic mood, Chelsea kept pouring forward
through the middle and out wide. Kalou and, particularly, Ashley Cole
created havoc down the left. Joe Cole and Ballack combined well down
the right. Chelsea's movement was fast and fluid. Olympiakos were
constantly stretched. This was a mismatch.

The next thrust of the Chelsea knife brought more pain. Another
panicky Olympiakos clearance after 25 minutes was met by Claude
Makelele, whose clever header found Terry tucked in on the right.
Chelsea's captain immediately sent Ballack through and Olympiakos were
cut open. Again.

The German unleashed a strong shot which Nikopolidis got a hand to,
but merely diverted into the path of Lampard. On a night of Greeks
bearing gifts, the England international gratefully accepted the
easiest of tap-ins that almost arrived in pretty wrapping, a nice bow
and a note saying "help yourself".

If only Olympiakos players had the same verve as their animated
supporters, who brought colour and noise to the Bridge. Chelsea fans
stoked up the atmosphere more by chanting "Panathinaikos". At least
Olympiakos were giving Chelsea a challenge in the singing department.

"You're not singing any more", Chelsea fans chanted three minutes
after the break when Lampard created a third. Over swirled the corner,
catching out Olympiakos, Didier Drogba getting a slight touch and
sending the ball on to Kalou. Controlling the ball with his thigh,
Kalou flicked it home expertly.

Lampard should have made it 4-0 but dragged his shot wide. Olympiakos
coach Panagiotis Lemonis tried to breathe some life into his team, and
introduced Fernando Belluschi. John Bellushi might have had more
impact on the Blues Brothers, who remained in control.

Amazingly, Olympiakos finally gave Carlo Cudicini something to think
about. For an hour, the goalkeeper understudying for the injured Cech
had just watched events form afar. For an hour, Cudicini could have
wandered down the King's Road, perhaps done some late-night shopping
and even grabbed a pizza, before returning to the Bridge without
anyone noticing his absence.

Even when Belluschi delivered a decent free-kick over Chelsea's wall,
Cudicini hardly had to move far to collect the ball. Moments later he
clutched Leonardo's corner and launched a counter-attack that brought
chances for Joe Cole and Makelele, both saved by Nikopolidis.

Lampard, whose ludicrous weekend sending-off at West Ham was rightly
rescinded, then suffered another on-field injustice when he was
cautioned for diving, another decision devoid of logic. Caught
accidentally by Christos Patsatzoglou in the area, Lampard was bowled
over. The combination of gravity plus speed of collision meant Lampard
had little choice but to fall down.

Avram Grant decided to spare Lampard any more poor decisions and
called him to the bench to be replaced by Essien. As Lampard walked
off, Chelsea fans stood as one to salute their inspired No 8.
Chelsea's coach then withdrew Joe Cole for Shaun Wright-Phillips and,
with Florent Malouda already on for Kalou, this meant Drogba had to
complete this dead tie.

Draining the squad's leading striker seemed strange, unless Grant
intends resting Drogba for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final exertions
at Oakwell. One thing is sure: Barnsley will give Chelsea more of a
game than Olympiakos.

Belluschi shivered the crossbar late on, and then Cudicini saved
magnificently from Paraskevas Antzas but Chelsea were already home and
hosed in the Champions League quarter-finals.
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Indy:

Chelsea 3 Olympiakos 0 (Chel win 3-0 on agg): Ballack fires confident
Chelsea as Greeks offer little resistance

By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent
Thursday, 6 March 2008

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, unless it happens to be the pitiful
Olympiakos, who gave Chelsea a bona fide free ride into the Champions
League quarter-finals last night. Avram Grant's team are now 60 games
undefeated at home in all competitions over two years and few came
easier than this stroll at Stamford Bridge.

It is not Chelsea's fault that this victory was not the epoch-making
triumph achieved by Arsenal at San Siro on Tuesday night, for that
blame the Greeks. For a club who have won the title in their domestic
league for 10 out of the last 11 seasons Olympiakos were so dreadful
it was tempting to think that the Chelsea players faced stiffer
opposition on that recent paintballing trip in the Surrey countryside
to rebuild team morale.

