Chelsea ultimately made sure of progression to the knock-out stages of the Champions League but they left it very late.
Chelsea ultimately made sure of progression to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but had to ensure a night of tension first as it took until late in the second half for Group A to take shape.
The Blues took a first-half lead at home to CFR Cluj, but when the Romanians equalised 10 minutes after the break, all eyes were on Italy where a goal for Bordeaux against Roma would have left Chelsea on their way out.
Instead, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock at the Stadio Olimpico en route to a 2-0 win, while Chelsea secured their own passage as Didier Drogba came off the bench to make it 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea prodded and probed the Cluj defence before eventually making the breakthrough five minutes before the break, with Solomon Kalou losing his marker to easily prod home Deco's free-kick.
But Cluj stunned Stamford Bridge in the 55th minute as Cristian Panin's fine cross picked out Yssouf Kone who headed the ball beyond the reach of Petr Cech and into the top left-hand corner of the goal.
Chelsea fans were left biting their nails until news came through from Italy that Roma had scored.
Drogba then made sure, latching on to Joe Cole's through ball to quickly control and shoot beyond Nuno Claro with a fine piece of skill.
In Rome, the hosts needed until the 61st minute to break the deadlock, with Matteo Brighi smashing the ball home from Simone Perrotta's free-kick.
Talisman Francesco Totti then added a second with a powerful low shot from the edge of the area.
Liverpool overhauled Atletico Madrid to finish top of Group D as the Reds beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 away, and Atletico were held to a goalless draw by Marseille.
Liverpool fell behind to Danko Lazovic's 36th minute strike, with the Serbian taking advantage of a lucky bounce to fire beyond Diego Cavalieri.
But the visitors......
