By David Ornstein BBC Sport

Chelsea carried their inconsistent Premier League form into Europe as they were held to a disappointing draw by Genk in Champions League Group E.

Ramires put the Blues ahead after a neat exchange with Fernando Torres before Raul Meireles hit the crossbar.

A Thomas Buffel handball gave Chelsea the chance to double their lead but David Luiz's penalty was easily saved.

The Blues were punished when Jelle Vossen scored, while Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda had chances to win it.

Lampard was guilty of an awful miss after a fine run and cross by fellow substitute Daniel Sturridge, and Malouda's effort was scrambled off the line.

The result means Chelsea will qualify for the knockout stage if they win at Bayer Leverkusen on 23 November, but anything less could see it go down to the final round of matches.

Having been shocked by QPR and Arsenal of late, the Blues arrived in Belgium wounded by what boss Andre Villas-Boas termed a "disastrous week".

GROUP E

Played GD Points

Chelsea

4

7

8

Bayer Leverkusen

4

1

6

Valencia

4

-1

5

Genk

4

-7

2

The consequence was five changes to his line-up as John Terry, Lampard, Juan Mata and Sturridge dropped to the bench and John Mikel Obi missed out entirely.

Genk were thrashed 5-0 at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago but, desperate to secure a first win in 10 attempts at this level, they looked dangerous early on.

However, Chelsea held firm and soon began to display glimpses of the attacking principles that Villas-Boas has insisted they will not relinquish despite their recent troubles.

Ramires saw a tame shot saved while Cole and Nicolas Anelka tested the Genk defence with dangerous crosses from both flanks.

The Blues were controlling possession and they duly opened the scoring, with Ramires playing a one-two with Torres before slotting underneath Laszlo Koteles.

Chelsea suddenly looked a team brimming with confidence and Torres drilled narrowly wide, Ramires headed off target and Meireles fired against the bar from 25 yards.

They were then gifted a chance to extend their advantage when Buffel blatantly handled a Malouda cross inside the box.

In the absence of Lampard, Luiz stepped up but Koteles dived to his right and comfortably saved the Brazilian's spot kick.

That gave Genk the momentum going into half-time and the hosts carried that into the second period.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech gathered a low effort from Kevin De Bruyne - a reported Blues target - and then did even better to deflect a goalbound strike from Kennedy Nwanganga to safety.

But Genk were now stirring and it came as little surprise when they levelled.

De Bruyne fed Fabien Camus down the left and the Tunisian's cut-back was swept past Cech by Vossen with the aid of a slight deflection off Cole.

In a bid to regain control, Villas-Boas introduced Lampard and Sturridge for Ramires and Anelka and the move seemed to spark Chelsea into life.

Meireles headed straight at Koteles, Lampard fluffed his lines and a Sturridge drive was tipped over the bar.

Late on, Genk substitute Anthony Limbombe was foiled by Cech and Malouda denied by Anele Ngongca, whose goal-line clearance hit Nadson and trickled inches wide.

Genk were able to celebrate a hard-earned point, but for Chelsea it was another missed opportunity.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Genk

  • 26 Koteles
  • 11 Vanden Borre
  • 16 Ngcongca
  • 20 Nadson
  • 07 Hyland
  • 08 Tozser
  • 15 Camus
  • 19 Buffel (Dugary - 69' )
  • 09 Vossen (Barda - 86' )
  • 14 De Bruyne Booked
  • 27 Nwanganga (Limbombe - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Sandomierski
  • 23 Sarr
  • 24 Durwael
  • 47 Ofori-Appiah
  • 21 Dugary
  • 35 Limbombe
  • 18 Barda

Chelsea

  • 01 Cech
  • 02 Ivanovic
  • 03 Cole
  • 04 David Luiz
  • 17 Bosingwa
  • 06 Romeu (Mata - 77' )
  • 07 Ramires (Lampard - 66' )
  • 15 Malouda
  • 16 Meireles Booked
  • 09 Torres
  • 39 Anelka (Sturridge - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Turnbull
  • 26 Terry
  • 08 Lampard
  • 20 McEachran
  • 10 Mata
  • 21 Kalou
  • 23 Sturridge
Ref: Oddvar Moen
Att: 24,000

Match Stats

Shots

10 18

On target

7 7

Corners

5 5

Fouls

7 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:03 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:21

Long range shot by David Luiz goes wide right of the goal.

