Chelsea made a winning start to their Champions League campaign as William Gallas's 85th minute goal gave the London side a 1-0 victory over Sparta Prague in Group G on Tuesday.

 Striker Hernan Crespo and midfielder Claude Makelele both made their full debuts for star-studded Chelsea, but it was French defender Gallas who broke the deadlock with a close-range finish from substitute Damien Duff's cross.

 New owner Roman Abramovich has spent more than 110 million pounds ($176.5 million) to rebuild Chelsea, but there was a lack of cohesion in the first half as Crespo struggled to forge an understanding with Adrian Mutu.

 But Chelsea, playing in the Champions League for the first time in three years, gradually took control after the break and they looked the more likely winners before Gallas popped up with his late strike.

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