1 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Late Drogba equaliser leaves Mourinho radiant

Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea

A late Didier Drogba goal salvaged a point for Chelsea against current Champions League holders Barcelona in another eventful meeting between the competition’s two favourites. Jose Mourinho’s men twice pegged back the Spanish champions, and left the Nou Camp with a deserved point.

The home side, out for revenge after being beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, got off to a dream start when Portuguese midfielder Deco gave them the lead after just two minutes. The former Porto midfielder was given too much time on the edge of the box, and he drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner of Hilario’s goal.

Match reaction: Insults fly after epic encounter

Barca threatened to increase their lead further in the following 15 minutes, with Ronaldinho blazing over when well placed after brilliant work from Messi, and Xavi forcing a fine save from the Portuguese goalkeeper.

Chelsea began to play their way into the match, and Michael Ballack shot narrowly over after being found by Michael Essien, and the Ghanaian then saw his header brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Victor Valdes.

Tense encounter

Tension between the opposing sets of players had been growing as the half went on, with Drogba’s constant simulation incensing the home fans, while Rafael Marquez was lucky that his off-the-ball shove on the Ivorian went unnoticed by referee Stefano Farina.

Valdes then denied Arjen Robben before Chelsea had what appeared a very strong case for a penalty turned down. A rare venture forward from French midfielder Claude Makelele ended when he was checked by Marquez inside the area, but the referee waved play on.

Chelsea returned from the break a much more focused side, and Robben twice went close in the opening stages of the second period. The second chance was brilliantly set up by Frank Lampard, whose intelligent ball found the Dutchman at the back post, but he failed to even find the target under pressure from Valdes.

The visitors equalised soon after, however, and it was Lampard with the crucial strike. The England midfielder controlled a deep cross and, from a tight angle, delicately chipped Valdes to send the ball into the far corner.

Gudjohnsen strikes

With Chelsea seemingly on top, Barca revived the home crowd by re-taking the lead with a brilliantly worked goal. Ronaldinho, ineffective until this point, enticed his marker Khalid Boulahrouz to make a challenge on the left, then beat the Dutchman before crossing for Eidur Gudjohnsen to tap in.

Chelsea then had another penalty appeal waved away after Lampard tussled with Xavi, but the referee probably made the correct call with Chelsea man appearing to go to ground too easily.

After Deco had missed a good opportunity for Barca, German midfielder Michael Ballack looked to have blown Chelsea’s last chance to take a point when he made a mess of substitute Soloman Kalou’s cutback, firing well over the bar.

With injury time running out, the in-form Drogba grabbed a superbly taken equaliser for the Blues. A deep cross to the back post was cushioned down by John Terry, and Drogba’s touch took him past Marquez, before he toe poked the ball past Valdes to send the Chelsea bench, and Mourinho in particular, into delirium.

With Chelsea having one foot in the next round, Barca suddenly face a fight for second place in the group. Werder Bremen’s win over Levski Sofia saw them move into second, although the Catalans will feel confident they can still seal qualification with six points from their remaining two games, away to Levski and at the Camp Nou against Bremen.

Barcelona:
Valdes, Zambrotta, Marquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst, Xavi (Iniesta 83), Motta (Edmilson 57), Deco, Messi, Gudjohnsen (Giuly 77), Ronaldinho
Yellow Cards: Messi (39), Motta (42), Gudjohnsen (64), Edmilson (65)

Chelsea:
Hilario, Boulahrouz (Joe Cole 75), Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Essien, Makelele, Ballack (Paulo Ferreira 90), Lampard, Drogba, Robben (Kalou 73)
Yellow Cards: Lampard (27), Robben (30), Ashley Cole (48), Joe Cole (82), Terry (87), Essien (89)

Goals:
[1-0] Deco, 3
[1-1] Lampard, 52
[2-1] Gudjohnsen, 58
[2-2] Drogba, 90