Ahead in six minutes through Michael Ballack's goal, the only surprise
was that Chelsea did not score more than the two further goals added
by Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou. Apart from their finishing, this
was Chelsea at their ruthless, remorseless best – from Ballack's
opener to the very last moments when the Spanish referee called time
as they prepared to take their last corner of the match.

Chelsea's victory means that there are three English teams through to
the Champions League quarter-finals, and just Liverpool left to make
it into the draw for the quarter-finals on 14 March. This week will be
remembered for Arsenal's humbling of Milan, not Chelsea's destruction
of Olympiakos, but it was ever thus for poor old Grant. It will take a
performance like this against one of the big boys of European football
to convince everyone that he truly is the real deal.

An indicator of just how comfortable Chelsea had it last night was
that Claude Makelele had two shots on goal – probably equalling his
season's average in one match – and he even nearly scored from one.
Carlo Cudicini, in for the injured Petr Cech, made his first save some
time around the hour and his main preoccupation for most of the match,
until a late Olympiakos rally, was keeping himself warm.

If there was a frustrating element for Chelsea it was that they
incurred some needless bookings – to John Terry, Lampard and Paulo
Ferreira – which may come back to haunt them later in the competition.
But this was a night to admire the power and control of the great blue
machine, and by the end even Olympiakos' boisterous support appeared
to have reconciled themselves to the inevitable.

Another big game, another big-name midfielder left out of the team by
Grant. In the first leg against Olympiakos it was Lampard; in the
Carling Cup final it was Ballack; and last night it was the turn of
Michael Essien to sit on the bench. It is a sign of just how difficult
Grant is finding juggling the big names that it was Ballack who
originally believed he was not in the team – only for Essien to find
himself left out in the cold.

All that politics around the team selection was rendered irrelevant
when, with six minutes gone, Chelsea took the lead through Ballack.
For all their impact in the opening stages, the Olympiakos team might
as well have booked themselves in for the stadium tour rather than
lined up on the pitch. They seemed to approach the occasion like the
first day at a daunting new school and no team fit the role of bullies
better than Chelsea.

There was an uninspiring 4-5-1 formation from the visitors from
Piraeus with, on his own in attack, Darko Kovacevic – a big lump of a
centre-forward, the like of which Terry will happily keep in his
pocket all night. In the fifth minute, Ashley Cole took a quick throw
to Lampard on the left wing, the midfielder hit a curling cross to the
near post and Ballack was on hand to head the ball past goalkeeper
Antonios Nikopolidis.

It was tempting to say that was the game over there and, although
Olympiakos picked themselves up briefly after Chelsea's second goal,
any faint self-belief they may have had appeared to expire in those
early stages. Joe Cole had already made an excellent chance for Didier
Drogba, which he volleyed over, when Chelsea scored their second goal
on 25 minutes.

Claude Makelele's header found Joe Cole on the right who in turn
headed it first time into the path of Ballack. His shot was stopped at
the near post by Nikopolidis who, nonetheless, could not hold it. Cue
Lampard to roll in his 103rd career goal for Chelsea from one yard
out. From then, the unbeaten home record that stretches back to that
2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League in February 2006 never
looked in doubt.

With Kalou on the left, Joe Cole on the right and Lampard and Ballack
bossing the centre of midfield this was an intimidating demonstration
of Chelsea's power – to which the Greek side singularly failed to
respond. The overall possession count was 57 per cent in Chelsea's
favour which, in Champions League terms, is the football equivalent of
a military occupation. Having listened to what was presumably a less
than inspiring team talk from their harassed-looking manager
Panagiotis Lemonis, Olympiakos came out for the second half and
promptly conceded a third goal.

A kind description of Kalou's goal would have been that it came from a
goalmouth scramble – but, when it comes to the Olympiakos defence, the
description goalmouth shambles works just as well. Lampard's corner
from the left wing was headed on limply by Drogba and Kalou was
allowed two touches one yard out from goal to put the ball into the
net.

