MATCH REPORT: OLYMPIACOS 0 CHELSEA 0

Chelsea's return to Athens ended in stalemate as Avram Grant's men denied Olympiacos a lead to defend at the Bridge in a fortnight's time.

In an even and uninspiring contest, the visitors found it just as tough to create anything as the home side but a fourth Champions League clean sheet in a row is a platform to build upon in this knockout tie.

The cold weather may have been unexpected but hot support from the Greek fans was not. They were both loud and unified throughout, beginning from long before the Chelsea players warmed up on a pitch showing no outward signs of problems linked to the thawed snow.

The temperature was now just chilly, compared with the icy blast that had hit this part of Europe over the weekend.

Chelsea took to the pitch to the strains of a many-versed Olympiacos club song and lined-up with Drogba back in the centre-forward role; Anelka dropping the bench where he sat alongside Terry and Lampard.

Essien, selected in midfield with captain Makelele and Ballack, fired a shot across Greek bows after only 30 seconds, the ball travelling well wide.

Chelsea, compact and cautious early in the game, did allow Stoltidis to move forward from the back onto Djordjevic's pass but Carvalho was well-positioned to block a shot.

At the other end, Chelsea were unfortunate to be pulled back for a foul on Ballack even though Drogba was sniffing an open play chance. The free-kick was not good and two-waves of counter-attack followed, but our men successfully retreated behind the ball in sufficient numbers to block the danger.

Malouda had the first shot on target after 15 minutes when a Drogba cross was not cleared. Carvalho then headed at the keeper after a Belletti free-kick was flicked on by Ashley Cole but the offside flag was up anyhow.

Although the game was tight, Olympiacos were not without threat, and with their third corner of the game, they were the closest either side came to scoring in the first half. Played into the near-post, Stoltidis headed on but the ball dropped just wide of the far post to much Chelsea relief.

On 34 minutes Alex became the game's first booking after sliding in late on Ledesma midway inside the Olympiacos half. Far more positive was the Brazllian's contribution two minutes later when he flung himself at a dangerous cross to knock it behind.

Possession at this stage in the game was shared exactly 50-50. It was already clear that Olympiacos were a good standard of opposition on their own turf, moving the ball and men around intelligently in attack. Chelsea were finding it tough to fed Drogba - Antzas, his direct opponent, was having a good game.

The first-half ended with the game goalless. It had been 45 minutes that will not stay long in the memory apart from the support, even if it did contain a Boney M based song! The Chelsea fans who had made the difficult trip tried hard to make themselves heard as well, and would be singing long after the rest of the stadium had cleared.

The first chance after the break fell to the Greeks after Essien had given the ball away but a cross from the left just cleared a dangerously positioned Galletti.

Ten minutes in, Belletti went into the book for a hack at Stoltidis. The free-kick was played back to Djordjevic whose low shot was saved at the near post by Cech.

Makelele was then booked for protesting a decision against Malouda beyond the endurance of the referee.

On 64 minutes, an unmarked Galletti sliced a volley not too far away from goal after slackness by the away side and a cross from the left. Olympiacos were beginning to sustain pressure.

Chelsea steadied themselves and on 70 minutes, Malouda bundled through a tackle and then fired a couple of yards off target.

Four minutes later, Grant decided to shuffle his pack of strikers - Anelka and Kalou came on for Joe Cole and Malouda with Drogba moving out on the left.

On 84 minutes, Ballack turned and fired in a 20-yard shot at the keeper. It was the German's last touch, exchanged for Lampard with four minutes remaining on the clock.

Ashley Cole made it four Chelsea bookings to none for Greeks before the last action of the game when Kalou narrowly failed to control a high ball when he escaped in behind the defence in front of goal.

It won't necessarily be easy in the London second leg, but Chelsea will be strong favourites to progress.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Cech, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, A Cole; Essien, Makelele (c), Ballack (Lampard 86); J Cole (Anelka 74), Drogba, Malouda (Kalou 74).
Booked Alex 34, Belletti 55, Makelele 62, A Cole 90+1.

Olympiacos Nikopolidis; Pantos, Antzas, Julio César, Zewlakow; Stoltidis, Djordjevic (Belluschi 75), Torosidis, Galletti (Leonardo 82), Ledesma; Kovacevic (Nunez 86).