Istanbul: Chelsea have the upper hand in their Champions League last-16 tie with Galatasaray after coming away from a testing environment in Istanbul with a 1-1 first-leg draw on Wednesday.
The visitors led at half-time thanks to an early goal from Fernando Torres, but Galatasaray improved in the second half and restored parity after the hour mark when Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou found the net.
A draw was a fair reflection of the way the game went, but Chelsea will now hope to finish the job in the return at Stamford Bridge on March 18.
“The first half we had chances to kill the game, (but) it’s better to be 1-1 than 0-0,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.
Meanwhile, his opposite number Roberto Mancini admitted his team’s second half display also gives them a chance.
“We played very well and I’m confident after the second half,” he said. “After this game we have a 40 percent chance to go through.”
Mourinho opted to select Torres in attack ahead of Samuel Eto’o in one of three changes to the team that beat Everton at the weekend, with Ramires and Andre Schuerrle also coming in.
It proved to be an excellent decision as it was Torres who finished off a clinical breakaway to put the Blues in front with just nine minutes played, giving Chelsea the lead they deserved as their hosts paid for a poor start.
Didier Drogba almost created an equaliser against his old club in the 62nd minute, heading down a left-wing cross for Selcuk Inan, but the home captain somehow contrived to stab the ball against the post from a yard out.
The Turkish champions were not to be denied a leveller three minutes later, however, with Chedjou wriggling free of his marker to convert a Sneijder corner from point-blank range. (AFP)