Joe Cole and Makelele both had good chances to score in the later
stages until Olympiakos put together some token resistance towards the
end of the game. The substitute Fernando Belluschi struck the bar with
a shot and Cudicini was obliged to make another good stop moments
later.

Lampard was booked for diving which, in the circumstances, looked
harsh. Florent Malouda and Shaun Wright-Phillips were brought on and
many of those who played last night can probably expect to be rested
for Saturday's trip to Barnsley in the FA Cup. It would be hard to bet
against Chelsea coming through that game still alive in three
competitions this season. Compared to the resistance that they
encountered last night, the visit to Oakwell looks like a tricky
encounter.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cudicini; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole;
Makelele; J Cole (Wright-Phillips, 79), Ballack, Lampard (Essien, 76),
Kalou (Malouda, 70); Drogba. Substitutes not used: Hilario (gk), Alex,
Belletti, Anelka.

Olympiakos (4-5-1): Nikopolidis; Zewlakow, Antzas, J Cesar, Pantos;
Torosidis (Sisic, 75), Patsatzoglou, Ledesma (Belluschi, 53),
Stoltidis, Djordjevic (Leonardo, 57); Kovacevic. Substitutes not used:
Sifakis (gk), Nunez, Mendrinos, Konstantinou.

Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).

Quarter-final qualifiers

Barcelona, Man Utd, Fenerbahce, Arsenal, Chelsea, Schalke, Roma,
Liverpool/Internazionale

The draw for the last eight (1/2 and 8/9 April) and semi-finals is on
Friday 14 March. Teams from the same country can be drawn together.
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Kalou caps cakewalk for rampant Chelsea

Stuart James at Stamford Bridge
Thursday March 6, 2008
The Guardian

Avram Grant can only dream that Chelsea's progress in the Champions
League will remain so serene. While Manchester United and Arsenal
faced testing examinations before taking their place in the last eight
24 hours earlier, Chelsea secured their quarter-final berth with
consummate ease last night. Olympiakos had the air of a team enjoying
a day out, although there will be few memories to cherish when they
arrive back in Athens this morning.

It is now 60 matches unbeaten in all competitions for Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge, a record the Greek champions were never in danger of
ruining. Olympiakos's frailties were brutally exposed as Michael
Ballack, Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou delivered victory.
The scoreline was in keeping with Olympiakos's record in England,
having conceded at least two goals on each of their previous seven
visits. Containing Chelsea and seeking to strike on the counter-attack
had been their original gameplan but damage limitation quickly became
the primary objective after Chelsea struck twice inside the opening 25
minutes. A procession duly unfolded, with the only doubt surrounding
Chelsea's winning margin.

Grant praised "the character and attitude" of his side but, as well as
Chelsea played at times, this was no reliable barometer of their
ability to win the European Cup in Moscow. Arsenal, Manchester United
and, providing they negotiate next week's second leg in Milan,
Liverpool are possible opponents in the next round and, while Grant
expressed no preferences, the Chelsea manager will expect a far more
demanding challenge.

So comfortable were Chelsea that Didier Drogba, restored in place of
Nicolas Anelka, and Kalou, deployed on the left in an attacking
trident which also featured Joe Cole, were showboating before
half-time. John Terry had also taken the opportunity to maraud forward
on occasions, a measure of the confidence coursing through the Chelsea
side.

Only in the final 10 minutes, when the substitute Fernando Belluschi
at last offered an attacking threat, did Olympiakos trouble Carlo
Cudicini. Twice the Chelsea goalkeeper then made smart saves,
thwarting Belluschi and Paraskevas Antzas, although for the remainder
of the evening the Italian could have been forgiven for wondering if
his presence was necessary in the absence of Petr Cech.

Cech had been unexpected omission, having twisted an ankle in training
24 hours earlier, an injury which might have unsettled Chelsea's
preparations for a European tie on other occasions. That possibility
was discounted inside five minutes, however, as Chelsea took an early
lead through Ballack's first Champions League goal of the season.

