Goals early on in each half from Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a 2-0 win over Schalke at Stamford Bridge while Rosenborg pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over Valencia.

Malouda gave the Blues the perfect start, twisting and turning past Rafinha, before unleashing a deflected shot that young goalkeeper Manuel Neuer let roll straight through his hands.

Didier Drogba got the crucial second goal soon after half time with a diving header, though a spirited fightback from Schalke saw Soren Larsen hit the woodwork and Jermaine Jones go close in the final 20 minutes.

The immaculate Petr Cech ensured his goal remained intact though and Chelsea now move three points clear at the top of the group, while the Bundesliga side now languish bottom - albeit just a point behind Rosenborg in second place.

A poor start had cost Chelsea dear in their previous Champions League home fixture, though they were quickly out of the blocks on this occasion, with Malouda seeing his shot squirm under Neuer and roll straight into the centre of the goal.

Malouda was at the heart of the action again moments later, laying defence-splitting pass straight into the path of Drogba, though the Ivorian opted to square the ball unselfishly to Frank Lampard, and Marcelo Bordon was able to make the interception.

Schalke then had a penalty appeal correctly turned down after Wayne Bridge tackled Soren Larsen in the area, though were fortunate not to have fallen another goal behind as Michael Essien ran unmarked to the near post only to thump his header wide.

Carlos Grossmueller thought he had volleyed home a fine equaliser on the half-hour mark, though he was ruled marginally offside from Larsen's flick-on.

The high-tempo of the game did not let up, and Drogba forced a fine save from Neuer with a glancing header after an expansive move. The young 'keeper then made another excellent stop from a Joe Cole just before half time, managing to parry the ball clear of the preying Drogba.

Two minutes into the second half Chelsea doubled their lead with a glorious counter-attacking move. Paulo Ferreira won back possession and played a delightful exchange with Essien before delivering an inch-perfect cross that Drogba turned home at the near post with a diving header.

If Schalke had the feeling fortune was not on their side, then it was confirmed emphatically on the hour mark when Soren Larsen stole in ahead of Alex to meet a fine Rafinha cross, and saw a towering header bounce back off the far post and straight into the arms of a stunned Cech.

Though Drogba looked a constant threat in attack, the Chelsea midfield failed to get control of the game, and the visiting fans were again out of their seats when Jermaine Jones sent a curling right foot shot just wide.

Alex was lucky to remain on the pitch after he hauled down Larsen following an under-hit back pass while the referee was looking elsewhere, though Drogba was then denied a penalty at the other end despite being scythed to the ground by Bordon.

Rosenborg 2-0 Valencia

Rosenborg stunned Valencia in Trondheim and replaced their Spanish rivals as Group B's second placed team.

The Norwegian minnows were dogged and energetic throughout, but it was the quality of their passing and movement which caught Valencia by surprise.

The Spaniards enjoyed pockets of possession but were too often hustled off the ball by a team roared on by 20,000 vociferous fans.

Rosenborg had numerous chances to break the deadlock in the first half, especially from corners.

Valencia consistently struggled to clear their lines and the left foot of Rosenborg defender Mikael Dorsin proved to be a particular thorn in their side as he whipped in a series of dangerous balls.

Valencia emerged full of determination in the second half, stepping up the tempo immediately from the re-start, but they were hit by a classic sucker punch in the 54th minute when Dorsin galloped down the left and delivered a ball to Yssouf Kone, whose turn and shot was too much for Santiago Canizares in the Valencia goal.

Valencia never recovered from the shock and it was little surprise when they succumbed again in the 74th minute, inevitably from a corner. They failed to clear Dorsin's floated ball and defender Visar Riseth headed over a ruck of players and past the despairing clutches of Canizares.

The Liga side immediately brought on giant striker Nikola Zigic and switched to a long-ball approach in an attempt to rescue the game, but Rosenborg held firm to secure a famous, and well-deserved, victory.

Michael FitzGerald & Kerry McCarthy / Eurosport