Chelsea 1 Juventas 0:A 1-0 WIN will make Stamford Bridge misty-eyed with reminiscences of the hardiness shown in days gone by, but this was no grinding success. Chelsea are fairly well-placed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals because they both attacked with verve, particularly for Didier Drogba's splendid goal, and resisted efficiently to see out the victory in the closing 20 minutes.

Juventus, all the same, cannot be discounted in the tie because there was endeavour and menace from them here with Pavel Nedved narrowly failing to equalise when he let fly in stoppage time.

There is a perception that Chelsea are an old team. This is much exaggerated and here they began the match with three players in their thirtieswhile Juventus had half a dozen. The real mission for Guus Hiddink is to purge the staleness that has gradually taken hold of the team since the departure of Jose Mourinho.

The mood of the volatile Drogba has also improved remarkably. The Ivorian had been so eager to deny there is any disadvantage to having the first leg at home that he said: “Why can’t we go out and prove the theory wrong by sticking four past Juve?”

However, the real significance of Drogba’s remark lay in the tone of excitement. Moody as he can be, that volatility leads him to periods of intensity. This was one of them.

The striker was beyond the visitors’ control even before he had established the early lead. Cristian Molinaro, the left-back was frantic enough to barge the striker in the back when a cross came over in the 11th minute and was fortunate that the referee, Olegario Benquerenca, did not award a penalty.

There was no further reprieve, though, as Chelsea took the lead with an admirable goal. Salomon Kalou threaded a fine pass through the centre of the defence when it looked impossible to find the correct angle and Drogba swept the ball into the corner of the net.

Despite the seeming air of conservatism in Hiddink’s 4-1-4-1 system, there was actually plenty of licence to drive into the attack. Juventus, accordingly, had scope for daring of their own.

Tiago, a Chelsea midfielder when the Premier League title came to Stamford Bridge, set up Alessandro Del Piero for a drive in the 22nd minute that was turned behind excellently by Petr Cech.

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri has done so much at Juventus to enhance his reputation. Some of the credit may be due him for the continued commitment of men such as Del Piero and Nedved, who are 34 and 36 respectively.

This match did not suffer from the overwrought tone that generally afflicts occasions of such importance. It may not have been the most refined of games but the enterprise and energy were compelling. Drogba continued to show dynamism although he went down far too readily in the penalty area when Giorgio Chiellini challenged after 55 minutes.

Unflappability is no longer to be taken for granted in the Chelsea defence and Cech, for instance, floundered in a couple of attempts to claim the ball and end a Juventus attack. The substitute Marco Marchionni also came close with an angled effort that went marginally wide. The tempo stayed high and the visitors seemed to find the energy to pin down Chelsea.

Hiddink could still be glad that someone like Salomon Kalou, too often peripheral in the past, took such heart from his sublime part in the opener. He had been an important contributor before he faded slightly and was replaced by Florent Malouda.

If Chelsea had shed a little of their adventure as the game entered the closing 20 minutes it could have been because the score was to their satisfaction. All the same, with Ricardo Carvalho injured, the side cannot be impregnable, as it often looked under Mourinho, and Juventus were far from fatalistic.

John Terry has not always been in peak condition during this campaign but he constantly dominated here. Chelsea had a steadiness here that suggested Hiddink can lead a recovery at Stamford Bridge.

• Guardian Service

CHELSEA:Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Malouda 72), Ballack (Mancienne 81), Lampard, Mikel, Drogba, Anelka. Subs not used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Di Santo, Stoch. Booked: Ballack.

JUVENTUS:Buffon, Chiellini, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Molinaro, Nedved, Camoranesi (Marchionni 51), Sissoko (Trezeguet 86), Tiago (Marchisio 62), Del Piero, Amauri. Subs not used: Manninger, Grygera, Poulsen, Iaquinta. Booked: Molinaro, Sissoko, Marchisio.

Referee:Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).