Willian strike gets Chelsea off to winning start in Europe

An early goal from Willian set Chelsea on their way in this season's Europa League and though they missed a stack of chances thereafter, their 100% record was never seriously threatened by a tame effort from PAOK.

It took just seven minutes for Chelsea to take the lead, Ross Barkley - who had a decent game - teeing up his Brazilian captain. The finish was not true, but thanks to Alexandros Paschalakis diving over it, it was enough.

Chelsea dominated the remainder of the half, carving out a succession of chances - the majority of them for Alvaro Morata. But he could take none, his mood worsening until he was replaced not long before the end.

Confident though Chelsea are, they were aided by opposition who neither pressed nor coped with being pressed, the fervency in the stands staying in the stands.

So after the break, there was little improvement from the home side until, with 15 or so minutes to go, they began to hunt down the ball in numbers and send men forward. But they could not create a single chance, never mind a clear-cut one, and will not be progressing in this competition unless they are more aggressive in attitude and composed in performance. Chelsea, on the other hand, are the favourites for a reason.

How will Chelsea cope with the Europa League? The slog of playing Thursday-Sunday should be the same as playing Wednesday-Saturday, but players do not seem to find it thus, and though Chelsea have a strong squad, like any team, they have certain players who are essential to them. They will get through the group easily enough, once things get serious in the new year, how will they husband resources if also going for the title?

Ross Barkley (Chelsea): This was a big night for him and, though he was playing against limited opposition, he rose to it. He was at the heart of much of Chelsea's good play, creating the goal and generally looking more like the player he ought to be.

PAOK: Paschalakis 5, Vierinha 6, Khacheridi 5, Varela 5, Tosca 5, Mauricio 5, Shakhov 4, Wernbloom 5, Jaba 6, Pelkas 5, El Kaddouri 4. Subs: Prijovc 6, Biseswar 6, Warda 6.

Chelsea: Kepa 6, Zappacosta 6, Christensen 6, Rudiger 6, Alonso 6, Jorginho 7, Kante 6, Barkley 7, Pedro 6, Morata 5, Willian 6. Subs: Azpilicueta 6, Fabregas 6, Giroud 6.

7’ - GOAL! PAOK 0-1 Chelsea (Willian) There's your Ross Barkley! He takes a pass from Jorginho in centrefield and barges through the middle before feeding a pass to Willian outside him, who opens his body and looks to find the far corner. He doesn't, but the keeper dives over it and Chelsea have the lead!

10’ - Oh Alvaro! Pedro goes down the right and clips an ideal cross to Morata at the front post; he rises handsomely and guides a stylish header wide.

19’ - Lovely ball over the top from Rudiger and Morata controls beautifully, catching it on the outside of right foot and transferring it into his path without breaking stride. He bursts into the box, on its left, and really ought to score, but instead he moratas it wide of the far post. Of course he does.

27’ - Nice from Morata, swaying inside his man before nipping outside ... he's got a sight of goal ... he's blasted the ball over the top!

38’ - Chelsea counter with Willian, who slides out to Alonso down the left. He sees Pedro nashing through the middle and finds him with a perfectly measured pass ... but as Paschalakis advances, his first touch is slightly strong and he ends up driving low into midriff and the ball goes behind. That really should've been two.

86’ - PAOK put the ball in the box - amazing how that can make things happen - and Chelsea can't clear properly, so Biseswar picks it up down the left of it and jockeys a gap then shoots through it .. but straight at Kepa.