Chelsea gave Roman Abramovich an instant return on his multi-million investment as they moved within sight of the Champions League group stage with a highly professional display in Slovakia.
Claudio Ranieri's newly-assembled side understandably took time to find their rhythm but secured a 2-0 first leg win through a strike by Eidur Gudjohnsen and an own goal by Michal Drahno.
Damien Duff turned in a man-of-the-match performance on his competitive debut, giving the Slovakians a torrid evening and looking worth every penny of his £1 million price tag.
Money may not, so it is said, buy immediate success but it can apparently still secure a place in the Champions League group stage.
Then again, while six of Roman Abramovich's big-money signings made their competitive debuts in a 2-0 success, it was a striker who cost a mere £4million who made the initial breakthrough.
Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose normal strike partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was perhaps tellingly left on the bench, struck decisively three minutes before the break.
And the Icelandic international was the central figure responsible for then pressurising substitute Michal Drahno into an own goal with 15 minutes left.
Chelsea therefore completed an entirely professional display as they gave owner Roman Abramovich the first return on his multi-million pound investment.
Record signing Damien Duff was an immediate inspiration down the left flank and the signs are all positive, especially with Adrian Mutu and possibly Claude Makelele on their way to Stamford Bridge.
And where Chelsea held the key was in their livewire left winger, Duff, who may have cost £17 million but shows every sign of living up to that exalted price-tag.
Forssell provided the initial inspiration for the visitors' first goal, exchanging passes with the Republic of Ireland star before Duff scampered away and crossed low for Gudjohnsen to convert at the far post.
MSK Zilina: 18-Ivan Trabalik; 4-Martin Konecny, 5-Martin Durica, 6-Zdeno Strba, 7-Branislav Labant, 8-Radoslav Zabavnik, 10-Miroslav Barcik, 11-Marek Bazik, 12-Vladimir Stas, 20-Dusan Sninsky, 26-Richard Varadin
Chelsea: 23-Carlo Cudicini; 2-Glen Johnson, 6-Marcel Desailly, 26-John Terry, 18-Wayne Bridge, 14-Geremi, 20-Juan Sebastian Veron, 8-Frank Lampard, 11-Damien Duff, 32-Mikael Forssell, 22-Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Referee: Rene Temmink, Netherlands