Chelsea returned to Luzhniki Stadium for the first time since their 2008 Champions League final loss to Manchester United and managed to put the bad memories behind them.
Without Didier Drogba, the Blues cruised to a 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow thanks to a 23rd minute cracker from former CSKA Moscow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov before Nicolas Anelka doubled the advantage with a customary cool finish just before half-time to maintain their 100% record in the group.
UEFA Champions League Group FSpartak Moscow (RUS): 0 Chelsea (ENG): 2 (Yuri Zhirkov 23', Nicolas Anelka 43')
Venue: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo Yellow cards:SPA - Marek Suchy 56' CHE - Yuri Zhirkov 88'
Starting Line-Ups
SPA Andrey Dikan (gk), Marek Suchy, Nicolas Pareja, Evgeniy Makeyev, Sergey Parshivlyuk, Aleksandr Sheshukov, Ibson, Dmitriy Kombarov, Aiden McGeady, Welliton, Ari (Ananidze 85')
Subs - Sergey Pesjakov (gk), Zhano Ananidze (85')
CHE Petr Cech (gk), John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole (van Aanholt 87'), Paulo Ferreira, John Obi Mikel, Yuri Zhirkov, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda (Kakuta 82'), Nicolas Anelka, Samolon Kalou (McEachran 74')
Subs - Ross Turnbull (gk), Joshua McEachran (74'), Gael Kakuta (82'), Patrick van Aanholt (87')