Champions League: Inter Milan Battle to First Leg Lead Against Chelsea

Jose Mourinho's first match against Chelsea saw a tight affair evolve into a superb footballing contest, with the tie in the balance after the Blues scored a crucial away goal but were defeated 2-1 in the round of 16 tie at the San Siro.

But most worrying for Carlo Ancelotti was a knee injury to Petr Cech, which looks to have ended his campaign at a vital point in the season.

Inter played with the dedication and commitment characteristic of a Mourinho team and took the lead as striker Diego Milito put the Nerazzuri ahead after just three minutes, before Drogba thumped the bar from a stunning first half free kick.

Kalou could have had a penalty on the stroke of half time yet still scored straight after the break, however Cambiasso regained Inter’s lead with a brilliant strike that could be vital in the context of the tie.

Chelsea's back four was always going to come under scrutiny following the antics of Ashley Cole and John Terry, and with Cole out injured Ancelotti was forced to play winger Florent Malouda in the back line.

It was a tactical gamble by the Italian, who was left without his two specialist left backs following Yuri Zhirkov's injury.

The game started with a high tempo and the pressure of the occasion got to Chelsea almost immediately as Inter took the lead within the first three minutes; Diego Milito picking up a ball intended for Wesley Sneijder before finishing with aplomb past Cech.

The hosts continued to press and Chelsea struggled to find their feet until Didier Drogba crashed a 30-yard free kick against the crossbar in the 15th minute with Cesar stranded.

Drogba began to trouble the Inter back four but was limited to a few half-chances in the first period and despite most of the first 45 being played in Inter's half, their back four were rarely stretched.

Chelsea were almost made to pay for their wayward passing when Eto'o missed a glorious chance, mis-kicking from six yards after being played in by Sneijder with John Terry caught out.

Kalou then had a strong shout for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half time after a mistake by Zanetti allowed the Ivorian to drive into the area before being clattered by Walter Samuel.

But Didier Drogba’s compatriot was not to be deterred and struck a critical away goal straight after the break, as Ivanovic cut in from the right hand side and played Kalou in to fire an 18-yard shot into the far corner.

Julio Cesar, who still bore the scars of his late-night Lamborghini crash on Sunday, seemed to struggle to get down and couldn’t keep out Kalou’s strike.

Their joy was to be short lived, though, as Cambiasso fired an unstoppable shot across Cech into the bottom corner after his initial shot came back off Branislav Ivanovic.

That proved to be the goalkeeper’s final contribution, with Hilario coming on after a knee injury ended his part in the match and perhaps his season.

Perhaps Chelsea’s best chance to get back on level terms fell to Frank Lampard after a superb link-up between Drogba and Anelka, but he was off balance and hit a tame shot straight at Cesar and Inter held on to take a lead to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues finished strongly but couldn’t find a way past an Inter defence superbly marshalled by Brazilian veteran Lucio.

Chelsea will be content with the result, but they leave Milan with a first leg deficit and an injury to Petr Cech that could not only determine this tie, but their Premier League season.