Drogba shot home after 12 minutes but should have had at least two more as Chelsea passed the Italians off the field in the first half.

However, Juventus, managed by former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, grew in confidence as the game progressed and though they extended a lamentable away record against English clubs that now features 11 defeats and only two wins from 17 visits they will travel home knowing the tie remains very much alive.

Crisp-passing Chelsea were into their stride from the start and Drogba flashed a header over the bar after nine minutes.

Three minutes later he was handed another opportunity when Salomon Kalou slid a pass through a flat Juve defence. Frank Lampard stepped aside to allow Drogba to shoot low past Gianluigi Buffon.

The Ivory Coast striker, seemingly rejuvenated by the arrival of coach Guus Hiddink, should have had another soon after when he was left unmarked for a Lampard corner but mistimed his header.

Juve had barely been out of their own half in the opening quarter but showed signs of their potential when Petr Cech had to push wide a crisp Alessandro del Piero shot and Amauri headed wide from the resulting corner.

Chelsea, though, were in the ascendancy, with Lampard controlling midfield and spraying passes short and long. Nicolas Anelka, with 21 goals to his name this season, was happy to ply his trade wide on the left, leaving Drogba, who went close with another header, to occupy the front line.

However, Chelsea lost their momentum and the Italians began to enjoy spells of attacking possession.