A brilliant second-half strike by Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a 1-0 Champions League victory over European Cup holders Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

The Ivory Coast forward collected an Ashley Cole pass on the edge of the area and swivelled round to crash a ferocious shot past Barca keeper Victor Valdes in the 47th minute.

Victory in what was a pulsating encounter kept Chelsea top of Group A with a maximum nine points from three games, putting them firmly on course for the knockout round.

The match marked the latest exchange between two sides meeting for the third season in a row in the Champions League. Barca knocked Chelsea out last season on their way to the title, avenging their exit the previous year.

Wednesday was Barcelona's first defeat in 16 Champions League matches since going down 4-2 in March 2005.