Despite numerous injury problems and a poor start to their league season Schalke managed to hold Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge courtesy of Klas-Jan Huntelaar's second half effort.
Things had started unsurprisingly poorly for the Bundesliga outfit as they fell behind after just ten minutes to a Cesc Fabregas goal. The Spanish international robbed Maximillan Meyer in the middle of his own half in what appeared to be a foul. However, the ref waved play on and Eden Hazard picked it up, played a reverse ball to Fabregas who, from the left side of the box, sidefooted with his right past 'keeper Fahrmann.
The former Barcelona star was also on the end of Chelsea's other clearcut chance of the first half. Ten minutes before the break Ramires dinked a ball down the right side of the Schalke box finding Branislav Ivanovic in space, who pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where Fabregas was in acres only for the playmaker to fire over left footed.
The German's only real quality chance in the first period came courtesy of the individual skill of attacking midfielder Julian Draxler. The once Arsenal target picked the ball up just inside the Chelsea half and dribbled with pace and control before getting in the box and firing a left foot shot just wide of Thibaut Courtois' left post.
The first opportunity of the second half came on the hour and the way of Didier Drogba, who should have wrapped things up for the Blues. Nemanja Matic got him in behind down the right side of the box with a lovely floated ball through but the Ivorian striker was forced wide and pulled his shot beyond the 'keeper but also the far post.
Just two minutes later and Huntelaar punished that miss from his opposite number. This time Fabregas lost the ball on halfway after a Draxler challenge and the German advanced before releasing the Dutch striker on the left. He then got in the box and dipped his shoulder inside before pulling his shot back to the left bottom corner, wrong footing Courtois.
Subistitiute Loic Remy had Chelsea's best chance to win the game just a couple of minutes after he came on within the final quarter of an hour. Goalkeeper Farhmann came for a Hazard costless kick and got a piece of it, however, his punch only went to the French forward who got a right foot shot in quickly only for defender Neustadter to head off the line.
Great point for Schalke and fully deserved away from home to kick off the group considering their start in the Bundesliga as well. It will be seen as two points dropped by Jose Mourinho and the fans, however, it shouldon't halt Chelsea's progress in the competition with Maribor and Sporting Lisbon being the other teams in the group.