90:00 +1:56

Frank Lampard delivers the ball.

90:00 +0:32

Daniel Tozser takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:32 Booking

Booking Raul Meireles is given a yellow card.

90:00 +0:27

Raul Meireles handles the ball and concedes a free kick.

90:00 +0:06

Corner from right by-line taken by Juan Mata.

89:46

Florent Malouda takes a shot. Anele Ngcongca makes a clearance.

89:02

Unfair challenge on Anthony Limbombe by Raul Meireles results in a free kick. Daniel Tozser takes the direct free kick.

88:01

Shot by Frank Lampard from a long way out goes over the target.

87:00

Unfair challenge on Raul Meireles by Kevin De Bruyne results in a free kick. Raul Meireles restarts play with the free kick.

85:33

The free kick is delivered right-footed by Fabien Camus from left wing.

85:33 Substitution

Substitution (Genk) makes a substitution, with Elyaniv Barda coming on for Jelle Vossen.

85:33

Raul Meireles concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin De Bruyne.

84:37

The referee blows for offside. Branislav Ivanovic takes the free kick.

84:03

Florent Malouda challenges Anele Ngcongca unfairly and gives away a free kick. Laszlo Koteles restarts play with the free kick.

82:17

Kevin De Bruyne decides to take a short corner.

81:09 Substitution

Substitution Kennedy Nwanganga goes off and Anthony Limbombe comes on.

79:21

Florent Malouda produces a cross.

78:46

Short corner worked by Juan Mata.

78:36

Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Save by Laszlo Koteles.

77:52

Daniel Sturridge produces a cross, Frank Lampard has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the goal.

75:49

Florent Malouda crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Laszlo Koteles makes a clearance.

75:49 Substitution

Substitution Oriol Romeu goes off and Juan Mata comes on.

75:49 Booking

Booking Kevin De Bruyne receives a yellow card.

75:42

Foul by Kevin De Bruyne on Jose Bosingwa, free kick awarded.

73:21

The ball is crossed by Florent Malouda, Raul Meireles takes a shot. Laszlo Koteles makes a save.

72:46

Anthony Vanden Borre fouled by Fernando Torres, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Laszlo Koteles.

70:55

Effort from just outside the area by Raul Meireles goes over the bar.

70:48

Florent Malouda produces a cross.

68:34 Substitution

Substitution Ndabashinze Dugary joins the action as a substitute, replacing Thomas Buffel.

68:16

Ashley Cole produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

67:39

Jose Bosingwa produces a cross, Jose Nadson makes a clearance.

67:12

A cross is delivered by Jelle Vossen, save by Fernando Torres.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution (Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Frank Lampard coming on for Ramires.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution (Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Daniel Sturridge coming on for Nicolas Anelka.

60:18

The assist for the goal came from Fabien Camus.

60:18 Goal scored

Goal - Jelle Vossen - Genk 1 - 1 Chelsea Goal scored by Jelle Vossen from close range low into the middle of the goal. Genk 1-1 Chelsea.

60:16

The ball is delivered by Fabien Camus,

59:13

Kevin De Bruyne crosses the ball, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.

58:14

The ball is sent over by Kevin De Bruyne, save made by Petr Cech.

57:29

Anele Ngcongca fouled by Ramires, the ref awards a free kick. Jose Nadson takes the free kick.

57:15

Shot from 25 yards from Raul Meireles. Comfortable save by Laszlo Koteles.

55:25

Corner taken by Florent Malouda played to the near post, Close range header by Fernando Torres goes over the crossbar.

53:59

Daniel Tozser takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Florent Malouda makes a clearance.

53:54

Centre by Anthony Vanden Borre, Raul Meireles gets a block in.

53:29

Corner taken by Daniel Tozser, Petr Cech manages to make a clearance.

