( CNN ) -- If competing in the Europa Leage for the first time since 2002 came as a culture shock to European champions Chelsea they did n't show it . This time last year they were embarking on an adventure that would culminate in a first ever Champions League triumph but after falling in the group stages this season they find themselves battling it out in Europe 's second tier club competition . Roberto Di Matteo , who led them to victory over Bayern Munich in May 2012 , has since departed , to be replaced by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez , who is yet to convince many supporters he 's the right man for the job . But Benitez 's introduction of Brazilian midfielder Oscar proved a masterstroke as he scored with his first involvement after coming on with nine minutes remaining to hand Chelsea a 1-0 victory over Sparta Prague in the first leg of their last 32 tie . Oscar played a one-two with Belgium international Eden Hazard and applied the finish to give Chelsea a crucial away goal . Benitez told ESPN after the game : `` It was difficult game , we started really well , in the first 20 minutes we were in control . We were under pressure in the last 20 minutes of the first half but changed things at half time and played well in the second half . `` Oscar made a difference but the team was better in the second half . '' Fellow English club Liverpool did n't fare so well , suffering their second successive 2-0 defeat after being beaten by Zenit St Petersburg in Russia . Two goals in two minutes turned the tie , Hulk -- a multi-million signing from Portuguese club Porto -- scoring a brilliant opener from range before Sergei Semak turned home a cross at the back post . There had been fears before hand that some of Liverpool 's players would be targeted by a section of Zenit 's fans who posted a manifesto on their website that said an absence of black players in the club 's squad was an `` important tradition . '' But after the game Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told a press conference : `` I want to thank the people of St Petersburg for their hospitality and how we 've been received here . '' On their defeat he said : `` I thought we looked solid and a threat going forward and could have been in the lead at half-time . `` In 6 to 12 months ' time , we wo n't be making those mistakes . This is part of our growing pains as a group . We have to be more clinical . But we gave away two poor goals tonight . We ended up losing the game when we should have won it . '' Europa League holders Atletico Madrid face an uphill task to stay in the competition after being beaten 2-0 at home by Russian side Rubin Kazan . Gokdeniz Karadeniz put the away side in front before Roman Sharonov was sent off just before half time , yet Rubin added a second in stoppage time through Pablo Orbaiz . Czech side Viktoria Plzen recorded a shock 3-0 win at Napoli , who are currently second in the Italian league . Vladimir Darida , Frantisek Rajtoral and Stanislav Tecl found the net . Two goals from Rodrigo Palacio put Inter Milan in a commanding position against CFR Cluj-Napoca before the second leg in Romania . Two free kick goals from Gareth Bale -- the second in the last ten seconds of the match -- helped Tottenham to a 2-1 victory over French side Lyon in London . Fellow English side Newcastle saw two Papiss Cisse goals dubiously ruled out for offside as they drew 0-0 with Metalist Kharkiv from the Ukraine . Borussia Monchengladbach shared six goals with Italian side Lazio during their first leg in Germany , Libor Kozak scoring a 94th minute equalizer for the visiting side . Anzhi Makhachkala won the first leg of their clash with Hannover 96 , of Germany , 3-1 in Russia . Anzhi , managed by former Netherlands and Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink won 3-1 thanks to goals from Samuel Eto ' o , Odil Ahmedov and Mbark Boussoufa . Dutch champions Ajax beat Romanian club Steaua Bucharest 2-0 thanks to goals from Toby Alderweireld and Ricardo Van Rhijn . Portuguese international Raul Meireles was sent off for Fenerbahce as the Turks drew 0-0 away at Bate Borisov in Belarus . Oscar Cardozo 's delicate chip earned Portuguese outfit Benfica a precious 1-0 victory away at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany . Oleg Gusev missed a late penalty as Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev had to settle for a 1-1 draw with French side Bordeaux . Ludovic Obraniak canceled out Lukman Haruna 's opener for Dynamo . Goals from Pedro RÃ­os , Jose Barkero and Obafemi Martins helped Spanish side Levante to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Olympiakos , from Greece . Swiss side FC Basel beat Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk , of Ukraine , 2-0 while VfB Stuttgart drew 1-1 with Belgian side Racing Genk in Germany .
European champions Chelsea defeat Sparta Prague 1-0 in Czech Republic thanks to Oscar . Napoli , second in Serie A , suffer a shock 3-0 home defeat by Czech side Viktoria Plzen . Europa League holders Atletico Madrid suffer a 2-0 home defeat to Russian side Rubin Kazan . Zenit St Petersburg defeat Liverpool 2-0 in first leg of their Europa League last 32 clash .