Lampard was the architect, the England midfielder whipping a
right-footed cross towards the corner of the six-yard box which
Ballack, timing his run impeccably, headed emphatically inside the
near post. Ashley Cole's quick throw-in had exposed a lack of
concentration within the Olympiakos defence in the lead-up to the
breakthrough, and the defending of the Greek side was little better
when Lampard and Ballack combined again 20 minutes later.

Amid consternation in the Olympiakos penalty area, Predrag
Djordjevic's clearance carried height rather than distance,
encouraging Claude Makelele to maintain Chelsea's pressure. The
Frenchman's header found Terry in space on the corner of the penalty
area, inviting the captain to glance into the path of Ballack. An
angled drive was parried by Antonios Nikopolodis, leaving Lampard,
with the goal at his mercy from two yards, to tap home.

Olympiakos were crestfallen, the interval providing only temporary
respite. The second half was not three minutes old when Lampard
drifted an inswinging corner towards the near post. Following a slight
touch from Drogba, Kalou was afforded the time and space to take a
touch inside the six-yard box before bundling the ball beyond the
stranded Nikopolidis.

A rout beckoned and the fourth goal should have arrived five minutes
later when Kalou's pass released Lampard, only for the midfielder to
screw his shot wide. Lampard was later booked for an alleged dive,
prompting Grant to withdraw the midfielder wary of a second dismissal
in two games. It was the only moment of concern for the Chelsea
manager on a night which revealed little about his players' prospects
in the competition.
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Mail:

Treble top: Chelsea join United and Arsenal in last eight of Champions League
Chelsea 3 Olympiacos 0 (Agg: 3-0)


By MATT BARLOW

The plan hatched two years ago was to lure Michael Ballack to Chelsea,
install him alongside Frank Lampard in central midfield and sit back
as the pair obliterated opponents with their goal power.

It has taken a while but finally evidence is starting to seep out of
Stamford Bridge that it may not have been such a foolhardy idea and
gross waste of money.

West Ham had no answer on Saturday and last night Olympiacos were
destroyed in similar fashion by the dynamic duo who earn £250,000
between them each week.

Ballack drifted forward to open the scoring after only six minutes
with a simple header from Lampard's left-wing cross.

Nineteen minutes later, Lampard was on the spot to grab the second
after Ballack's fierce shot had been parried.

Yes, they are blessed with similar talents, perhaps powered by the
same single-minded dedication. They even drive the same kind of car, a
Ferrari 599, white and black in the case of Ballack, blue for Lampard.

But if Avram Grant can devise a system which maximises their goal
power he will be one up on Jose Mourinho.

If he goes all the way to Moscow in the Champions League he will be
two up. No one will care about who had the most Carling Cups.

Salomon Kalou added the third as Chelsea joined Arsenal and Manchester
United in next week's draw for the quarter-finals and Liverpool take a
two-goal lead to Inter Milan with a great chance to make it a quartet
from the Barclays Premier League in the last eight.

If Grant is to reach the final in May, he will have to outfox far
better teams than Olympiacos but, after winning only once in a
tentative February, his team looked firmly back in their ruthless
rhythm last night.

They have extended their unbeaten home record to 60 games and the
manager will go to Barnsley in the FA Cup on Saturday without fear of
the chop.

John Terry had called for patience before the game, aware of the major
headache an early Olympiacos goal would cause, but the Chelsea
captain, who watched the first leg from the bench in Greece, declared
his intent with two strong headers in the opening seconds. It set the
tone.

From a free-kick awarded as Terry won the second of those headers,
Didier Drogba muscled into the penalty area and took aim.

His effort was helped on by Joe Cole, beating the goalkeeper but
thumping into the foot of a post. The offside flag went up, harshly as
Cole looked level, but Chelsea had set their tempo high.

