Chelsea marched into the knock-out stages of this year’s UEFA Champions League with an emphatic second-half performance against a Spartak side which had more than held its own in the opening 45 minutes.

Even half-chances were few and far between in a tight opening half, with players called Alex coming closest to breaking the deadlock,

Spartak Moscow’s Alex shot from 25 yards to bring a good save out of Chelsea keeper Petr Cech while Chelsea’s Alex missed the target from a yard after Branislav Ivanovic’s flick-on from a corner.

Nicolas Anelka opened the scoring four minutes into the second half, firing home right-footed from a tight angle after being set up by Salomon Kalou’s well-timed pass.

Didier Drogba won and converted the penalty which doubled the Blues’ advantage on 62 minutes.

Four minutes later, the recently-prolific Ivanovic powerfully headed home Drogba’s corner from the right flank.

The Muscovites grabbed a deserved consolation in the 88^th minute, Nikita Bazhenov sliding in Welliton’s right-wing cross, the first goal Chelsea have conceded in this year’s Champions League.

But Ivanovic rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, turning neatly and firing home right-footed from eight yards after a game of pinball in the penalty box.