Drogba & Aguero: a sign of things to come at Chelsea?

Atletico Madrid 2 Chelsea 2. Carlo Ancelotti maintained his unbeaten record in Europe with Chelsea after they came from behind yesterday to record a draw which will see them progress from Champions League Group D at the earliest possible opportunity.

In effect, though, the game was one of two strikers, both of whom could one day play on the same Chelsea side. Sergio Aguero and Didier Drogba each scored both of their team's goals, and the thought of the two of them working in tandem will have given many of Europe's top defences the cold sweats.

"A few years ago I was playing with the same confidence, but I think this is my best," Drogba commented after notching up his 11th goal of the campaign. "I always score when I play injury-free. There wasn't anything special about being back again in the Champions League, but I'm just enjoying playing with my friends out on the pitch." His manager Ancelotti simply said "I wouldn't want to swap him for any other striker in the world at the moment. He is playing in a 'good moment' right now, and I hope that can continue."

The first half of last night's encounter was actually fairly dour period, with no goals and three bookings as Chelsea dominated but could find no way through. Atletico looked like a side which hadn't yet scored in the group, although Florent Sinama Pongolle, Diego Forlan and fellow Premier League refugee Jose Antonio Reyes were getting the ball into the right areas, only to shoot wide. The opening exchanges of the second period saw Chelsea launch some dangerous attacks, but the Londoners were giving the impression that they knew they were doing enough to get through the night and the group.

Aguero's introduction after 52 minutes saw the home side attempt to seize the initiative, and the Argentinean broke the deadlock 13 minutes later when his stunning volley from the edge of the box beat Petr Cech after John Terry had misplaced his headed clearance. The home fans had their dander up and filled the Vicente Calderón Stadium with a deafening wall of sound as they sought to inspire their team.

However, Drogba was still to impose his influence on the game. First, with eight minutes to go, he got on the end of a Florent Malouda cross and headed it past Asenjo Andres Sergio. Six minutes later he brushed off the Atletico centre backs as he rampaged through on goal, calmly slotting home the rebound after his first effort came off the Madrid keeper.

Aguero had the last word, however, perfectly placing a 25-yard free kick into the top of Cech's goal in injury time, an effort that had Ancelotti purring. "I like him," said the Italian: "I think Agüero can play with Drogba, for sure." ·