Chelsea barely broke down the underdogs’ defence and kept their top-eight hopes alive

Chelsea kept their hopes of a top-eight Champions League finish alive with a hard-fought win over Pafos, although patience was required before the breakthrough finally arrived late on.

The Cypriot newcomers frustrated the hosts for much of the evening, and it was not until the 77th minute that Moises Caicedo made the difference. The Ecuadorian midfielder, signed for a club-record fee, was alert inside the six-yard box to glance home a header after Pedro Neto’s corner had taken a deflection off substitute Nany Dimata.

For long spells, the match threatened to become an awkward night for Chelsea against opponents playing their first ever Champions League campaign. Liam Rosenior, overseeing his maiden game in the competition and only his fourth since taking charge, watched his side see an early opener chalked off when Enzo Fernandez’s 17th-minute header was disallowed for a foul on Derrick Luckassen.

Pafos were far from overawed. Shortly before that incident, a sharp counter-attack almost stunned Chelsea as Jaja struck the post, with appeals for a penalty following a deflection off Reece James’ arm inside the area. The visitors continued to hold firm, and just before the interval Jay Gorter produced a superb save to deny Jorrel Hato from close range.

Rosenior is back to basics with Chelsea players. Literally. Reminding them to wash their hands

Rosenior turned to youth at half-time, introducing teenager Estevao Willian, who immediately injected energy. Within minutes he rattled the crowd with a spectacular first-time volley, but the deadlock remained until Caicedo’s decisive intervention.

Chelsea now appear to need victory away at Napoli on the final matchday if they are to avoid the play-off round in the expanded 36-team league phase. It sets up a daunting trip to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where Antonio Conte’s side also require a win to stay alive.

On paper, this was a classic mismatch. Pafos’ squad valuation is a fraction of Chelsea’s, yet their disciplined low-block and experience disrupted a youthful Blues side that often looked slow and predictable in possession. While the result keeps Chelsea on course, it did little to ignite enthusiasm.

Still, Rosenior navigated a potential banana skin and acknowledged the challenge posed by the Cypriot champions, who remain in contention for the play-offs themselves. Avoiding two extra fixtures in February would give the new head coach valuable time to work on the training ground and shape his vision.

Attention now turns briefly back to domestic matters before a decisive European showdown in Naples. “I’m not intimidated by what’s coming,” Rosenior said. “Conte is a top-class coach and they need to win, which changes things, but our focus is Crystal Palace first.”

For now, progress is measured in small steps. Momentum, rather than style, is the immediate priority as Chelsea look to grow into Rosenior’s era.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 7

Tuesday

Kairat Almaty - Club Brugge 1-4 (0-2)

/Sadybekov 90+2 - Stankovic 32, Vanaken 38, Vermant 74, Mechele 84/

Bodo/Glimt - Manchester City 3-1 (2-0)

/Hogh 22, 24, Hauge 58 - Cherki 60/

Copenhagen - Napoli 1-1 (0-1)

/Larsson 72 - McTominay 39/

Inter Milan - Arsenal 1-3 (1-2)

/Sucic 18 - Jesus 10, 31, Gyokeres 84/

Real Madrid - Monaco 6-1 (2-0)

/Mbappe 5, 26, Mastantuono 51, Kehrer 55 og, Vinicius Jr 63, Bellingham 81 - Teze 72/

Olympiacos - Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 (2-0)

/Costinha 2, Taremi 45+1/

Sporting Lisbon - PSG 2-1 (0-0)

/Suarez 74, 90+1 - Kvaratskhelia 79/

Tottenham - Dortmund 2-0 (2-0)

/Romero 14, Solanke 37/

Villarreal - Ajax 1-2 (0-0)

/Oluwaseyi 49 - Gloukh 61, Edvardsen 90/

Wednesday

Galatasaray - Atletico Madrid 1-1 (1-1)

/Llorente 20 og - Simeone 4/

Qarabag - Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 (1-1)

/Duran 4, 80, Mustafazade 90+4 - Uzun 11, Chaibi 78 pen/

Atalanta - Ath.Bilbao 2-3 (1-0)

/Scamacca 16, Krstovic 88 - Guruzeta 58, Serrano 70, Navarro 74/

Bayern - St.Gilloise 2-0 (0-0)

/Kane 52 (p) 55 (p)/

Chelsea - Paphos 1-0 (0-0)

/Caicedo 78/

Juventus - Benfica 2-0 (0-0)

/Thuram 55, McKennie 64/

Newcastle - PSV 3-0 (2-0)

/Wissa 8, Gordon 30, Barnes 65/

Olympique Marseille - Liverpool 0-3 (0-1)

/Szoboszlai 45+1, Rulli 72(og), Gakpo 90+2/

Slavia Praha - Barcelona 2-4 (2-2)

/Fermin 34, 42, Olmo 63, Lewandowski 70 - Kušej 10, Lewandowski (og) 44/