After the Champions League not much fuss was made over Chelsea’s group and it certainly did not earn the moniker “Group of Death”.
However our opponents yesterday Shaktar Donestk are playing fantastic football and have set up the group in a way that could see us or Juventus fail to qualify from the group.
Last nights game was one for the football purist with both sides fielding strong, creative and attacking line ups with both sides taking seeming to give little thought to how they would prevent the opposition from scoring.
This was the kind of football that neutrals want to see every game, the game was free flowing and had a fast paced end to end tempo from start to finish.
Shaktar dominated the first half but went in behind due to less than impressive goalkeeping and a moment of divine skill from Oscar.
The second half belonged to Chelsea although it saw Shaktar equalise earlier in the half and only a last gasp header from Victor Moses prevented the Ukrainian champions from claiming a well deserved draw.
This was the first defeat in 25 for Shaktar and a huge result for Roberto Di Matteo, only one point separates the top three teams in the group and the game against Juventus will be huge for us.
Earn a draw and a win at home against the group minnows will be enough to see us through to the next round, lose and well there are several potential outcomes.
Onwards and upwards and hurrah for good football.
