• Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona, Champions League

Drogba strike puts Chelsea in charge

Didier Drogba swept in Ramires' cross after Frank Lampard dispossessed Lionel Messi © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Cech needs 'worldie' for Chelsea to progress - Hoddle
  
• News: Chelsea old boys proved worth - Di Matteo
  
• News: Drogba put the fear into Barcelona - Terry
  
• News: Iniesta bemoans 'unjust' Chelsea defeat
  
• News: Di Matteo gives Chelsea 50% chance of making final
  

Gallery

Chelsea took a significant step towards a place in the Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over holders Barcelona in the semi-final, first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Didier Drogba scored the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time as Chelsea gained their reward for a disciplined, organised performance in the face of Barcelona's near-monopolisation of the ball. The sides will meet again next Tuesday at Camp Nou for the right to face Real Madrid or Bayern Munch in the final.

Interim boss Roberto Di Matteo opted to start with Drogba upfront for Chelsea instead of Fernando Torres, while Raul Meireles came into central midfield, with Ramires operating in a wide position and Gary Cahill in for the injured David Luiz. Meanwhile, there was no place in the visitors' starting line-up for defender Gerard Pique.

Chelsea began sharply, with Drogba twice looking a threat following runs at the heart of the Barcelona defence, but it was Barcelona who had the first real chance: Alexis Sanchez collecting a ball from Andres Iniesta and lobbing over Petr Cech - only for the ball to hit the crossbar.

The Blues had another warning when Cesc Fabregas somehow spurned the chance to turn in a left-footed half-volley from five yards, having been presented with the chance by Cech's poorly-directed palmed save. And Fabregas was again culpable after Lionel Messi, bursting into life for the first time, played him in with a fine run and through ball - but the former Arsenal man saw his tame chip hacked off the line by Ashley Cole.

Apart from those sporadic scares, it was a laudable performance of shrewd stifling from Chelsea, who sat deep and kept their shape with the aim of being hard to penetrate, surrendering 75% of the possession. They were rewarded in the 47th minute of the opening period: Frank Lampard dispossessed Messi and fed Ramires, who drove forward and crossed for Drogba to sweep in from ten yards.

Barcelona rumbled into life ten minutes into the second period, Fabregas producing an inventive flick to flummox the resolute home defence and tee up Sanchez, who found the ball stuck under his feet a couple of yards out, and could only prod wide.

Chelsea's weekend exertions - the 5-1 victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday - looked to be taking their toll as the clock ticked past the hour mark, and a lazy tackle from Ramires handed Xavi the chance to strike a free kick from 20 yards. His effort was too high, however, and Chelsea breathed again.

Barcelona looked short of ideas in the early part of the final quarter, and Chelsea retained a threat on the counter, with Drogba nearly putting substitute Salomon Kalou clean through.

The Spaniards threatened from a set piece in the final minutes, with Cech clawing away Puyol's flicked header - and Pedro hit the post in injury time, before Sergio Busquets fired over the rebound as Di Matteo picked up a victory that boosts his chances of landing the permanent manager's job.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.