Didier Drogba celebrated his return from the African Cup of Nations by scoring his 20th goal for Chelsea against Hull City last night, saving at least a point from the match.

Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo headed the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front, but Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.

Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.

Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt’s delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.

In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.

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Didier Drogba could face a lengthy ban from European football after confronting Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after the match where Chelsea lost to Barcelona last night in the second leg of the Champions League semi final.

A stoppage time goal from Andres Iniesta earned Barca a 1-1 draw on the night and on aggregate and sent the Catalans into a final meeting with Manchester United at the end of this month on the away goals rule.

Chelsea had legitimate grounds for complaint after being denied at least two good penalty appeals by the referee - who was still considered good enough by UEFA to officiate at last year’s Euro 2008 championships - but that will not be regarded as any excuse by UEFA when they come to judge Drogba’s conduct.

Ovrebo had to be escorted from the pitch by a platoon of stewards with Drogba apparently bent on a physical confrontation.

To compound his intimidating behaviour, the Ivory Coast international then turned to a television camera and screamed into it, describing the official as a “f-ing disgrace.”

Chelsea are also likely to be in hot water with UEFA after infuriated fans threw flags at the officials and the Barcelona bench on the final whistle.

However, Drogba is unlikely to be punished by his club as manager Guus Hiddink said he understood that emotions after such a match run high.

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Petr Cech was outstanding as Chelsea held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp. And so becoming the first side in 50 games to restrict the Spanish side from scoring on their home ground.

Cech produced several fine stops to keep the Blues in the tie as Guus Hiddink’s men defended superbly throughout ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge a week on Wednesday.

After a cagey opening 30 minutes, in which Barcelona enjoyed plenty of possession but could not break down a solid visiting defence, the game suddenly sparked into life.

Thierry Henry cut in from the left and fired straight at Cech before testing the Blues stopper again with a much fiercer effort moments later as Barca finally began to create some openings.

But it was Chelsea who should have broken the deadlock in the 39th minute when Rafael Marquez’s weak back pass allowed Didier Drogba a free run on goal but the striker’s half volley was well saved by Victor Valdes, who was also equal to the Ivorian hitman’s follow up.

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Two headers from Branislav Ivanovic helped give Chelsea a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg at Anfield.

The Serbian defender - only playing because of the injury to first-choice right-back Jose Bosingwa - scored his first goals in a Blue shirt as Guus Hiddink’s team brought the Reds fine run of recent form to a crashing halt.

Fernando Torres gave Rafael Benitez’s side an early lead but two headers either side of half-time from Ivanovic and a Didier Drogba strike put Chelsea into the driving seat ahead of next week’s return leg at Stamord Bridge.

The Reds’ reward for a fast start was the opening goal in the sixth minute. Dirk Kuyt pulled Alex’s clearance out of the Merseyside sky before the Dutchman’s superb backheel sent Alvaro Arbeloa clear down the right. The full-back was precise in his delivery, picking out Torres, who stroked the ball past Petr Cech from 12 yards out.

Chelsea could and should have been level immediately. Solomon Kalou robbed Fabio Aurelio before feeding Drogba, who smashed the ball straight at Pepe Reina when one-on-one with the hosts’ keeper.

Florent Malouda’s low, left-footed drive from the edge of the box drifted narrowly wide of Reina’s post midway through the opening period, while Torres’ curler at the other end came equally as close moments later.

Drogba wasted his second golden opportunity in the 28th minute when he blasted over from close range but despite the prolific Ivorian’s wastefulness, Chelsea hauled themselves level six minutes before the break.

Florent Malouda’s corner landed on the edge of the six-yard box and Ivanovic evaded the attentions of both Xabi Alonso and Martin Skrtel to plant a firm header past Reina.

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Chelsea twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with 10-man Juventus in Turin and again secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The Blues went into the last-16 return leg with a one-goal advantage but that was soon wiped out by Vincenzo Iaquinta’s 19th-minute strike.

