The Frenchman made what looked like a testing trip to the Danish capital for out-of-form Chelsea into a comfortable night.
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka offered a reminder of his striking prowess on Tuesday with both goals in a comfortable 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen in their Champions League last 16, first leg match.
With £50 million ($80.95 million) striker Fernando Torres struggling and Didier Drogba warming the bench, the Frenchman made what looked like a testing trip to the Danish capital for out-of-form Chelsea into a comfortable night.
He scored with carbon copy goals in each half at the Parken Stadium as Copenhagen, who held Barcelona there in the group phase, were brushed aside by Carlo Ancelotti's team who are firmly on track to reach the quarter-finals.
"It was a good result and good performance," Ancelotti, who was under pressure after Chelsea's run of poor form, told Sky Sports. "The players worked hard and played good football but it is only the first half.
"In this competition we are focused because we want to do well. Fernando Torres did very well because the key to the game was the work of the strikers."
Torres is still waiting for his first Chelsea goal since his deadline day move from Liverpool, although he did show signs of life before being substituted late on.
Razor sharp
Anelka, who missed a penalty in Chelsea's FA Cup exit in a shootout against Everton on Saturday, was razor sharp.
When former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer gifted him possession in the 17th minute there was only one thing on the former France international's mind.
Advancing towards goal he buried a right-foot shot low into the corner, giving goalkeeper Johan Wiland no chance.
Without a competitive game since the beginning of December, FC Copenhagen struggled to find their rhythm and it took the introduction of Danish international Martin Vingaard for them to find their range in front of goal.
He replaced Brazilian Cesar Santin at halftime and within 30 seconds he had registered their first shot on target.
However, Anelka's second goal gave Chelsea breathing space and there was no way back for the Danes.
Played in by Frank Lampard after 54 minutes, Anelka took aim and thrashed another shot past Wiland.
With Chelsea in cruise control, Torres, given the nod in front of Drogba, nearly made it 3-0 with a neat turn and shot which brought a fine save from Wiland.
Copenhagen searched for a way back into the tie without much conviction and Gronkjaer went down in the area vainly looking for a penalty, although he had already been flagged offside.
Only Ajax Amsterdam have lost the opening leg at home and gone through in the Champions League knockout stages -- against Panathinaikos in the 199596 season -- and Copenhagen will be hard pressed to repeat that feat in the return on March 16.
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