Chelsea began its Europa League campaign with a 1-0 win at Sparta Prague on Tuesday night in the second round’s opening leg on Oscar’s goal in the 82nd minute.

After winning the Champions League for the first time last May, Chelsea was eliminated in the group stage of Europe’s top club competition and was among the eight third-place teams given berths in the final 32 of the less prestigious - and less lucrative - Europa League.

Tottenham will take a 2-1 lead to Lyon in next Thursday’s second leg of the total-goals series after Gareth Bale scored on free kicks in injury time of the first and second halfs. Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti scored on a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area in the 55th that swerved past American goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

Liverpool lost 2-0 at Zenit St. Petersburg, which got goals from Hulk in the 70th minute and Sergei Semak in the 72nd.