When a ball rolled into touch on the left, Ashley Cole gathered it in
a flash. He threw it to Lampard, who swung a cross to the near post
where Ballack slipped his marker, Ieroklis Stoltidis, and rose to head
in the 14th Champions League goal of his career.

The Blues were three up inside 22 minutes at West Ham on Saturday and
killed off the Greeks with the second when Lampard tucked in the
rebound after Antonios Nikopolidis had parried Ballack's drive into
his path.

It must rank among the easiest of his 103 Chelsea goals. Midfield
remains Grant's greatest puzzle.

He seems content to share the anchor role between Claude Makelele and
John Mikel Obi, leaving Ballack, Lampard and Michael Essien to contest
the other two places in the 4-3-3 system.

Lampard missed out in Greece, Ballack at Wembley. Essien, the only
player to start Chelsea's first seven European games this season but
only one booking from a ban, was sacrificed last night.

He watched the Lampard and Ballack show from the bench before a 14-
minute cameo.

In effect, the personnel mattered little. It was the intensity, absent
in Athens and at Wembley, which put the home team in command.

Olympiacos, unbeaten in 21 games upon arrival in London, were swept
aside like the Hammers. Out of their depth for long periods.

Quick in the tackle and certain in the pass, this was Chelsea at their
dominant best. Their movement in attack was fluid and Joe Cole and
Kalou worked tirelessly to cover the hard yards on the flanks,
supported by their full backs.

At one point, Grant strode to the touchline to issue a palms down
gesture which said: 'OK, let's not go mad.'

Kalou forced in the third when a Lampard corner found a bizarre route
through a crowded goal area to the back post and there could have been
more.

Lampard screwed a chance wide and Drogba saw a goal ruled out for
offside. Nikopolidis saved again from Joe Cole and even Makelele
ventured forward to try his luck.

The only slight blemishes on a victorious night were a trio of
needless yellow cards for Lampard, Terry and Paulo Ferreira.

Carlo Cudicini, making his second European appearance of the season,
after Petr Cech injured his ankle on the eve of the game, was barely
troubled until the closing minutes when Olympiacos launched a surprise
late attack.

Fernando Belluschi rattled the bar from 25 yards and then Stoltidis
stepped forward to test the Italian goalkeeper with a free-kick, given
for a foul by Terry, who hobbled out of Stamford Bridge with a sore
foot but insisted it was nothing serious.

Cudicini failed to hold the vicious low drive from Stoltidis but
reacted superbly, springing to his feet to turn a follow-up around the
post from Paraskevas Antzas, who held his head as though it was just
one of those nights.

Olympiacos have now lost on all eight of their visits to England and
have conceded 27 goals.

Cudicini's shut-out means it is now 10hr 21min since Chelsea conceded
a goal in European football.

That was scored by Valencia's David Villa in November. Goals from
Lampard and Ballack, clean sheets galore.

Roman Abramovich, who jetted back after Russia's presidential
elections to see the game, can continue to fantasise about Moscow on
May 21.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cudicini 6; Ferreira 7, Carvalho 7, Terry 7, A Cole
7; Ballack 8, Makelele 7, Lampard 8 (Essien 76min); J Cole 7 (Wright
Phillips 79), Drogba 7, Kalou 7 (Malouda 71, 6). Booked: Lampard,
Ferreira, Terry.

OLYMPIACOS (4-5-1): Nikopolidis 6; Zewlakow 5, Antzas 6, Julio Cesar
6, Pantos 6; Torosidis 5 (Sisic 75, 6), Patsatzoglou 6, Ledesma 6
(Belluschi 54, 6), Stoltidis 6, Djordjevic 5 (Leonardo 57, 6);
Kovacevic 5. Booked: Stoltidis.

Man of the match: Frank Lampard.

Referee: Manuel Gonzalez (Spain).
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Mirror:

Lamps and Ballack lead the Blues on Greek cruise

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST 16, 2ND LEG: CHELSEA 3 OLYMPIACOS 0 Chelsea win
3-0 on aggregate
CHELSEA DUO 'SHOWBOAT' IN EASY WIN
Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer 6/03/2008

Hands Up all those who still insist Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack
can't play together?

