Porto 0 Chelsea 1

The Champions League game between Porto and Chelsea at Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday Nov 25 2009.

To the wider world, this was a match of limited importance. To a meagre Porto crowd of 35,000, it was also a game of only occasional entertainment.

Yet to Chelsea, and their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, it was yet further evidence that John Terry was fully justified in suggesting the players are recapturing the aura of invincibility that was so evident under Jose Mourinho.

A second-half goal here from Nicolas Anelka clinched what is a sixth win in seven matches, although equally impressive is the fact that those victories have all come without conceding a goal.

Just a brief look at Ancelotti’s managerial career was also enough to explain why he had spoken stirringly of the need for “courage and personality” while placing the utmost significance on avoiding defeat.

Ancelotti is a specialist in the Champions League and will be well aware that Liverpool remain the only recent exception to the rule that winners of this competition have almost always benefited from advantageous seeding in the knockout phase.

Regardless of what happens against Apoel Nicosia, Chelsea are now unassailable in Group D and should avoid the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid when the draw for the last-16 is made next month.

As Ancelotti admitted in his autobiography, he is not immune to a few white lies when the situation demands and, having suggested on Tuesday that Didier Drogba would not be risked last night, the Ivorian duly started alongside Nicolas Anelka.

Other selections, however, were clearly made with the looming match against Arsenal in mind and the presence of Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Michael Essien among the substitutes underlined the likelihood of changes come Sunday.

The sight of empty seats all around the Estadio do Dragao was a further consequence of the fact that both clubs had qualified for the knockout phase with two matches to spare. Chelsea were the more adventurous in a generally tepid opening as Drogba and Anelka continued to expose the myth of their incompatibility.

An exchange of passes almost set Anelka clear, but his run was ruled marginally offside. Anelka, though, was regularly finding space in front of Porto’s defence and prompted the first test of Beto, Porto’s stand-in goalkeeper, with a 15th-minute shot.

Beto’s weak block provided encouragement, although Petr Cech was little more convincing from Porto’s first real attack of note. Fernando Belluschi had shot from long range and, while Cech moved well to his right, he was forced to make a double save after directing his parry into the path of Falcao.

The opportunity galvanised Porto and they gradually began to demonstrate the slick passing which had persuaded Ancelotti to graciously declare that they were a club of an equal stature to Chelsea.

As well as winning the Champions League under Mourinho in 2004, they reached the quarter-final last year and will be in the last-16 of the competition for what is a sixth time in seven seasons.

Three consecutive league titles also illustrate Porto’s strength in the post-Mourinho era and they were unfortunate not to be ahead at half-time. Belluschi was pulling the strings and, after an incisive run, his curling shot beat Cech but cannoned off the crossbar to safety.

The Argentine’s threat as the playmaker was initially in marked contrast to Chelsea’s Deco, who had previously made his name at Porto. This represented another opportunity for Deco to answer those who regard his arrival as a mistake but throughout the first half there was precious little industry, invention or even urgency at the tip of Ancelotti’s diamond.

Further back, John Obi Mikel’s erratic use of possession suggested he may also struggle to retain his place against Arsenal.

Deco’s difficulties continued when he somehow miscued a free-kick so spectacularly from a dangerous position that he actually set-up a dangerous Porto attack.

Essien replaced Michael Ballack after 68 minutes and just his presence immediately provided Chelsea with decisive impetus. Yuri Zhirkov teed up Florent Malouda down the left and his sweet cross was converted by a diving Anelka header from four yards out.

It was Anelka’s sixth of the season and just reward for what had been a selfless performance in partnership with Drogba. For Chelsea, it was also very much mission accomplished.