Chelsea produced a dogged defensive display as their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg with Atletico Madrid ended in a 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon.
But the result came at a cost, with Petr Cech and John Terry both forced off through injury and Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel receiving bookings which will see them miss the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday through suspension.
Jose Mourinho sent his side out with the clear intention of keeping a clean sheet, with five men in midfield providing a solid screen to the back four and only former Atletico striker Fernando Torres operating in a lone attacking role.
The match had been billed as a showdown between Chelsea goalkeeper Cech and the heir to his Stamford Bridge throne, Thibaut Courtois, who is taking in his third season on loan with the Spanish league leaders.
But Cech's night was brought to a premature conclusion when he was injured after falling awkwardly onto his elbow after a collision with Raul Garcia as he pushed a 15th-minute Koke corner over the crossbar, with 41-year-old Mark Schwarzer sent into the fray after a lengthy stoppage.
Diego Costa squared up to Terry in the opening exchanges after a clearance from the Chelsea skipper with referee Jonas Eriksson forced to step in, before Cole got away with taking an additional touch on the edge of his box as Raul Garcia was penalised for his challenge on the left-back.
Cahill nodded a corner narrowly wide in the 21st minute but the whistle had already gone before, as the half-hour mark approached, Willian burst forward and fed Ramires, but his effort from the edge of the box was not a threat to the under-employed Courtois or close enough to Torres.
After being a spectator for much of the time since entering the fray, Schwarzer was forced to scramble across his line to cover a fine curled effort from midfielder Mario Suarez which shaped just the wrong side of his left upright.
Source: Skysport
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