Aguero 66, 90 + 1       Drogba 82, 88

Two late Didier Drogba goals ensured Chelsea’s early passage to the last 16 of this year’s Champions League, as they obtained the point required at the Vincente Calderon stadium.

Drogba was playing in his first European encounter of the season, having served a three-match ban for his petulant post-match outbursts in the wake of Chelsea’s defeat to Barcelona in last year’s semi-finals.

But he made an altogether more positive contribution against this Spanish opposition and dug an otherwise lacklustre Chelsea out of a hole, after they deservedly trailed with only eight minutes remaining.

After a scoreless, and largely passionless, first half, the Blues came close on 50 minutes when a superbly struck Drogba free-kick was tipped onto the post by Atletico keeper Sergio Asenjo.

But Chelsea fell behind on 66 minutes. Top scorer Sergio Aguero, on as a substitute as he wasn’t 100% fit, slammed home a half-cleared Antonio Lopez cross past a static Petr Cech, Atletico’s first Champions League goal of the season.

Chelsea had their own impact substitute, however, in the shape of Nicolas Anelka, who stirred Chelsea into action when he replaced Saloman Kalou immediately after Atletico’s goal.

And Drogba equalised on 82 minutes, heading home a Florent Malouda cross, one of the few decent balls into the box from either side during the match.

Six minutes later, Drogba turned matters completely on their head, dispossessing defender Luis Perea and firing the ball home at the second attempt after Asenjo saved his first shot.

But Aguero, son-in-law of football legend Diego Maradona, wasn’t to be denied his share of top-billing, drilling home an excellent free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time to secure Atletico’s first Champions League point.

Porto’s win in Cyprus against Apoel ensured that they joined Chelsea in the knock-out stages, rendering meaningless the remaining games in this group, including the two sides’ clash in Oporto.