Anelka gives Chelsea headstart while APOEL holds Atlético Madrid

Chelsea FC 1-0 FC Porto

New manager, but a familiar story for Chelsea FC as they got off to their customary winning start in the UEFA Champions League as Nicolas Anelka took the lead role in the absence of Didier Drogba to decide an entertaining game against FC Porto at Stamford Bridge.

The heavens opened, but it could not rain on Carlo Ancelotti's parade as the Italian saw his side continue the winning form which has put them out in front in the Premier League with five successive victories. Yet Ancelotti will be the first to credit the efforts of the Portuguese champions, who went toe to toe with the home team and came close to interrupting Chelsea's march towards a sixth Matchday 1 win in eight attempts.

It took Chelsea time to find their normal fluency in this Group D fixture as Porto adopted a forceful approach, their strength and physicality appearing to unnerve the hosts. Frank Lampard was the first to threaten, but no sooner had Helton pushed that aside than Porto were on the attack with a raking drive from Hulk forcing Petr Čech to save with his knees.

A heavy blow to the face which necessitated lengthy treatment for John Terry further slowed the Chelsea machine, but gradually they got a grip of the conditions and their game. Lampard should have made more of a free header at the far post before the ball fell nicely at the feet of Anelka whose shot struck two defenders before diverting to safety.

Branislav Ivanović, in the mode of José Bosingwa who he was filling in for at right-back, wasted no time in getting forward and from out wide he conjured a number of dangerous crosses. They were tailor-made for Drogba to ram home but without their attacking talisman – who, like Bosingwa, was suspended – the chances went begging. Porto were defending manfully with the giant Fredy Guarín an effective presence in front of the back four. Just before the break Guarín ventured upfield and his header from Álvaro Pereira's cross only just cleared Čech's crossbar.

Hulk again demonstrated his threat to the Chelsea defence at the start of the second half with a deceptive change of direction that fooled Terry, but he opted for another touch and the promise subsided. Anelka showed more decisiveness as he engineered the breakthrough. Fastening onto Salomon Kalou's prod he blasted the ball at Helton and was then alert enough to squeeze the rebound in from a tight angle. Ivanović continued to impress with another sweeping cross finding Kalou at the far post, but Helton was equal to the header with a plunging save. From the corner Ivanović rose highest, but sent his header just over.

Porto made it a testing final 20 minutes for Chelsea as Álvaro Pereira continued to create openings down the left. Substitute Falcao escaped to fire at Čech and then Guarín demanded the goalkeeper stoop low to keep out his effort. With eight minutes remaining Čech was there again to keep out Silvestre Varela's far-post volley, and the night ended disappointingly for the visitors as Fernando was ordered off for a second yellow card.

Atletico Madrid 0-0 APOEL FC

APOEL FC enjoyed a fine start to life in the UEFA Champions League as a disciplined defensive display earned Ivan Jovanović's side an unexpected draw at Club Atlético de Madrid.

Having begun their journey to reach the group stage back in the second qualifying round in July, the Cypriot champions used the experience gained during the summer to frustrate some of the biggest names in Spanish football. Although Diego Forlán twice went close in the final moments, striking the crossbar with a thunderous effort from 25 metres, APOEL can take huge heart from the point gained from their opening Group D encounter.

The new surroundings of the UEFA Champions League failed to fluster APOEL and they very nearly stunned the home supporters in the seventh minute when Kamil Kosowski's cross from the left found Konstantinos Charalambides in space at the far post, Sergio Asenjo coming to Atlético's rescue with a fine stop. Despite decent periods of possession Atlético were unable to find a way through and instead it was APOEL who again came close to an opening goal, Charalambides turning provider with a left-wing free-kick that was narrowly missed by Paulo Jorge.

Sergio Agüero attempted to rouse Atlético, first by winning possession and crossing for Forlán to head harmlessly wide and then bursting through only to shoot straight at Dionisios Chiotis. José Manuel Jurado then should have done better when an error from Altin Haxhi allowed the former RCD Mallorca attacker to run in on goal, but once again Chiotis was on hand to save the day. Neither side had managed a win in their two opening domestic league games and confidence among both teams appeared low as yet another opportunity went begging, Charalambides passing up the opportunity to lift his side's spirits by firing wide when unmarked at the far post.

With the second half beginning to drift into the same pattern as the first, home coach Abel Resino decided to introduce Maxi Rodríguez and the Argentinian made an immediate impact as Los Rojiblancos upped the pace. Jurado was first to spot the widening spaces in the APOEL rearguard when he struck from the edge of the area only for Chiotis to palm away. The Greek goalkeeper then did equally well to beat out a Forlán effort, although the home support was beginning to sense a breakthrough and thought their moment had arrived when Simão set up Agüero, but again Chiotis was equal to it.

Still Atlético came and Forlán went close with a free kick that zipped wide, while APOEL's Marcin Żewłakow might have done better than head Nuno Morais's corner wide. Play swung straight back up the other end and Forlán continued to menace, striking the upright with a drive from distance before being denied by the excellent Chiotis from similar range. APOEL held firm, however, and welcome Chelsea FC to Cyprus on Matchday 2 while Atlético travel to FC Porto, the team that eliminated Resino's side in last season's first knockout round.