Before a disappointingly half-full Stamford Bridge, Chelsea opened their defence of the trophy at half-throttle on a low-key occasion.
Helsingborgs' resistance, partly assisted by good second-half fortune, was broken only by Frank Leboeuf's first-half free-kick and the visitors' stubbornness means a far fuller examination of Chelsea's capabilities than Gianluca Vialli's team would have liked awaits in southern Sweden in a fortnight's time.
Chelsea had been repeatedly reminded in the past few days of Helsingborgs' feat in eliminating Aston Villa from the UEFA Cup two years ago. For those with longer memories there was the chilling reminder of unexpected Swedish prowess in 1971. Then, as now, Chelsea were the holders, yet they fell embarrassingly in the second round to the little-known part-timers of Atavidaberg.
Nevertheless, Vialli made seven changes in his latest rotation, only one being enforced through Dan Petrescu's suspension. The player-manager picked himself but was even-handed, answering Brian Laudrup's plea for a place and giving Tore Andre Flo his first start of the season against his fellow countrymen.
Gianfranco Zola, despite a superb scoring display on Saturday, did not even get a place on the bench. Not that his team-mates seemed perturbed, Vialli leading by energetic example and Laudrup floating behind the player-manager and Flo and sometimes on the flanks.
Vialli featured strongly in his team's most promising three moments of the opening half-hour. But twice his finishing failed to match his positional sense as he headed a Graeme Le Saux cross straight at Sven Andersson and then drove Albert Ferrer's perceptive pass into the goalkeeper's arms. Then, when Laudrup whipped in a low cross from the right, Vialli stretched vainly to connect.
Roberto Di Matteo saw two long-range shots diverted for corners but Helsingborgs were warming to their defensive task. A five-man midfield frequently forced Chelsea to play ineffectually across the pitch while Magnus Powell had the lonely task of roving alone up front.
Bookings for Dennis Wise, fresh back from a three-match suspension, and Laudrup, both for fouls on Stig Johansen, bore testament to Chelsea's unease. The Swedes' first shot of the match, a drive from Marcus Lantz that rebounded from Dmitri Kharine's chest after 27 minutes, heightened the difficulties.
But just as Stamford Bridge seemed to be collectively sighing, Chelsea seized the lead from an inviting set-piece position. Zoran Jovanovski brought down Laudrup just outside the area and Leboeuf drove the free kick low to the goalkeeper's left, his 43rd-minute shot taking a slight deflection off the wall. Chelsea's flagging spirits were immediately transformed.
Andersson saved outstandingly from Di Matteo's deft header in the 45th minute but the goalkeeper was rooted to his spot when Chelsea should have doubled their lead eight minutes after the interval. Flo rose majestically to a Wise free-kick but his header soared well over. To add injury to insult the tall Norwegian fell awkwardly and departed clasping his left wrist.
Only two minutes later his replacement Pierluigi Casiraghi was presented with arguably the easiest chance to score his first Chelsea goal with his first touch of the night. Laudrup, now operating with much guile down the right, produced one of several superb crosses and this one found Casiraghi connecting awkwardly at the far post. The ball trickled tantalisingly from his knee past the other upright.
CHELSEA: Kharine, Babayaro (Poyet 62), Leboeuf, Desailly, Laudrup, Vialli (Nicholls 83), Wise, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Ferrer, Flo (Casiraghi 54). Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Lambourde, Newton, Morris. Booked: Wise, Laudrup. Goals: Leboeuf 43.
HELSINGBORGS: Anderson, Nilsson, Jacobsson, Jovanovski, Edman, Stavrum (Wahlstedt 65), Wibran, Lantz, Strovik (Ljung 90), Johansen (Johnsson 73), Powell. Subs Not Used: Larsson, Andersson, Prica. Booked: Nilsson, Edman.
Referee: J A Roca (Spain).
