Blues grab priceless win

Playing at the same venue where six months ago they had knocked out Valencia to progress through to the semi-finals of this competition, Chelsea overcame their recent troubles to match their win from last time.

In identical fashion to that game last season, Chelsea needed to overcome a goal deficit, with Valencia took the lead taking an early lead through David Villa.

Joe Cole and Didier Drogba hit back with goals for Chelsea though as the London outfit, who had not found the net in their last four Barclays Premier League matches, bounced back from their disappointing home draw with Rosenborg in their opening Group B match.

Playing in their first European game since the departure of Jose Mourinho, who had led the club into two Champions League semi-finals in three years, Chelsea received a pre-match boost when they were able to call on John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien for the fixture.

Spain international David Silva took advantage of a ricochet off Essien that saw the ball break into the Chelsea area, speeding beyond a static-looking Blues defence before clinically slotting the ball past Petr Cech.

But Chelsea stunned the home crowd by equalising in the 21st minute when Florent Malouda and Drogba combined well down the left and the Frenchman, having broken into the area, fired in a low cross that was turned home by Joe Cole, under pressure from Emiliano Moretti.

With his side struggling to match their dominance of the first half, Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores sent on giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic for Fernando Morientes in the 69th minute.

Zigic had been on the pitch only a matter of moments when Chelsea took the lead through Drogba in the 71st minute.

Joe Cole threaded a brilliant pass through and Drogba outpaced marker Raul Albiol before thundering a left-footed shot past Timo Hildebrand in the home goal.