Thought so. And while Avram Grant has only regained some of the
authority he lost at Wembley the other week, the response hasn't been
too bad at all.

Last night, as Ballack and Lampard combined to set each other up and
Chelsea cruised into the last eight of the Champions League with a
contemptuous dismissal of the giftbearing Greeks, the real Blues were
back on display.

Ballack's close-range header was the first act of an evening of
non-stop running by the German, while Lampard's tap-in killed off the
tie before the break.

Salomon Kalou cashed in with another simple finish as Chelsea romped
home at a canter, reaching the quarterfinals for the fourth time in
the five seasons since Roman Abramovich arrived with his bottomless
pit of cash.

Abramovich is desperate to see his side in the final in Moscow in May
but a week after manager Grant lost his cool at the criticism that
came his way after the Carling Cup debacle, his team have come out
firing on his behalf.

Maybe you should get angry every week, Avram.

Chelsea made five changes to the side that grafted to a laborious
goalless draw in the first leg in Athens, with keeper Petr Cech a
high-profile absentee. But Chelsea may well have managed without
anyone between the posts, such was their dominance. There was
certainly a big change in attitude between last night's line-up and
the side that played in Greece. Two weeks ago, Chelsea had been
negative and restricted, fearful of committing themselves and letting
the home side control the tempo. Last night could not have been more
different, as Grant's side tore into the Greeks from the start to take
an iron grip on the contest.

The opening goal only took five minutes, by which time Chelsea could
have been three up. Joe Cole was wrongly flagged offside as he hit the
post after a Didier Drogba run, then a terrific low cross by Ashley
Cole was just cleared.

From the throw, the left-back found Lampard, who floated in to the
near post, and the Greeks were statues as Ballack read the centre and
directed his simple but secure header between the static Antonios
Nikopolidis and his upright. Joe Cole was a constant menace, pulling
wide right and then popping up on the other side during a terrific
move which ended with Drogba volleying just over the bar.

The Greeks were looking a well-beaten side already, and on 25 minutes,
the Blues were two goals to the good.

Lampard's free-kick was only half-cleared and Claude Makelele and then
John Terry played head-tennis.

Ballack, so alert, latched on to the loose ball, rifling a low shot
which was parried by Nikopolidis straight to Lampard. The Chelsea No.8
simply walked his 13th goal of the season over the line. It was all
too easy, with Terry able to rampage forward from the back. At
half-time the only question being asked was how many Chelsea would
get.

Olympiacos, quite honestly, were hopeless - outgunned and outclassed.

Chelsea, to their credit, kept looking for more. Only a desperate
block by Cristian Ledesma denied Lampard after he linked with Drogba
two minutes after the restart.

From the resulting corner, though, the third did come.

Nobody bothered to pick up Ricardo Carvalho as Lampard arced the
flag-kick into the six-yard box and when the ball bounced down off the
Portuguese defender's heels, Kalou poked home from a couple of feet.

Now it was getting embarrassing as the Greeks capitulated, Lampard
angling a low strike just wide of the far post after another huge gap
was opened up down the right.

Drogba thought he had a fourth as he stroked home from Lampard's pass,
only for the flag to cut short his celebrations, while Joe Cole and
Makelele were denied by Nikopolidis.

This one, though, was long since over.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Ballack,
Makelele, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, J Cole.

Olympiacos: Nikopolidis, Zewlakow, Julio Cesar, Antzas, Pantos,
Ledesma, Patsatzoglou, Torosidis, Djordjevic, Stoltidis, Kovacevic.

Chelsea v OLYMPIACOS

62% POSSESSION 38%

8 SHOTS ON TARGET 3

6 SHOTS OFF TARGET 3

4 OFFSIDES 6

4 CORNERS 4

20 FOULS 18

3 YELLOW CARDS 1

0 RED CARDS 0

ATTENDANCE: 37,721

Man Of The Match: Ballack
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Sun:

Chelsea 3 Olympiakos 0

By IAN McGARRY


A LOT has been said about Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.
That both men play a very similar position. True.
They both drive a Ferrari 599. True.
They cannot play in the same team. False.

