• Champions League round-up

Chelsea denied at the death as Arsenal scrape to victory

Frank Lampard opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 56th minute of an entertaining game in Valencia © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Ballack blunt on former Chelsea team-mates
  
• News: Lampard wants to spend 'a good few years' at Chelsea
  
• News: Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped for England spot
  
• News: Villas-Boas defends Kalou substitution
  
• News: Lampard to come back stronger for Chelsea
  
• News: Szczesny hails 'great defensive performance' by Arsenal
  

Champions League gallery

Frank Lampard answered his critics and sent a reminder of his importance to manager Andre Villas-Boas, but Chelsea were denied victory in the dying moments as Valencia snatched a 1-1 draw during Wednesday's Champions League action.

Juan Mata was the man expected to dominate the majority of the spotlight after his summer switch from Valencia to Stamford Bridge, but the more significant name on Chelsea's team-sheet was Lampard, making only his second start in the last five matches. The England international was labelled a "sensational player" by his manager prior to kick-off, and he backed it up with a crucial goal midway through the second half.

Lampard's strike looked set to be the winner until a moment of madness from Salomon Kalou, who inexplicably handled inside the area with five minutes remaining. Roberto Soldado calmly slotted home the resulting penalty to ruin Chelsea's 100 per cent record in the competition.

Chelsea started well against a Valencia side currently placed seventh in La Liga, Fernando Torres bursting through early on, only to see his space squeezed out by the Valencia defence. However, the first glaring opportunity fell to the hosts, Pablo Hernandez arriving unmarked before guiding his half-volley into the side-netting.

The half-time break saw Chelsea move into another gear, and the Blues would have been three up inside 10 minutes of the resumption but for Valencia keeper Diego Alves. First he stopped a point-blank Torres header, and then he denied Ramires when clean through. Torres was frustrated once again when he controlled and volleyed all in one motion, this time Alves blocking with his knee.

A goal simply had to come, and it was scripted that Lampard would make the breakthrough with a trademark drive. Florent Malouda was the man to hit the byline, cutting the ball back to the far side of the area where Lampard kept his shot low to finally beat Alves.

There was still work to do at the back, Petr Cech making a superb reaction stop to deny Pablo Piatti, but Chelsea were worthy of their lead until Kalou's moment of madness at the death.

Andre Santos rammed home Arsenal's second goal © PA Photos

Enlarge

Elsewhere in the group, Bayer Leverkusen have their first points of the campaign thanks to a 2-0 win over Genk. Lars Bender scored the all-important opener on the half-hour, before Michael Ballack sealed the win in the final minute.

Arsenal made it three wins on the bounce in all competitions but only after a series of nervy moments against Olympiacos at Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger's side continued to show glaring holes in defence, but they did enough to register a 2-1 victory to move onto four points in Group F.

Ravaged by injuries, the Gunners opted for a youthful line-up with Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey both left on the bench. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was handed his first Champions League start, and he took just eight minutes to mark it with a goal as Wenger's men remained on course for a place in the knockout stages.

The former Southampton man drifted in from the right flank to control the ball on his chest, before a fortunate ricochet allowed him to drift past two more defenders. Suddenly finding himself with a sight of goal, Oxlade-Chamberlain drove the ball into the far corner off the inside of a post with his left foot to hand Arsenal the lead.

Moments later the Gunners were grateful to another of their new additions, Mikel Arteta, for keeping their advantage in tact after the Spaniard cleared off the line following a goalmouth scramble. It proved a crucial block as, within minutes, Arsenal went up the other end to score their second, Andre Santos ramming home right-footed after his initial cross to Marouane Chamakh was blocked.

Arsenal's defence never once looked accomplished though, as has been the case all season, and it was no surprise when David Fuster equalised with an unmarked header at a corner, scoring Olympiacos' first goal on English soil since Rivaldo netted against Liverpool in 2004.

The Greeks then came within inches of an equaliser when Vasilis Torosidis curled against the bar on the hour, but Arsenal clung on for the victory.

Marseille appear to be Arsenal's main rivals in Group F, after they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at Stade Velodrome. Andre Ayew opened the scoring for the French side before Loic Remy doubled the lead on the hour. Ayew then killed the Germans off with 20 minutes remaining, converting from the spot.

Pedro scored Barcelona's second goal © Getty Images

Enlarge

Barcelona picked up their first win of the this year's Champions League campaign, defeating BATE Borisov 5-0 in Belarus. An Alexander Volodko own goal handed Barca the breakthrough after 20 minutes, and that signalled the opening of the floodgates.

Pedro's deft header doubled the lead two minutes later, and by half-time it was three as Lionel Messi capitalised on a goalkeeping error. Messi then added to his tally after the break, moving level with Barca's second all-time leading goalscorer in the process on 194 goals, before David Villa sealed an easy night for the Spaniards.

AC Milan will surely join the reigning European champions in making it out of Group H, after they recorded a 2-0 win over Viktoria Plzen to improve their points total to four. The Italian giants waited until the second half to open the scoring through a Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty, and the big Swede then showed sublime skill to lay on a second for Antonio Cassano.

Elsewhere, Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg picked up their first points with a 3-1 win over 10-man Porto. James Rodriquez handed Porto a flying start but Roman Shirokov levelled matters not long after. Zenit were then able to run away with things - Shirokov completing a brace and Danny adding a third - after Jorge Fucile was sent off just before half-time for a second bookable offence.

And Shakhtar Donetsk came from behind to draw 1-1 with Apoel Nicosia, who led through a 61st-minute effort from Ivan Trickovski. Shakhtar equalised within three minutes thanks to Jadson.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.