Chelsea 4 Atletico Madrid 0:Salomon Kalou recovered from a glaring miss to score two at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea maintained a perfect start to their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over Atletico. Frank Lampard also got in on the act as the Londoners took control of Champions League Group D, retaining their three point advantage of FC Porto.

The fourth came courtesy of an injury-time own-goal from Atletico central defender Amaranto Perea, who glanced a Florent Malouda free-kick into his net under pressure from Branislav Ivanovic.

At the other end, there was yet another clean sheet in the competition for Petr Cech, who remains the only goalkeeper yet to concede a goal in the group stages.

That was due, in part perhaps, to coach Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to axe Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho from the team.

Carvalho was largely blamed for the defensive errors which allowed Aston Villa to score twice from corners in their 2-1 victory on Saturday.

He paid the ultimate price for his lapses in concentration and Chelsea looked much more solid with Ivanovic alongside captain John Terry at the heart of the defence.

Yet it took the home side a while before they gained the upper hand against a Madrid side suffering their poorest league start to a season since 1994.

Kalou, who eventually became the hero on the night, should have opened his account way before his 41st minute opener.

In the second minute he headed a cross from Juliano Belletti wide of the target from six yards and 14 minutes later shot wide of the target with only Sergio Asenjo to beat.

And by the time of that second miss, Chelsea could even have been a goal behind.

A lovely cross from Simao in the ninth minute was met by Diego Forlan at the near post but the former Manchester United striker’s diving header was brilliantly saved by Petr Cech.

Another warning for Chelsea arrived moments later when the impressive Sergio Aguero sped clear of the defence only to shoot into the side netting.

Chelsea were denied the lead in the 12th minute when Frank Lampard’s 40-yard free-kick deceived Asenjo on its way into the net, Kalou having drifted into an offside position.

Cech had to be at his best again in the 18th minute when he punched away a volley from Forlan.

But Chelsea’s pressure was beginning to tell on the Spanish side and Kalou forced Asenjo into another fine save in the 35th minute.

And the breakthrough eventually arrived in the 41st minute thanks to a superb move.

Lampard’s pass to Ashley Cole was dummied brilliantly by Michael Ballack and when the England left-back delivered his cross into the six-yard box, Kalou pounced to fire into the roof of the net.

It could have been two straight after the restart but Asenjo punched away a shot from Nicolas Anelka and then did the same with a long throw from Belletti.

But Kalou supplied the second goal when he rose highest to head home a corner from Lampard.

Atletico responded immediately and Aguero should have reduced the arrears in the 56th minute when he escaped the clutches of the Chelsea defence and ran towards the Shed End unchecked.

But he waited too long and his shot was superbly saved by Cech.

Chelsea were now stretching Madrid’s midfield considerably and a third goal cemented a fine performance in the 69th minute.

It was only Lampard’s second competitive club goal of the season and his first from open play, but it was a typical 20-yard low drive from the England midfielder which beat Asenjo at his near post.

Madrid almost put a dent in Chelsea’s defensive record in Europe when substitute Maxi Rodriguez dribbled his way through before putting his shot inches wide of the post with Cech beaten.

Cech was again called upon in the 81st minute as Aguero tested him with a ferocious drive.

But the Czech international was equal to the task and punched the ball clear before saving with his feet from Maxi.

Chelsea finished off the night with a fourth when Perea headed Florent Malouda’s free-kick into his own net.

FC Porto 2 APOEL Nicosia 1:Porto tightened their grip on second place in Group D but made life more difficult than it needed to be for themselves against APOEL.

Two goals from striker Hulk, the second a penalty early in the second half, secured three points for the Portuguese champions who had fallen behind against the run of play.

They threatened to win convincingly but rarely did their finishing match the build-up play, and when Mariano Gonzalez was foolishly sent off with 15 minutes remaining it could have been costly.

However Porto clung to their lead and now have six points from three matches, plus a re-match against tonight’s opponents to come, which on the evidence of tonight’s action should result in a third win.