In the first half, Basel dominated the game, causing significant difficulties for Chelsea, who struggled to establish their style of play. The score remained 0-0 at halftime, and the injury to Samuel Eto’o, who was substituted for Torres, added to Chelsea’s woes.
The second half saw Chelsea adopting a different approach after Eden Hazard replaced the ineffective Oscar. However, the game lacked excitement, with neither team seizing control. In the 87th minute, Mohamed Salah surprised everyone by scoring the decisive goal for Basel. Taking advantage of a long cross from Schär, the Egyptian outpaced Ivanovic, secured the ball, and beat Cech with a powerful left-footed shot.
With this victory, Basel secures second place in Group E with 8 points, while Chelsea retains the top spot with 9 points. The group is now wide open, with Schalke trailing closely with 7 points. The final verdict on the group standings will be determined on the last matchday.