But the visitors levelled on the stroke of half-time, moments after referee Alberto Undiano had ruled that a free-kick by Didier Drogba had not crossed the goal line in the 44th minute.

That decision appeared harsh but it was soon irrelevant as Frank Lampard’s shot came down off the underside of the bar for Michael Essien to bundle home.

Juventus restored their lead on the night when Undiano awarded the Italian side a 74th-minute penalty for handball by Juliano Belletti.

However, Chelsea battled back for a second time when Drogba prodded home a cross from Belletti in the 83rd minute to give the Blues a 3-2 aggregate win.

The Serie A giants knew an early goal was a requirement if they were to get themselves back into a tie that kicked-off in Chelsea’s favour thanks to Drogba’s match-winner at Stamford Bridge.

Pavel Nedved was twice down injured in the opening eight minutes. The first time after a collision with Essien and the second when he came off worst in a clash with Nicolas Anelka.

He was replaced in the 12th minute by Hasan Salihamidzic after failing to respond to lengthy treatment on the sidelines.

Nedved’s loss as a bitter blow to the Juve cause as he had been the architect of their fine start.

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Didier Drogba’s first-half strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 first-leg win over Juventus in their Champions League last-16 clash at Stamford Bridge. The Ivorian of late has looked the shadow of the striker he once was, but put on a show that would surely give all Chelsea supporters some hope of seeing their destroyer back to old ways.

Following on from the crucial Premier League win at Aston Villa on Saturday, the Blues made it two wins out of two for new boss Guus Hiddink, while ex-Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has work to do ahead of the return leg in a fortnight if he is to guide his Serie A side into the last eight at the expense of his former employers.

Drogba’s early strike made the difference for the hosts, whose only regret may be not turning their territorial domination into a bigger advantage to take to the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.

The Blues began on the front foot, and stayed there for the entire first period.

Salomon Kalou tested Gianluigi Buffon’s handling with an effort from outside the box in the third minute, shortly before Jose Bosingwa’s right-wing cross was headed over from close range by Drogba.

The Ivorian made amends however in the 12th minute with the opening goal. Kalou’s threaded pass from outside the box was pounced upon by his compatriot and the Blues striker made no mistake in firing past Buffon on the turn from just inside the box.

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New Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink believes Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba can play in the same team - if they show defensive as well as attacking qualities.

Anelka marked Hiddink’s first game in charge by scoring the winner against Aston Villa - his 21st goal of the season. Victory pushed the Blues ahead of Villa into third spot in the Barclays Premier League.

Previous Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari had been reluctant to play Drogba and Anelka in the same team. However, Hiddink said: “You can only play good attacking football when everyone knows their job defensively.

“We have quality players like Anelka and Drogba and, when they have the spirit to work defensively for the team, then you can also the play the way we like tolay.

“They are the first defensive line and must join in with the midfield in having defensive responsibilities.

“If they are willing to do that there is no problem with using their strong qualities offensively.”

Hiddink also insisted he had seen no divisions amongst the players in the build-up to the game.

He said: “We have worked very hard physically and also strategically. Everyone has been very professional. I have not seen any division in the group.”

As regards Chelsea’s 1-0 victory, Hiddink said: “I am satisfied with the performance and the result, especially against a team like Villa who have had a very good record recently. They have not been beaten in the league for a long time.

“In the first half we were very dominant and the only criticism is that we did not finish the game off.

“In the second half they came at us with their big strong guys in the air but we were also a bit too static when we had the ball in possession.

“We can improve a little bit but I am very pleased and satisfied to get that game in our pocket.”

Villa boss Martin O’Neill felt a third game in six days after cup ties with Everton and CSKA Moscow had taken its toll on his side.

He said: “It sounds like an excuse but I do believe the three games in quick succession took their toll. At the beginning, we looked leggy and Chelsea got into their stride very quickly.

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