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Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 24, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

0-4

FT(HT: 0-1)
Cahill (20'), Willian (73'), Oscar (77'), Zouma (91')

Player Ratings: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-4 Chelsea

Sports Mole looks at who stood out during Chelsea's 4-0 triumph over 10-man Maccabi Tel Aviv in Group G of the Champions League.

Chelsea's hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League were handed a boost this evening as they ran out 4-0 winners over Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Sammy Ofer Stadium.

Gary Cahill broke the deadlock with 20 minutes on the clock, before Tal Ben Haim was dismissed against his former club just five minutes before the interval.

It took until the final 20 minutes for the visitors to turn their numerical advantage into goals, but Willian, Oscar and Kurt Zouma all found the net in the closing stages to hand Chelsea a comfortable victory.

Here, Sports Mole looks at who stood out over the course of the 90 minutes in Israel.


Maccabi Tel Aviv's Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim (C) receives a red card during the UEFA champions league football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Chelsea FC, at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the coastal city of Haifa, on November 24, 2015© Getty Images

MACCABI

Goal

Predrag Rajkovic: He may have conceded four times, and probably should have done better with Zouma's header, but it could have been worse had he not made some fine saves. He denied both Hazard and Azpilicueta with strong one-handed stops in the second half, and his save to turn Cahill's initial header onto the post in the build-up to the opening goal was truly world class. (7/10)

Defence

Elazar Dasa: Did a credible job up against Hazard defensively and got forward well in the second half especially. Had two decent sights of goal but was unable to make the most of either. (6/10)

Tal Ben Haim: His performance up until his red card was good, marshalling a Maccabi defence that was keeping Chelsea largely at bay. However, he made things even more difficult for his side with a stupid swipe at Costa, and he could have no complaints at being given his marching orders. (5/10)

Carlos Garcia: Decent display at the back as he helped to limit Chelsea's clear-cut chances, despite the visitors seeing the lion's share of possession. (6/10)

Omri Ben Harush: Switched into the middle following Ben Haim's sending-off and adapted well to the new role. (6/10)

Midfield

Dor Peretz: Should have done better with a headed chance in the opening couple of minutes and was unable to prevent Chelsea from playing some slick passing moves in and around the Maccabi box. (5/10)

Gal Alberman: Also bamboozled by Chelsea's passing at times, but he improved in the second half and was good on the ball, most notably creating the chance for Dasa with a fine pass. (6/10)

Tal Ben Chaim: Was forced to sit behind the ball for much of the match, but was always one of those busting a gut to get upfield when there was a chance to counter. One of his side's brighter attacking players. (6/10)

Nosa Igiebor: Showed glimpses here and there of perhaps having the quality to ask questions of Chelsea, but never actually came up with anything of real substance. (5/10)

Avi Rikan: Unable to make an impact going forward, before or after being moved to left-back following the red card. Struggled up against Willian. (5/10)

Attack

Eran Zahavi: Came closest to getting an equaliser when his shot across goal was just tipped wide by Begovic. Struggled to really get involved for long spells, but did carry a threat at times. (6/10)

Substitutes

Eden Ben Basat: Introduced 10 minutes from time with the game already dead and buried. (6/10)

Shlomy Azulay: Handed five minutes at the end in place of Alberman, but it was merely a case of waiting for the final whistle at that point. (6/10)

Barak Itzhaki: Brought on in the 89th minute and had no time to make an impact. (6/10)


Oscar of Chelsea celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC and Chelsea FC at Sammy Ofer Stadium on November 24, 2015© Getty Images

CHELSEA

Goal

Asmir Begovic: Didn't have a lot to do, but was alert and ready when he was called into action with fine saves to deny Dasa and Zahavi in the second half. (7/10)

Defence

Cesar Azpilicueta: Got forward well down the right flank and gave up nothing at the other end either. Able to play the vast majority of the match inside the Maccabi half. (7/10)

Gary Cahill: Was solid at the back for the most part, and crucially gave his side the lead with a poacher's finish inside the box, reacting quickest after his initial header had been tipped onto the post. (7/10)

John Terry: Will be unhappy that Maccabi were able to create two clear chances in the second half, both of which came down his channel. Stretchered off after 72 minutes. (6/10)

Abdul Baba Rahman: Very good going forward and provided the assist for the third goal with a sumptuous delivery into the area. All of Maccabi's chances did come down his flank, though. (7/10)

Midfield

Cesc Fabregas: Helped his side to dominate possession and, while clear-cut chances were hard to come by, Fabregas's passing constantly asked questions of the Maccabi defence. (7/10)

Nemanja Matic: A good base from which Chelsea could build on, and was able to get forward himself on a few occasions too as Maccabi defended so deeply. (6/10)

Willian: The man of the match. Tireless throughout his time on the field and got that all-important second goal with another fine free kick - his sixth of the season. (8/10)

Oscar: Responsible for much of the slick passing in and around the Maccabi box that had the hosts chasing shadows at times. It was very easy on the eye, but Chelsea were perhaps guilty of overplaying on a couple of occasions. Got the third goal with a good header. (7/10)

Eden Hazard: Looked very dangerous at times, but at others you could tell why Mourinho was growing increasingly frustrated on the sidelines. Guilty of lazy defending when he allowed Dasa in for a good chance, and a wayward pass later in the second half saw him hooked by Mourinho. (6/10)

Attack

Diego Costa: Another who seemed to incur the wrath of Mourinho. He was almost statuesque inside the box at times when a bit more movement could have seen him grab a goal or two. (6/10)

Substitutes

Pedro: Replaced Hazard with just over 20 minutes remaining and came close with two efforts in quick succession that ended up just wide of the far post. (6/10)

Kurt Zouma: On for the injured Terry and made his mark in stoppage time when he rose highest in the area to plant a fourth past the keeper. (7/10)

Loic Remy: Given the final 10 minutes in place of Willian but failed to make an impact. (6/10)


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Gary Cahill of Chelsea celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC and Chelsea FC at Sammy Ofer Stadium on November 24, 2015
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