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Chelsea secured top spot in UEFA Champions League Group A with a 2-0 win over Levski Sofia at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Andrei Shevchenko and substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips ensured the Premiership champions would finish ahead of holders Barcelona, an outcome which was never truthfully in doubt.

Sofia contributed much to an open game, but they lacked the quality to trouble Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario, who watched a stunning volley from Cedric Bardon fly inches over his crossbar but was never forced to make a save until injury-time at the end of the match.

Although his side had already qualified for the knockout phase, Jose Mourinho was eager to secure first place in the group and so he selected a strong starting line-up.

John Terry missed out through suspension and Ashley Cole was rested, but Khalid Boulahrouz was assured in Terry's position and Wayne Bridge was a constant attacking threat down the left.

Arjen Robben was also given an opportunity, starting on the left flank before switching to the right, and he tormented the Levski defence for 70 minutes before being withdrawn.

Whether he has done enough to earn a starting role for Sunday's Premiership encounter with Arsenal is another matter, with Claude Makelele, also absent tonight, certain to return in a probable midfield diamond.

Shevchenko and Didier Drogba also impressed in attack and are likely to get the nod against The Gunners.

Shevchenko might have scored in the second minute, but he was denied by the first of a string of fine saves by Levski's teenage goalkeeper Bozhidar Mitrev.

However, the Ukraine forward did not have too long to wait for his first European goal in Chelsea colours and the 57th of his career, taking him up to second in the all time European scorers chart, five behind Gerd Muller.

Robben was the architect with a driving run from right to left before moving the ball on to Frank Lampard, who set up Shevchenko to shoot across Mitrev into the far corner with the outside of his right boot.

It was a fine finish and it settled Shevchenko, who had looked a little nervy and had conceded possession on several occasions.

He might have had a second when he drove a low shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide with Robben well placed and he then headed over after Ricardo Carvalho's fierce shot had been blocked on the line.

Chelsea were denied a certain penalty in the second half when Mitrev went unpunished for a shocking foul on Drogba, but they got their second goal in an incident-packed last 10 minutes.

Carvalho picked out Wright-Phillips on the edge of the Levski penalty area and he drove a low shot wide beyond Mitrev into the far corner, finally opening his account for the club he looks set to leave in the near future.

Michael Essien's powerful header brought another wonderful save from Mitrev, before Hilario was finally called into action with a magnificent double stop, first denying Daniel Borimirov with his legs and then tipping Richard Eromoigbe's powerful drive onto the bar. 

Teams

Chelsea  Hilario, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Carvalho, Ferreira (Diarra 58), Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Robben (Wright-Phillips 68), Drogba, Shevchenko (Kalou 69)
Subs Not Used  A. Cole, Geremi, Mikel, Morais
Booked  Carvalho
Goals  Shevchenko 27, Wright-Phillips 83

Levski Sofia Mitrev, Angelov, Milanov, Tomasic, Topuzakov, Borimirov, Eromoigbe, Bardon, Dimitrov (Baltanov 59), Domovchijski (Ivanov 76), Yovov (Koprivarov 70)
Subs Not Used Mihajlov, Minev, Ognyanov, Stojchev
Booked 
Goals 

Attendance  33,358

Referee  Alain Hamer (Luxemburg)