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Didier Drogba's 12th minute strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 home win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The result will see Guus Hiddink's side travel to Turin in a fortnight's time with a slender advantage, although the Italian giants showed enough in the second half to suggest they will be far from pushovers in the return leg.

The win was Hiddink's second in as many games since replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari in the Stamford Bridge hotseat and although the performance was far from classic, the Dutchman cannot have failed to have been pleased with the reaction he has got from his players.

Not least Drogba, who showed glimpses of his best form with a performance full of energy and desire, and capped with a superbly-taken goal.

The Ivorian's form this season has been hit and miss but this time his finish was clinical, the striker needing just one touch to control Salomon Kalou's clever slide rule pass before turning and firing low past Buffon.

The opening period was an open, entertaining affair which Chelsea started well and continued to boss in terms of possession and chances.

It took the hosts just four minutes to test the Juventus back line, Salomon Kalou cutting inside and letting fly with a well-struck shot that Gianluigi Buffon did well to snaffle.

Drogba, who appears rejuvenated under Hiddink, then began to make his mark on the game and made a great run to meet Jose Bosingwa's near post cross with a header that whistled over the bar on eight minutes.

Soon after, the Ivorian - not for the first time in his career, nor for the last time on the night - saw a loud penalty claim turned away after he collided with Cristian Molinaro in the box.

He was to be disappointed again early in the second half, when referee Olegario Benquerenca saw nothing untoward in Giorgio Chiellini's challenge in the area - and then again as full-time neared when the same Italy defender appeared to block his run on goal.

His displeasure at the decision was evident on both occasions, but there was not a hint of a scowl on Drogba's face on 12 minutes when his supreme finish broke the deadlock. Such was Chelsea's early superiority, at that point in the game it seemed Juventus were there for the taking.

But Claudio Ranieri's side recovered well from going a goal behind, and the visitors managed to fashion a good chance to equalise on 21 minutes, the ever-green Alessandro Del Piero profiting from a neat Tiago through pass to get a shot on target. Petr Cech had to be alert to turn the ball around the post.

From the resulting corner Amauri, who came more into the encounter as the game progressed, glanced a header wide of the mark and Chiellini failed to get his outstretched boot to it at the far post.

While the Italian side continued their ascendency after the break, Drogba was involved once again on 50 minutes when he saw directed a header wide of the mark in a similar vein to his first-half effort.

Like Drogba, Cech has been far from his best so far this season, and the goalkeeper very nearly gifted Juve a way back into the game on the hour mark, uncharacteristically dropping a cross at the feet of Amauri. Fortunately for Chelsea, Cech managed to recover and dive on the ball seconds before the Brazilian pulled the trigger.

Moments later substitute Marco Marchionni gave further proof that this match was not over when he fired inches over the bar before Amauri leapt like a salmon to direct a header goalwards, prompting Cech back into action.

As an attacking force, Chelsea were nowhere near as potent during the second half, although Nicolas Anelka went close to doubling their advantage with a terrific strike on the break with just three minutes remaining.

The Frenchman's drive from 25 yards fizzed just wide of the upright and Chelsea were nearly made to pay immediately as David Trezeguet - on as a substitute - found himself in on goal in the 88th minute. But Anelka's compatriot snatched at his shot and the ball bounced wide.

There was still time for Pavel Nedved to give the home crowd a scare with a crisp drive from the edge of the penalty area in stoppage time. His effort flew wide but the visitors had already done enough to suggest Chelsea will be up against it in Turin, where Juve are unbeaten in 13 ties.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport