Drogba's brilliance helps Chelsea sink Barcelona

Didier Drogba's superb goal made the difference in a high-tempo European Champions League clash where Chelsea beat Barcelona 1-0 on Wednesday.

The brilliant moment came with just two minutes after the interval when the in-form Drogba conjured with the ball between his legs before jinking two defenders to shoot from the edge of the area, awarding Jose Mourinho's team a deserved 1-0 win as the group rivals resumed hostilities at Stamford Bridge.

Werder Bremen hauled themselves level on points with second placed Barca following a 2-0 victory over bottom side Levski Sofia at Weser Stadion - Naldo's free kick on the stroke of half time broke the deadlock and Diego added a second a quarter of an hour from time.

Group C leaders Liverpool earned their first away victory of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bordeaux.

Peter Crouch atoned for two earlier misses by heading Craig Bellamy's corner into the back of the net on 59 minutes, and the Reds defence withstood late pressure to keep the Premiership side firmly on course for qualification.

Elsewhere in Group C, Arouna Kone's goal saw PSV Eindhoven come from behind to claim a 2-1 win at Galatasaray. Sasa Ilic's deflected shot had seen the hosts go into the interval with a one-goal lead, but a mistake from goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon gifted Jan Kromkamp a 59th minute equalizer.

The turnaround was completed by Kone, who beat the hosts' flimsy offside trap to stroke in a 72nd minute winner to leave the Dutch team, like Liverpool, with one foot in the next round.

Bastian Schweinsteiger was the center of attention in 10-man Bayern Munich's 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon - the Germans' third straight in Group B.

The German international gave his side the lead in the 19th minute with a trademark blockbuster, but his joy was tempered seconds after half time when he picked up his second booking of the match and the inevitable red.

Internazionale got their campaign off and running with a 2-1 victory over Spartak Moscow to claim their first points.

Julio Cruz effectively settled the tie inside the first ten minutes - the Argentine claimed his first goal on two minutes, before doubling his tally with a header from Alvaro Recoba's cross just seven minutes later. Roman Pavluchenko gave the visitors brief hope when he halved arrears after the interval, but Inter were always the likelier winners.

Group D leaders Valencia maintained their 100 percent start with a convincing victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Mestalla.

The prolific David Villa was on target twice, first rounding goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on the half hour, before heading in a cross from Joaquin prior to the interval. The visitors ended the match with 10 men following the dismissal of Viacheslav Sviderskiy for two bookable offences.

Roma negotiated a tricky trip to Olympiakos, with Simone Perrotta's 76th minute goal proving all-important for the visitors.

After the Greeks had had the better of the first half, the Giallorossi rode out the storm and emerged victorious as Perrotta poked home Aleandro Rosi's cross.

Source: Xinhua