Chelsea feel pain in Spain
Chelsea suffered a first defeat in open play for six months, and damaged their Champions League chances in the process, as Real Betis ambushed Jose Mourinho’s side in Spain.
It was a far cry from last month’s reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea went top of Group G with a 4-0 win. The Spanish side are now just a point behind the Blues while Liverpool have returned to the top thanks to their win over Anderlecht.
Betis took the lead midway through the first half. A cross came in from Capi on the left wing, which evaded the Chelsea defence before reaching substitute Dani, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes before scoring.
Eidur Gudjohnsen skied a great chance to equalise late in the half. Then Dani could have doubled the home side’s lead but struck the ball wide with the last kick of the half after Petr Cech had parried his initial cross.
The visitors’ best chance of equalising fell to Michael Essien, whose 72nd minute shot hit one post, rolled along the goal line and came back off the other. A yellow card for Shaun Wright-Phillips means he is suspended for Chelsea’s next match against Anderlecht.