LONDON, Sept 12 - Germany captain Michael Ballack
scored a second-half penalty to earn his new club Chelsea a 2-0
victory over former Bundesliga opponents Werder Bremen in their
Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Stepping up instead of Chelsea's usual penalty taker Frank
Lampard, who has had little success from the spot recently,
Ballack added to midfield dynamo Michael Essien's 24th minute
strike from close range in the Group A match.
Werder Bremen, renowned for their attacking flair, kept the
pressure on the English champions and World Cup golden boot
winner Miroslav Klose was particularly dangerous, hitting the
bar with a second-half header but they had no luck.
The win put Chelsea level on points with rivals Barcelona at
the top of the group, after the Spanish champions sent five
goals past Levski Sofia without reply at the Nou Camp.