Chelsea 0-1 Valencia: Ross Barkley misses costly penalty in Champions League opener

Chelsea vs Valencia
Champions League Group H
8:00pm Tuesday 17th September

Stamford Bridge
(Att: 39469)

Ross Barkley missed a late VAR-awarded penalty as Frank Lampard lost 1-0 to Valencia on his Champions League debut as Chelsea manager.
Chelsea had the chance to cancel out the 74th-minute opener of Rodrigo and occupying a point when the Video Assistant Referee alarmed the officer in the area to Daniel Wass’ handball with three minutes remaining.
Barkley insisted the spot-kick should be taken by him, snatching the ball however his effort cannoned off the top of the crossbar.
The penalty controversy awaits the very first home victory of his tenure at Chelsea and compounded a introduction for Lampard, that dropped Mason Mount only 16 minutes.
Fans and players supposedly arrived in London in disarray following the sacking of supervisor Marcelino week, as they produced a classy screen against the youthful side of Lampard which featured four competition debutants however they were far from mutiny.
Tammy Abraham, fresh from his hat-trick at Wolves, was denied a Champions League goal when his near-post movie was obstructed by Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Mason Mount obtained a painful introduction when former Arsenal midfielder Frances Coquelin left his claws.
Abraham went close again with a far-post header in the cross and Willian’s powerful run of Cesar Azpilicueta through the middle only produced a shot which flew wide.
Chelsea’s biggest danger in the first half, willian fashioned a opener when he controlled Mateo Kovacic’s cross-field pass but his shot flew . And the Brazilian drive towards the near post was parried evident.
Marcos Alonso took the match to Valencia in the second half, drilling at a free-kick which Cillessen tipped behind before going the corner .
But at the 74th minute, they dropped, Rodrigo providing that the slip as he swept the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga and raced the cracked free-kick of Daniel Parejo to the Chelsea defence.
When Chelsea’s players appealed for a handball, the play reached fever pitch five minutes from time, along with replays did indeed reveal protector Wass’ hand had hit at.
After an abysmal VAR wait, there was a spot-kick finally given however Barkley, on as a substitute only seven minutes earlier, took responsibility into his hands only to crash his campaign.
Chelsea director Frank Lampard:”Ross is your penalty taker. He was and felt a couple, was when he has begun, and was pre-season and he missed it. I really don’t understand what the conversation was. Willian and jorginho have been the penalty takers on the pitch, but he becomes the penalty taker if Ross comes on.
“We probably deserved a win, or at least a draw. We made enough . Therefore it is a lesson from Champions League football not plenty of chances but superior opportunities and obviously a punishment we concede from the 1 shot on target. It is a match we played in, and we lost.
The good news is we have got five more games to go in the category, but that’s the reality of dropping the very first game at home, it gets people [other] matches more important especially since they return to back away from home.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell told The Debate:
“It is the same rigmarole because the Paul Pogba one – who is the designated taker? Barkley came on following 80 minutes, Jorginho’s normally and on takes them and looks quite confident taking penalties. I can’t see him not wanting to take one.
“I can see exactly what Willian’s performing with regard to saying’Can this? You’ve only encounter’. He still walks off but he’d gone once, two times requesting him, when Barkley says yes.
Chelsea host league leaders Liverpool on Renault Super Sunday – live from 4pm on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off 4.30pm. Chelsea journey to Lille on Matchday 2 of the Champions League on October 2 8pm.