Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea: Returning hero Didier Drogba books Blues' spot in last 16

Chelsea booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon tonight.

Sergio Aguero gave Atletico the lead in the 66th minute, but Didier Drogba - on his return to European action following suspension - netted twice in the last eight minutes to seemingly earn Chelsea the win.

It was not to be as Aguero struck his second goal from a free-kick in injury-time to earn Atletico a draw, but Chelsea are still assured of a place in the knockout stages courtesy of Porto's win over Apoel Nicosia.

 Drogba was included in the Chelsea starting line-up for tonight's Champions League match at Atletico Madrid after serving his three-match European suspension.

Drogba was handed the ban following his foul-mouthed confrontation with Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of May's Champions League semi-final exit to Barcelona.

The in-form striker, who has scored nine goals in the Premier League already this season, has now served his punishment and will lead Chelsea's attack at the Vicente Calderon Stadium as Carlo Ancelotti's side seek the win that will guarantee them a place in the last 16.

Also back for the Blues is full-back Ashley Cole, who missed Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolton due to a knee problem, while his England team-mate Joe Cole also starts.

Michael Ballack drops to the bench as one of six changes to the team that started at the weekend.

The other newcomers are Alex, Juliano Belletti, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda, with the men making way Ricardo Carvalho, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira, Deco and Nicolas Anelka.

In-form Chelsea came into the game having scored 17 goals without reply in winning their previous four matches - including a 4-0 home win over Atletico - but it was the out-of-sorts home side who looked more threatening early on.

Centre-back Juanito headed wide from a corner while former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan was not too far away with a long-range effort.

Chelsea's first opportunities arrived in the ninth minute following a terrible attempted clearance by Atletico midfielder Paulo Assuncao, but Malouda's initial shot was blocked and then Drogba sent an effort wide of the far post.

Michael Essien picked up the first booking of the match in the 17th minute after his challenge on Jose Antonio Reyes sent the former Arsenal forward crashing to the ground.

Reyes was enjoying plenty of possession early on for Atletico, and he brought a diving one-handed save out of Petr Cech with a curling shot from outside the area.

At the other end, Salomon Kalou looked to have broken away for Chelsea but Atletico defender Pablo Ibanez got back to make a crucial tackle.

Reyes also found himself in the book in the 26th minute when, after fluffing an attempted step-over, he scythed down his former Gunners team-mate Ashley Cole to earn a yellow card.

Atletico, who had not scored in their opening three Group D matches, continued to try their luck from distance, but Simao Sabrosa and Forlan's efforts failed to remotely trouble Cech.

Kalou was a lot closer in the 33rd minute though, with his header from Ashley Cole's cross going narrowly wide of Sergio Asenjo's left upright.

Atletico increased the pressure on the Chelsea defence in the lead up to half-time, but despite enjoying plenty of possession, the hosts created little to worry Ancelotti's men.

Chelsea had a chance of their own just before the break but Frank Lampard, who had been fairly quiet in the opening period, saw his 20-yard effort drift wide.

Chelsea may not have been much of a threat in front of goal before the break, but they came within a whisker of taking the lead five minutes after the re-start when Drogba struck the woodwork.

The Ivory Coast international was fouled in a dangerous position 25 yards out, and from the resulting free-kick the prolific hitman fired in a shot that Atletico goalkeeper Asenjo did well to turn onto his right-hand post.

Soon after that, Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores made the first change of the match, sending on highly-rated striker and one-time Chelsea target Sergio Aguero for ex-Liverpool man Florent Sinama Pongolle.

Aguero's first involvement in the game saw him go crashing inside the area, but the referee ignored the screams of the Atletico fans to award a penalty and waved play on.

Ancelotti's first substitution saw Ballack replace Essien in midfield just before the hour-mark.

Cech was called into action in the 64th minute to save a Reyes free-kick low down by his post, but he could do nothing about the goal that put Atletico ahead in the 66th minute.

An Antonio Lopez cross from the left fell kindly to the unmarked Aguero after flicking off the head of John Terry, and the Argentinian slammed an unstoppable volley into the far top corner of the net as Chelsea's defence was finally breached in Europe.

Ancelotti responded to the goal by making a double substitution, sending on Deco and former Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka for Joe Cole and Kalou.

Deco had a chance to draw Chelsea level in the 75th minute when Asenjo's attempted punch fell to him inside the area, but the Portuguese sent his volley wide of the far post.

Drogba was then denied by a good tackle as he broke into the area, but just moments after that he drew Chelsea level when he rose highest to head home Malouda's cross from the left.

Drogba then looked to have clinched a stunning comeback victory as he latched onto Ashley Cole's through-ball and slotted home at the second attempt after Asenjo had saved his initial effort.

That was in the 88th minute, but there was still a late twist as Atletico netted an injury-time equaliser when Aguero curled home a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards out.