Chelsea v Steaua player ratings

Chelsea produced a thrilling comeback to see off the Romanian champions and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Here’s how we rated the Blues players in their victory at Stamford Bridge.

Petr Cech: 8
His one-handed save early on was as important as it was impressive. Had Raul Rusescu scored to double Steaua’s aggregate lead, the Romanians sky-high confidence may well have grown into a swagger. Cech could do little about the goal they did score, given the poor marking in front of him, and also pawed away a second-half effort.

Cesar Azpilicueta: 6
Took a knock to the head in the first half which subdued him slightly and also had a tough job tracking Steaua’s energetic runners. Got forward well but lacked an end product.

John Terry: 7
The returning skipper looked a little rusty early on, unsurprisingly so given his lack of recent match practice, but grew in confidence as the game wore on. Scored the crucial goal to get Chelsea back on track and marshalled the back four through a tricky spell late on.

David Luiz: 6
Guilty of letting Steaua’s frontmen in behind him too many times in the first half and often failed to clear his lines properly in the air in the second. Strong in the tackle and roamed forward occasionally, betraying his midfield ambitions.

Ashley Cole: 8
Had an excellent game, in spite of a slow start when Steaua’s pacy right-winger Adrian Popa threatened to give him the runaround. Made some vital challenges, particularly when required to sweep up behind Terry and Luiz.

John Obi Mikel: 6
His decent first-half effort was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing night for the Nigerian. Steaua’s pressing game upset Chelsea’s rhythm in the first half and Mikel was often forced into conceding possession too cheaply.

Ramires: 7
Another player to improve after an inauspicious start, when he too gave the ball away too easily in midfield. His dynamic run helped set up Mata’s opener and he was often at the heart of Chelsea counter-attacks in the second half.

Oscar: 6
In and out of the game, but could have got himself on the scoresheet only to roll an effort just wide. Linked up well occasionally with Chelsea’s other attackers but was outshone by all three.

Juan Mata: 8
When he found just a yard of space, the little Spaniard wreaked havoc and was involved in all three goals. He scored the first with a cute finish after a neat exchange of passes with Ramires, sent in the free-kick headed home by Terry and was also part of the move from which Fernando Torres netted the third.

Eden Hazard: 8
A vast improvement on his first-leg display. The fleet-footed Belgian seems to relish big occasions at Stamford Bridge and he was Steaua’s chief tormenter in the first half.

Fernando Torres: 7
Cut his typically forlorn figure in the first half but came to life in the second and the way he buried his goal will have lifted a weight off his usually slumped shoulders. Took on players with conviction and visibly grew in confidence, although he had a couple of other chances to add to his tally. Let’s just not talk about the penalty.

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