PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: BAYER LEVERKUSEN V CHELSEA

WE HAVE HISTORY
Until the game at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 1, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen had never met in European competition. The Blues' only success on German soil to date came at Stuttgart in February 2004.

Back in September Chelsea made hard work of seeing off a resilient Bayer side, who conceded a hefty 24 fouls. When Fernando Torres was unable to turn in an inviting Daniel Sturridge cross, then saw a goal scrubbed out for offside, it looked like it might not be his night.

However, the Spaniard was always lively and on his toes, and would later play a part in both Blues goals.

Before that, however, the hosts found Germany keeper Bernd Leno in inspired form, dealing with headers from Torres and Branislav Ivanovic, and turning away Daniel Sturridge's close-range effort.

Just past the hour Andre Villas-Boas made a double substitution of Nicolas Anelka and Frank Lampard for Sturridge and Raul Meireles, and within a few minutes the Blues had the lead.

A typically incisive run from the back by David Luiz stretched Bayer, and when the ball was worked down the left and back to him via Torres, the Brazilian expertly drilled home from just inside the box.

With a Nicolas Anelka header seemingly incorrectly scrubbed out for offside, it was a tense 25 minutes before Juan Mata capped a fine personal performance by sliding home a Torres pass.

Tonight, of course, Chelsea reacquaint with Michael Ballack, who received such a fine welcome on his return to the Bridge. He has been wearing a protective mask because of a broken nose, similar to that of his friend and former teammate Petr Cech.

Chelsea's biggest away win in the Champions League
20/10/1999- Galatasaray 0-5 Chelsea - First group stage

Bayer's biggest home win in the Champions League proper
05/11/1997 - Leverkusen 4-1 Sporting Lisbon - Group stage

Bayer Leverkusen v Chelsea