Struggling Premier League champions Chelsea claimed their first home win of the season, by defeating Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in their opening group game of the Champions League.
Chelsea took just 15 minutes to take the lead, but the Blues should have had the lead within five minutes.
Willian was brought down in the visitor’s penalty area by goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Eden Hazard stepped-up and ballooned his spot-kick over the bar.
The Blues did take the lead on 15 minutes though. Brazilian Willian’s attempted cross skidded off the surface and beyond everybody into the net. Willian then had to be replaced on 22 minutes by Diego Costa, who had been dropped to the bench.
The Blues doubled their lead in first half stoppage-time. Costa was brought down in the area by former-Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim and Brazilian playmaker Oscar calmly dispatched the spot-kick past Rajkovic.
The home side added a third goal on 58 minutes. Cesc Fabregas chipped the ball into the Maccabi box, Costa with his back to goal, turned and cushioned a superb volley into the top corner off the bar.
Chelsea wrapped up the victory on 77 minutes. Loic Remy’s shot was parried by Rajkovic, only for Fabregas to tap-in with the rebound.
The performance a result will have come as a great relief to everybody connected with the Blues, after their torrid start to their Premier League defence.
Can Chelsea’s Champions League win kick-start their season?
