Anelka (pen) 27

Chelsea ran out comfortable winners of this UEFA Champions League Group F fixture, despite conceding more possession to the French outfit than they’d have liked.

The Blues certainly could not complain about the start handed to them when John Terry flick from Gael Kakuta’s seventh-minute corner sneaked in past Benoit Cheyrou, who was supposed to be guarding the near post.

And their second goal was literally handed to them when Stephane Mbia conspicuously failed to get his hands out of the way of Michael Essien’s cross from the left.

Nicolas Anelka nonchalantly tucked away the penalty right-footed from a two-pace run-up on 27 minutes.

Chelsea failed to add to their tally after the break and appeared to take their foot off the gas, allowing Marseille lengthy spells of possession.

But for all that, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech had a largely untroubled evening. And manager Carlo Ancelotti’s men came closest to scoring in the second period.

Alex crashed a 35-yard free-kick against goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s left-hand post on 66 minutes.

Essien struck the other post from 25 yards nine minutes later. And late on, substitute Daniel Sturridge got on the end of Ashley Cole’s left-wing cross but sliced wide from six yards.