53:10

Kennedy Nwanganga takes a shot. Laszlo Koteles makes a save.

51:01

Kevin De Bruyne produces a curled right-footed shot from 18 yards. Save made by Petr Cech.

48:59

Unfair challenge on Florent Malouda by Anthony Vanden Borre results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from David Luiz.

46:55

Fernando Torres takes a shot. Jose Nadson gets a block in.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:28 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:12

Ramires concedes a free kick for a foul on Jelle Vossen. Shot comes in from Daniel Tozser from the free kick.

44:16

Ramires produces a right-footed shot from a long way out which goes wide right of the goal.

42:34

Florent Malouda fouled by Thomas Buffel, the ref awards a free kick. David Luiz restarts play with the free kick.

42:34

Unfair challenge on Ashley Cole by Thomas Buffel results in a free kick. David Luiz takes the direct free kick.

41:53

Fabien Camus produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

41:08

Jelle Vossen delivers the ball, save made by Petr Cech.

39:10

Corner from left by-line taken by Florent Malouda.

39:02 Penalty

Penalty taken by David Luiz is saved by Laszlo Koteles. Genk 0-1 Chelsea.

38:10

Thomas Buffel handles the ball and concedes a .

37:52

Raul Meireles has an effort at goal from outside the box striking the post.

37:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fabien Camus on Florent Malouda. David Luiz takes the direct free kick.

35:51

Corner taken by Raul Meireles, save made by Laszlo Koteles.

35:35

Florent Malouda crosses the ball, clearance by Anthony Vanden Borre.

34:53

Jelle Vossen concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Cole. Ashley Cole restarts play with the free kick.

34:25

The ball is crossed by Ashley Cole, Close range headed effort by Ramires misses to the right of the target.

33:13

The ball is swung over by Anthony Vanden Borre, save by Petr Cech.

32:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Florent Malouda by Khaleem Hyland. Raul Meireles crosses the ball in from the free kick.

30:34

Florent Malouda concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Vanden Borre. Free kick taken by Anthony Vanden Borre.

29:21

Effort from outside the box by Fernando Torres goes wide right of the target.

28:24

The ball is crossed by Thomas Buffel, Petr Cech makes a save.

28:13

Kevin De Bruyne takes a inswinging corner.

28:01

Daniel Tozser takes a shot. Blocked by Branislav Ivanovic.

27:42

Anthony Vanden Borre delivers the ball, clearance by Jose Bosingwa.

27:25

Daniel Tozser takes a shot. Branislav Ivanovic gets a block in.

24:58

Assist on the goal came from Fernando Torres.

24:58 Goal scored

Goal - Ramires - Genk 0 - 1 Chelsea Ramires finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Genk 0-1 Chelsea.

24:06

A cross is delivered by Florent Malouda.

23:27

Nicolas Anelka produces a cross.

20:26

Jose Nadson takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

19:31

Daniel Tozser takes the inswinging corner, Jose Nadson takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.

19:22

The ball is delivered by Nicolas Anelka.

16:28

The ball is crossed by Thomas Buffel, David Luiz gets a block in.

14:07

Kevin De Bruyne is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Jose Bosingwa.

13:42

Ashley Cole delivers the ball, Jose Nadson manages to make a clearance.

13:18

The ball is crossed by Florent Malouda, clearance made by Jose Nadson.

12:32

Nicolas Anelka delivers the ball, Fabien Camus manages to make a clearance.

8:36

Ramires takes a shot. Laszlo Koteles makes a comfortable save.

8:36

Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save by Laszlo Koteles.

6:42

Foul by David Luiz on Daniel Tozser, free kick awarded. Anthony Vanden Borre takes the free kick.

5:33

Nicolas Anelka is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Anele Ngcongca.

5:33

The assistant referee flags for offside against Florent Malouda. Indirect free kick taken by Anele Ngcongca.

5:09

Kevin De Bruyne produces a cross, Petr Cech makes a save.

4:01

Jelle Vossen takes a shot. Save made by Petr Cech.

0:00

The match begins.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association