Flair of the Drog

Playing Barcelona seems like a standard season fixture now. This is the third year straight that we've drawn them. It is also the third year running where we have had the reigning European Champions in our group. Porto, Thieving Scousers, and Barcelona this season.

Last night had Eidur back at the Bridge for the first time since he left. We miss him; he was, and is, deeply Chelsea. It took Frank Rijkaard an hour to notice last night who he was really performing for...or rather not performing for! Top boy Boris!

Prior to last night, Barcelona's previous two Champions League defeats were both dished out by us. We can now make that their last three. A superb strike from Drogba, not dissimilar to his Liverpool winner, seconds into the second half, was enough to take all the points, and give us three wins out of three so far this campaign.

Last season, Barca had a fluorescent yellow kit. This season, they have borrowed bright orange motorway maintenance uniforms. Unbelievable.

Drogba was a monster last night. 10 times the player he was last season. This is the guy who has turned his game upside down, and now has the confidence, and it seems - the ability to score at all levels. His defensive work, and his build up play were incredible too, and he fully deserves to be man-of-the-match.

It looked like Barcelona were not at their best. Maybe so, but that was down to the stunning performance put in by us, and the complete ineptitude of Rijkaard. He is no more than the bloke to steers my train to work every day...The Barcelona setup relies on Messi and the Goofy Fucker creating everything, and last night, they were nowhere.

Messi started well, and had the better of Ashley Cole, but once he had taken a bit of abuse from the MHL (We can remember back to February, even if he can't...wanker), when he came to take a corner, he decided he didn't want to come into our half anymore! Poof!

After the goal, Barca went to three at the back and they even doubled Ronaldinhio and Messi onto the left against Boulahrouz. No fear, he was well up to the task, and kept them both out of the game completely. It is not often that the Goofy Fucker is anonymous, but he was last night. If Drogba hadn't had such an inspired game, Boula would certainly have been MOTM.

Hilario looked nervous when he came out, not surprising given the circumstances, but he played well and made his saves. The crowd did well to get behind him, and he picked up as the game went on. Shevchenko was again excellent, along with Essien. His goals will come. He was so unlucky with rebounds. We should definitely have scored 3 more. The chance we did take was the most difficult of the 4!

A quick note about the referee - Frank De Bleekere from Belgium. An excellent performance. He let the game run, didn't entertain the cheating, and generally kept it no-nonsense. A very refreshing change to the pathetic pantomime that usually surrounds this fixture.

This leaves us top with 9 points, Barca and Bremen sharing second place with 4 points. Next stop Barcelona!