16/09/2003  Sparta Prague 0 Chelsea 1
 
Defender William Gallas succeeded where a £33million strikeforce had failed as he ensured Chelsea a victorious start to their Champions League group stage away to Sparta Prague.

Gallas, whose only previous Champions League goal came for Marseilles against Manchester United, struck with five minutes left after Hernan Crespo had wasted a hat-trick of chances and Adrian Mutu had gone off injured.

However, Claudio Ranieri was also particularly indebted to a sparkling second-half display by substitute Damien Duff, who lit up the darkness of a tepid first half.

The Republic of Ireland international, who had spoken out ahead of the game at his frustration in not finishing enough games, had initially been left on the bench in Prague.

However, with a tactical switch that brought his team to life, Ranieri brought the winger on at the interval and it was Duff who provided the cross from which Gallas - in his first start of the season - made the breakthrough.

With Juan Sebastian Veron also rising to the occasion in the second half, Chelsea, who rediscovered some defensive resilience, therefore emerged with a highly creditable, if hardly sparkling, win.

Ranieri may have insisted he has no plans to field essentially separate teams in the Premier League and Champions League.

However, there were seven changes to the line-up that defeated Tottenham last weekend and it seemed initially more like Chelsea FC (European division), as mostly players with proven Champions League pedigree were selected.

One of those, Romanian international Mutu, rose to head a cross by Glen Johnson narrowly past the post after just two minutes.

However, even though Crespo, on his full debut, also shot straight at keeper Jaromir Blazek from Emmanuel Petit's through-ball, Sparta were increasingly putting Chelsea under pressure.

Ranieri had opted for a tight midfield quartet, with Veron in a largely free role, but his team therefore lacked any real width.

Mutu did attempt one speculative 25-yard effort, but otherwise it was keeper Carlo Cudicini who was called upon to keep the home side at bay.

Having smothered a dangerous free-kick by former West Ham defender Vladimir Labant, he tipped a header by Radoslav Kovac around the post as he capitalised on an incisive cross by Karel Poborsky.

The 'tinkerman' was at it again at the half-time interval, with Ranieri bringing on both Frank Lampard and - after a short delay - Duff.

Chelsea's midfield certainly needed far more urgency, and the five-man formation, with Crespo up front on his own, gave far more width, as well as allowing Veron more space in which to roam.

The change seemed to reignite Chelsea, with Crespo twice beating the offside trap only for both of his efforts to be saved relatively easily by keeper Blazek.

Chelsea were still indebted to Gluscevik directing the ball well off target with his shoulder despite having risen above the visitors' defence to meet a deep cross.

However, Duff was now providing the inspiration and it was the Irishman's low cross that was deflected just past his own upright by defender Petr Johana.

The formation also seemed to suit Veron, allowing him slightly more space, and it was his through-ball that sent Crespo haring clear only to waste the opening as his chip cleared keeper Blazek but bounced well short.

The same Argentinian link-up worked again just minutes later, but Crespo wasted yet another opening as this time he shot well            Crespo paid the price for his profligacy with 18 minutes left as he was replaced by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Soon afterwards, a weak headed clearance by Gallas fell only as far as substitute Libor Sionko, but his shot was weakly struck and dribbled tamely wide.

The French defender nevertheless came up trumps with five minutes left as he headed home from close range after Hasselbaink had flicked on Duff's dangerous cross.

Much harder tests may lie ahead, but with such a new side, Chelsea had for now realistically done all their manager could have asked of them.