It was not another goal feast at Stamford Bridge for a change but Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba still came up with two vital strikes to keep Chelsea’s unbeaten record and clean sheet intact at the top of the Premier League.
Malouda expertly converted a first-half opportunity with his right foot against a much stronger Stoke side than the Tony Pulis team who surrendered seven at the Bridge back in April.
Drogba all but killed the tie with a second-half penalty after Thomas Sorensen had brought down Nicolas Anelka.

Fabio Capello should have heaved a sigh of relief as Rooney managed to score his first goal since March and Manchester United kept the pressure on both Arsenal and Chelsea at top as they beat West Ham 3-0.
Rooney netted from the spot in the first half after Jonathan Spector’s poorly timed tackle on Ryan Giggs. While Nani was nowhere to be seen for the spot-kick after last weeks miss, the Portuguese winger cut inside brilliantly to fire United’s second, before Dimitar Berbatov’s maintained his goal scoring streak with an agile finish from his cross sealed the points.

Dimitar Berbatov repaid the faith of his manager by sending Manchester United on their way to a comfortable season-opening Premier League win over Newcastle, but it was legendary pair of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs who stole the show.
Berbatov was handed a starting berth alongside Wayne Rooney and responded by firing home an excellent 33rd-minute effort at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney delivered another gem of a performance as Wigan meekly surrendered to Manchester United for the second time this season in a 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

With all the injured players coming back, United are only two points adrift of Chelsea, they have almost achieved parity in the goal difference column too after another five-goal mauling of the hapless Latics, who seem ill equipped to survive a relegation scrap.

Lionel Messi struck an extra-time winner as Barcelona fought back bravely against a impressive Estudiantes to win the Club World Cup and complete an incredible year with a sixth piece of silverware.

Barca’s hopes of adding a maiden Club World Cup crown to their Primera Division, Champions League, Copa del Rey and European and Spanish Super Cup titles dealt a major blow as Argentinians Estudiantes led heading into the final minutes thanks to Mauro Boselli’s 37th-minute header in Abu Dhabi.

Manchester United failed to produce any late heroics this time as Gabriel Agbonlahor’s first-half goal earned Aston Villa their first victory at Old Trafford since 1983.

Sir Alex Ferguson described Federico Macheda’s sensational injury-time effort in the corresponding fixture last season as the defining moment of United’s season.

Michael Owen scored a famous hat-trick as Manchester United made merry of their injury woes to record a memorable win over German champions Wolfsburg.

A measure of United’s achievement was that it represented only a third win in 10 attempts against German opposition in Europe. The fact they did it with over a dozen vital men missing made the feat all the more remarkable.