Ghana midfielder, Michael Essien got off Chelsea's Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Werder Bremen at Stamford Bridge.

Essien scored first for Chelsea in the 24th minute before German international, Michael Ballack got the second for Jose Mourinho's side.

Both goals proved sufficient for the Premiership champions, but each one owed much to individual errors from the visiting side.

Defender Petri Pasanen presented Essien with the first and Ballack then rifled in the decisive second from the penalty spot after Clemens Fritz had needlessly fouled Didier Drogba.

Essien was the game's outstanding player in the early stages and he had already created a decent scoring opportunity for Drogba - which he headed wide - and flashed a shot past a post before putting his side ahead.