A virtuoso performance in perfect harmony from two of the world's best
midfielders saw Chelsea romp home against Olympiakos at Stamford
Bridge last night.
This was no ordinary victory, though. In the realm of the Champions
League, where only the best get on, Chelsea were masterful.

Ever since his free transfer from Bayern Munich two years ago and his
much-publicised mega-salary, Germany captain Ballack has found it
difficult to live up to the hero status of England star Lamps.

While Lampard has shown again and again his value to the Blues,
Ballack has had to overcome injury and poor form.

But he has finally started to show the quality which saw Chelsea
outbid Europe's biggest teams to sign him. And he is doing it with the
help of Lampard. Between them, the pair earn around £250,000 a week.

But last night they were priceless as Chelsea booked their place in
the Champions League quarter-finals.

A goal apiece — each helping the other to score — followed a similar
show of excellence in the 4-0 romp at West Ham last Saturday.

And all on a night which could have been far more tricky for Avram
Grant's Blues.

With keeper Petr Cech unable to start because of an ankle injury which
may yet keep him out of Saturday's FA Cup clash at Barnsley, the omens
were all in Olympiakos' favour.

Add to that the referee was Manuel Gonzalez, who oversaw Chelsea's
Champions League semi-final defeat to Liverpool last season, and it
looked a bit dodgy.

Not for long though. The seeds of the partnership which looked so
fruitful against West Ham were soon in full bloom.

Ballack scored Chelsea's third at Upton Park but he was quicker off
the mark against the Greeks.

Lampard flighted a perfect sixth-minute cross to the German, whose
header beat Antonios Nikopolidis at the near post. It was a sweet
moment for Ballack, who feared he may be dropped.

In the end it was Michael Essien who stayed on the bench in what
proved a cute move by boss Grant. Joe Cole was another who proved
himself in the Premier League clash and he was given licence to roam
across the frontline last night.

Cole came close on a couple of occasions but it was dynamic duo
Ballack and Lamps who put Chelsea out of sight.

With Olympiakos struggling to cope with an attack which flooded at
them in numbers, the Blues' new midfield partnership struck again
after 25 minutes.

This time Ballack was sent free to face the keeper one-on-one.

But when his shot was deflected, guess who followed up and swept the
ball into the open goal? Yes, super Frank was on hand to notch his
103rd goal for Chelsea. After Grant admitted the Champions League is
the club's priority this season, Lamps' goal looked invaluable as this
contest raced towards half-time.

Having produced an accomplished display in Athens, Olympiakos were
expected to provide much tougher opposition in London than this.

But all they had to show for the first period was a cross from
Vassilis Torosidis which had keeper Carlo Cudicini mildly flustered
before Paulo Ferreira cleared. Apart from a late flurry, that was the
sum of Olympiakos' threat.

Not Chelsea's though. Just after the break they won a corner on the
right and it was three.

Lampard delivered a bending cross which Didier Drogba and Ricardo
Carvalho touched on for Salomon Kalou to tuck home the third.

Terry was magnificent

It was more proof of Chelsea's utter domination and made their bid to
be crowned kings of Europe more credible.

A scoreline which was already the most convincing of any of the first
knockout-phase games pressed home their claims.

At the back, John Terry was magnificent in winning every aerial
challenge while marshalling the defence to make the visitors look more
like tourists.

Grant could afford to withdraw Kalou, Lamps and Joe Cole in a second
period which should have seen Drogba on the scoresheet as well.

His effort was wrongly ruled offside, though it barely mattered.

Chelsea march on in another competition and now face Barnsley with
their hopes of making this a memorable season even greater than
before.

The third of four English sides to reach the last eight in Europe,
this is becoming as intense a race as the Premier League.

And with Lamps and Ballack in this kind of form, anything is possible
for Chelsea.