Chelsea snatched a narrow 1-0 win over Juventus in their Champions League knockout stage first leg clash on Wednesday to move into pole position to qualify for the quarter finals of the tournament.

Didier Drogba scored the only goal of the match early in the first half but Chelsea failed to build on their early superiority to sit back in the second half allowing Juventus to come back in the game and almost snatch a late equalizer.

Looking to stamp their authority on Juventus, Chelsea were on the attack right from the start with Gianluigi Buffon pulling off a good save to deny Salomon Kalou while Drogba headed over the bar from close range.

The Ivory Coast international was on target minutes later when he slammed home Kalou's pass from close range to put Chelsea ahead in the 12th minute. Juventus almost equalized minutes later when from Alessandro del Piero found himself in possession inside the Chelsea penalty area and his shot was saved brilliantly by Petr Cech.

The visitors continued to press ahead in the second half with Claudio Marchisio twice came close to pulling Juventus back on level terms but saw his shots fly inches wide of the target. Nicolas Anelka almost doubled the lead for Chelsea four minutes from the final whistle but while he managed to beat Buffon, his shot fly just wide of the post.

David Trezeguet had Juventus' best chance of scoring a goal when he was put clear late in the game but was wasteful with his effort as his shot flew well wide of the target to leave Chelsea with a slender advantage in the two-legged tie.