Fabregas on target but Schalke hold Chelsea

Cesc Fabregas scored his first goal in Chelsea colours as Jose Mourinho's men were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Schalke at Stamford Bridge.

The Spaniard has dazzled with an exquisite array of assists since arriving from Barcelona in the summer, but he finally got his own name on the scoresheet when he netted a controversial opener on 11 minutes.

It should have opened the floodgates, but the hosts laboured for long spells and, after Fabregas blazed a great opportunity over, Schalke began to press and deservedly levelled just after the hour.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar got the goal, drilling a low shot in at the near post after the excellent Julian Draxler had dispossessed Fabregas in midfield.

The night had begun on a positive note for the Blues with the crowd buoyant following the news that 2012 Champions League final hero Didier Drogba was making his first start since that dramatic penalty winner in Munich.

However, the Ivorian looked rusty on his homecoming and fluffed a glorious chance to double the lead just prior to Schalke's equaliser.

Ultimately it was a frustrating start to life in Group G for the Blues, but Mourinho will be confident his team will still have enough to qualify ahead of the likes of Maribor and Sporting Lisbon as he now turns his sights towards the weekend's Premier League showdown with Manchester City.

PRE-MATCH - Drogba's back! Didier Drogba starts for Chelsea for the first time since his return from Galatasaray in the summer. His last act as a Blue was that winning penalty in the 2011-12 Champions League final shootout. Diego Costa, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem, drops to the bench while John Terry makes his 600th start for the club.

9' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Drogba breaks free on the left and clips in a cross that evades two defenders before falling for Ramires who scuffs his shot from eight yards out. In the end it's easy for Fahrmann but the Brazilian should have scored.

11' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Schalke. Cesc Fabregas makes a late challenge in the midfield and the ball falls for Hazard. The winger jinks into the area and then feeds Fabregas on the overlap with a sumptuous reverse pass and the Spaniard does the rest, showing great awareness to place a shot beyond the keeper. Huntelaar is booked in the aftermath as Schalke vehemently complain that Fabregas committed a foul in the build up. They have a strong case too.

37' - WHAT A MISS! Ramires clips a superb pass into Ivanovic who pulls it back from the right byline and puts it on a plate for Fabregas... but the net doesn't bulge as the former Barca man crashes his shot over the top from 10 yards out.

39' - SCHALKE CHANCE! Boateng lets fly from 25 yards and forces a smart save out of Courtois on the stretch.

45' - SCHALKE CHANCE! Draxler finds space 40 yards out and drives at three defenders. The German playmaker jinks left and then right and manages to get free in the area before dragging his left-foot shot just past the post. So close.

60' - CHELSEA CHANCE! A wonderful pass over the top puts Drogba racing into the area from the right. The Ivorian takes a touch that sets him wide and then places his shot beyond the keeper, but also past the far post.

62' - GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Schalke. The visitors are level! Draxler wins the ball off Fabregas and sprints away on the counter. Huntelaar peels away on the left, receives the pass and then fools Courtois with a low shot into the near post.

77' - OFF THE LINE! A left-wing free kick is flapped at by Fahrmann and falls at the feet of Remy. The striker fires it at goal but Neustadter somehow manages to get his body in the way to block it. Superb defending.

85' - CLOSE! Remy's cross from the left takes a nick on its way towards Hazard who blazes over the top on the volley.

Landmarks - John Terry made his 600th start for Chelsea while Ramires made his 200th appearance for the club. Filipe Luís made his full debut for the Blues.

Chelsea have now scored in each of their last 16 Champions League home games.

Fabregas scored his first competitive goal for Chelsea.

Thibaut Courtois has kept only one clean sheet in his five appearances for Chelsea - in a 2-0 home win over Leicester.

Schalke have now drawn two, lost five and won one of their trips to England in European competition.

Chelsea are now five matches unbeaten against Schalke.

Schalke scored their first goal against Chelsea in what was the fifth meeting between the teams.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

Were Chelsea saving themselves for Manchester City? The Blues raced out of the traps and looked all set to put Schalke to the sword when Fabregas struck the early opener. But they dropped down a couple of gears after that and allowed the Germans back into it. Mourinho will insist he didn't have one eye on Manchester City, but he will be pleased to have given Drogba and Luis a run out as well as keeping the freescoring Costa relatively fresh for the weekend.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea): A constant menace down the left flank. Had a big hand in Fabregas' opener but couldn't quite find the winner with a flurry of late chances.

Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 7, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Filipe Luis 7, Matic 7, Fabregas 6, Ramires 7, Willian 7, Hazard 8, Drogba 6. Subs: Oscar 6, Remy 7, Costa 6.

Schalke: Fahrmann 6, Höger 6, Ayhan 7, Neustädter 7, Fuchs 6, Boateng 7, Aogo 6, Sam 7, Meyer 6, Draxler 8, Huntelaar 7. Subs: Barnetta 6, Choupo-Moting 6, Obasi 6.