Drogba back to where he began for Real clash

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SPECIAL OCCASION: Galatasaray’s Drogba controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League match against FC Schalke 04 at the Ali Samiyen stadium in Istanbul in this Feb 20 file photo. — AFP photo

SPECIAL OCCASION: Galatasaray’s Drogba controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League match against FC Schalke 04 at the Ali Samiyen stadium in Istanbul in this Feb 20 file photo. — AFP photo

MADRID: The wheel will have come full circle for Galatasaray forward Didier Drogba when he takes to the pitch for today’s Champions League quarter-final first leg match at Real Madrid.

The Ivory Coast international, who turned 35 this month, made his debut in Europe’s elite club competition at Real’s Bernabeu stadium in September 2003 playing for Ligue 1 side Olympique Marseille.

Although he scored to put the French outfit Marseille ahead in the 26th minute, goals from Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo
and a double from Brazilian Ronaldo fired Real’s “Galacticos”
to an easy 4-2 group stage victory.

“It will be very special for me, I will never forget that day,” Drogba was quoted as saying in Galatasaray’s club magazine this week.

“It was very important for my career,” added the former Chelsea player.

Drogba was Chelsea’s key performer on their run to a first Champions League triumph last season before quitting the London club for a stint in China and then moving to Turkey.

He struck the winning penalty in the final shootout against Bayern Munich having earlier kept Chelsea in the match with a crashing header two minutes from the end of regular time that levelled the score at 1-1.

“I just grabbed this chance to be able to play at the highest level in Europe again without thinking,” he said.

“That’s why I am here. To have the opportunity to win again.” — Reuters