Chelsea’s moderate form continued as they lost 1-0 to Marseille at Stade Velodrome on Wednesday.
The Champions League Group F clash had little to play for as both sides had already qualified for the knockout stages and Chelsea were confirmed as group winners, but Brandao’s goal ended their perfect European record this season, and added to their poor domestic form of late to boot.
Carlo Ancelotti picked a strong Blues side, but they were on the back foot for most of the night in France, Benoit Cheyrou volleying inches wide early on for the hosts before Mathieu Valbuena beat Petr Cech but not the crossbar with a super 10th minute volley.
Loic Remy and Brazilian talent Brandao also went close in the opening stages as former Chelsea midfielder Dider Deschamps – now the manager at l’OM – wondered why his side were not in front, though they could have been behind but for the referee changing his mind.
That is because Russian official Vladislav Bezborodov looked to have given Chelsea a penalty for a foul by Souleymane Diawara on Florent Malouda. However, he then consulted with his assistant after some pressure from the home players and decided against awarding the spot kick.
Ramires sent a rare Chelsea effort over the bar before former Marseille hero Didier Drogba also cleared Steve Mandanda’s goal
But Marseille were still having the better of it and they saw a goal chalked off ten minutes before the break. Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze rose to head Cheyrou’s free-kick beyond Cech, but the visiting defence had stepped up to leave the Argentine offside.
Salomon Kalou then shot wide for Chelsea just before the half-time whistle.
Drogba only lasted an hour, with Daniel Sturridge replacing him as he received a standing ovation from the Marseille fans, whose side were still on top but creating less chances.
Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo did have one when he flashed a shot beyond the far post, but it took 81 minutes for the breakthrough to eventually come.
Taiwo was again involved as Ramires deflected his cross into the path of Brandao and the former Shakhtar Donetsk man slotted home from inside the six-yard box.