Drogba rescues a point in Nou Camp cauldron

Chelsea's Didier Drogba has a shot on goal against Barcelona during a Champions League Group A football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Chelsea took another step towards the last 16 of the Champions League as Didier Drogba rescued a 2-2 draw away to holders Barcelona with a last-gap equaliser which left the defending champions facing the danger of being eliminated.

On-fire Drogba scored his fifth goal of the tournament two minutes from the end of a pulsating and often ill-tempered meeting to leave Jose Mourinho's men with ten points from four matches, three ahead of Germany's Werder Bremen, who steamrollered Levski Sofia 3-0 away.

Barca, who thought they had victory wrapped up after former Chelsea man Eidur Gudjohnsen chose a clash with his former teammates to net his first goal at the Nou Camp to make it 2-1 midway through the second half, have just five points and now stand third in the group.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba shoots and scores past Barcelona's keeper Victor Valdes during a Champions League Group A football match against Chelsea at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended 2-2.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was beaming with pride at the end.

"Everything is in our hands now but I am very proud of the performance," said the Portuguese maestro, who had as usual stirred things up by alleging Gudjohnsen had learnt to dive since he joined Barcelona.

"We had five or six big chances.

"I believe we had two penalties in our favour. We made life difficult for us as we conceded a goal so early."

However Mourinho, who is now a hate figure at the club he once worked for then coach Bobby Robson as an interpreter, couldn't help himself at digging the knife into his counterpart Frank Rijkaard.

"We played with a lot of confidence. Frank (Rijkaard) is a very lucky man as he has a lot of stars so his players are protected by the referee.

Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen (L) celebrates with Xavi Hernandez after scoring against Chelsea during a Champions League Group A football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

"I would love to be in his position. I am not going to complain about the referee as it is not easy for him because the Barcelona players are always diving."

The holders were under pressure to get back to winning ways after their London loss, their first defeat in 20 months in the competition, but their solitary point was met by a hail of boos.

Barca made a perfect start as Portuguese midfielder Deco, a Champions League winner with Mourinho's 2004 Porto side, thumped the hosts into the lead with just two minutes and 40 seconds on the clock.

Deco, along with Ronaldinho showing inconsistent form this season, drove home right-footed from the edge of the box after cutting inside to leave third-choice keeper Henrique Hilario helpless in the Chelsea goal.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) is tackled by Chelsea's Michael Essien during a Champions League Group A football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Barca's determination to reassert themselves after their loss in London, coupled with the early goal, brought the encounter swiftly to the boil and Italian referee Stefano Farina - in charge of the Milan derby last Saturday - was called on repeatedly to impose his authority.

Drogba, sent off here two years ago in the knockout phase, was embroiled in a growing feud with Thiago Motta but Farina's cards stayed in his pocket - until his patience snapped when the Chelsea man tackled Gianluca Zambrotta from behind.

Ballack, fed by Michael Essien, had earlier driven just over right footed before Hilario saved Chelsea's bacon at the other end, palming away a Xavi effort following a glorious interchange with Ronaldinho.

Chelsea gathered their wits and Barca keeper Victor Valdes pulled out a superb stop on 32 minutes to turn over an Essien header after Drogba sent over a tantalising cross.

Barcelona's Portuguese Deco (L) celebrates with Xavi Hernandez after scoring against Chelsea in a Champions League Group A football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Moments later Valdes distinguished himself again by blocking a Robben piledriver before Rafa Marquez appeared to bring down Claude Makelele in the box, only for an increasingly flustered Farina to wave play on.

The referee then became embroiled in a furious altercation as he appeared to flash two yellows at Chelsea fullback Ashley Cole, without producing the red before UEFA confirmed the recipient in the first case for dissent was Lampard.

Lampard, out to impress against rivals club known to be fervent admirers of his talents, will now miss the trip to Bremen after his third yellow in four matches.

"The referee had a funny game to say the least," admitted a bemused Lampard.

Robben almost drew Chelsea level twice within a minute just after the restart, Valdes hurling himself to his left to keep out a goalbound header before the Dutch flier clipped over from close range with Lampard having set him up a chance on a plate.

But on 52 minutes, Lampard, just onside, escaped his marker inside the box to fire the equaliser, clipping home from the acutest of angles after appearing to have allowed Essien's lofted pass to stray too far.

Having lost their shape, the hosts regained it in an instant - after almost going behind to a Makelele daisycutter - as Ronaldinho awoke on 58 minutes to dink a ball into the Chelsea box, where Gudjohnsen gleefully smashed home from four yards.