Anelka 24, 28

                                                                                                                                    Sturridge 48

Chelsea got their Champions League Group F campaign off to the expected winning start, racing into a four-goal lead in 48 minutes, with two in four first-half minutes from French striker Nicolas Anelka.

It wasn’t quite the stroll that suggests. But once Anelka bagged his brace, the game was over as a contest.

Anelka was the creator for Chelsea’s 13^th-minute opener, squaring the ball from the left flank for Michael Essien by the penalty spot to side-foot into the net.

Zilina responded well but only created a couple of half-chances before Florent Malouda sent Anelka clear down the left and the French centre-forward hit his left-foot shot early and true into the far corner.

His second was a tap-in after John Terry’s header from Malouda’s corner rebounded off the crossbar.

Daniel Sturridge marked first Champions League start with his first Champions League goal, running onto Yossi Benayoun’s sliderule pass, rounding the over-committed Zilina keeper Martin Dubravka and slotting home left-footed.

Zilina’s consolation arrived seven minutes later. Petr Cech missed a right-wing cross which cannoned off Branislav Ivanovic and looked destined to be an own goal until eager striker Tomas Oravec got his foot to the ball inches before the line.