UEFA’s disciplinary panel has taken action against three clubs following racist incidents during the qualifying rounds for this season’s Champions League.

Chelsea 1 Steaua Bucharest 0

Branislav Ivanovic hopes Chelsea’s defence can find their mean streak again after gifting goals to the opposition in early December.

Jose Mourinho insists there will be no compromise in Chelsea’s attacking approach despite their stuttering recent form.

Jose Mourinho insists there will be no compromise in Chelsea’s attacking approach despite their stuttering recent form.

Jose Mourinho wants Chelsea to secure their Champions League progression at Basel tonight before turning their focus on the hectic festive schedule which is “only for the braves”.

Chelsea 3 Schalke 0

Steaua Bucharest 0 Chelsea 4

Steaua Bucharest 0 Chelsea 4

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was in no mood for hanging around on the eve of the must-win Champions League clash with Steaua Bucharest.

Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard will take no part in Chelsea’s Champions League Group E clash with Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday night.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has told Juan Mata to follow the example of Michael Essien in order to convince him of his worth.

Jose Mourinho is eager to win the Champions League for a third time and insists playing on the European stage is vital for his developing Chelsea team.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Romania defender Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest.

Celtic Manager Neil Lennon has his side's Champions League draw alongside Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax is "the best and the worst draw" they could have had.

Arsenal have been drawn to face Turkish club Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-offs.

Fernando Torres hopes to fire Chelsea to Europa League glory and further trophies as part of an exciting young team.

Fernando Torres scored twice as Chelsea seized the initiative in their Europa League quarter-final tie with Rubin Kazan last night.

Chelsea 3 Rubin Kazan 1

Chelsea 2 West Ham 0

Chelsea 3 Steaua Bucharest 1 (Chelsea win 3-2 on aggregate)

Chelsea 3 Steaua Bucharest 1 (Agg: 3-2)

Petr Cech is confident Chelsea can keep their FA Cup trophy defence alive with victory at Manchester United tomorrow.

Petr Cech believes tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United is just the focus Chelsea need to swiftly forget Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to Steaua Bucharest.

Rafael Benitez is adamant Manchester United were not on Chelsea’s mind in the Europa League loss at Steaua Bucharest.

Russia coach Fabio Capello has dismissed suggestions he has been sounded out about the possibility of replacing Rafael Benitez at Chelsea.

Two goals in the final two minutes saw Udinese overcome Atletico Madrid 2-0 and maintain their unbeaten record in Europa League Group I this evening.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson felt he was fully justified in keeping striker Fernando Torres on the bench for the duration of last night’s Europa League goalless draw at home to Utrecht.

LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson praised his players after they secured their passage to the last 32 of the Europa League as Group K winners — with a match to go — thanks to a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest last night.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson made 10 changes for their Europa League Group K clash against Steaua Bucharest in Romania as midfielder Joe Cole made his comeback after five weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has pledged to field a strong team in tomorrow’s Europa League clash at home to Napoli as he seeks to take a major step towards qualification for the knockout stages.

Liverpool visited Manchester a month ago and received a “kick in the teeth” from Roberto Mancini’s City side, so manager Roy Hodgson is hoping to avoid a similar outcome against United tomorrow.

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is looking forward to Joe Cole’s return to domestic action just in time for one of the biggest matches of the season.

MIDFIELDER Joe Cole scored the quickest European goal in Liverpool’s illustrious history to set his under-strength side up for a 4-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest at Anfield.

Liverpool 4 Steaua Bucharest 1

St Patrick's Athletic 1 Steaua Bucharest 2 (Agg: 1-5)

Steaua Bucharest 3 St. Patrick’s Athletic 0

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC will have to play their Europa League play-off first leg tie against top Romanian side Steaua Bucharest behind closed doors at the Ghencea Stadium on August 20, after UEFA yesterday imposed a three-match ban on spectators attending their home games in Europe.

St Pat's opponents Steaua Bucharest are to play their next two Europa League home matches behind closed doors after UEFA punished the Romanian team's fans for draping insulting banners inside their stadium.

JUANDE RAMOS may be wielding a new broom at Real Madrid but it was one of the old guard who starred as the nine-times champions saw off Zenit St Petersburg in their final Champions League Group H game last night.

ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO scored two goals to give Juventus a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid last night and book the Italians’ place in the last 16.

TWO goals apiece from French starlet Karim Benzema and Fred gave Lyon a 5-3 Champions League victory against Steaua Bucharest last night as the visitors moved into second place in Group F.

REAL MADRID won their first Champions League away game for two years last night, although they had to ride their luck to do so at Zenit St Petersburg in Group H.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE insists Manchester United are the biggest threat to Arsenal’s hopes of regaining the Premier League title this season.