Ross Barkley missed a late VAR-awarded penalty as Frank Lampard lost 1-0 to Valencia on his Champions League debut as Chelsea manager.

Chelsea had the chance to cancel out Rodrigo's 74th-minute opener and salvage a point when the Video Assistant Referee alerted the on-field official to Daniel Wass' handball in the area with three minutes remaining.

Barkley insisted he should take the spot-kick, snatching the ball off regular penalty taker Jorginho, but his effort cannoned off the top of the crossbar.

The late penalty controversy compounded a harsh introduction to Champions League football for Lampard, who lost Mason Mount to injury just 16 minutes and still awaits the first home victory of his tenure at Chelsea.

Valencia players and fans supposedly arrived in London in disarray following the sacking of manager Marcelino last week, but they were far from mutiny as they produced a classy display against Lampard's youthful side which featured four competition debutants.

Tammy Abraham, fresh from his hat-trick at Wolves, was denied a maiden Champions League goal when his near-post flick was blocked by Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

Mason Mount then received a painful introduction to Europe when former Arsenal midfielder Frances Coquelin left his studs on the inside of the youngster's shin which yielded only a yellow card and forced the youngster off inside 16 minutes.

Abraham went close again with a far-post header from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross and Willian's powerful run through the middle only produced a shot which flew wide.

Willian, Chelsea's biggest threat in the first half, almost fashioned a spectacular opener when he controlled Mateo Kovacic's cross-field pass on his chest, but his first-time shot flew over. And on the stroke of half-time the Brazilian's fierce drive towards the near post was parried clear by Cillessen.

Marcos Alonso took the game to Valencia early in the second half, drilling in a free-kick which Cillessen tipped behind before heading the resulting corner over.

But in the 74th minute, they fell behind, Rodrigo giving the Chelsea defence the slip as he raced onto Daniel Parejo's chipped free-kick and swept the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The drama reached fever pitch five minutes from time when Chelsea's players appealed for a handball, and replays did indeed show Fikayo Tomori's header had struck the hand of defender Wass.

After an interminable VAR delay, a spot-kick was finally given but Barkley, on as a substitute just seven minutes earlier, took responsibility into his own hands only to crash his effort against the frame of the goal.

'It's the same rigmarole as the Paul Pogba one - who's the designated taker? Barkley came on after 80 minutes, Jorginho's on and normally takes them and seems very confident taking penalties. I can't see him not wanting to take one.

'I can see what Willian's doing in terms of saying 'Do you fancy this? You've just come on'. When Barkley says yes, he walks aways but he had gone once, twice, three times asking him.'

Opta stats

Ross Barkley was the first Englishman to take a penalty for Chelsea since Frank Lampard in April 2014 against Stoke City - both players missed their penalties.

This was only Chelsea's second defeat in their last 42 Champions League group stage games at Stamford Bridge (W30 D10 L2), with the other against Basel in 2013.

Valencia registered only their second away Champions League win in England (W2 D7 L3), with their first since winning 1-0 at Liverpool in October 2002.

What's next?

Chelsea host league leaders Liverpool on Renault Super Sunday - live on 4pm on Sky Sports Premier League; Kick-off 4.30pm. Valencia, meanwhile, host Leganes in La Liga on the same day (Kick-off 3pm)

UEFA Match Press Kit 

Click Here For Official Team Sheet 

Teams

Chelsea Kepa; Zouma (Giroud 73), Christensen, Tomori, Azpilicueta (c), Kovacic (Barkley 80), Jorginho, Alonso, Mount (Pedro 16), Willian, Abraham
Subs Not Used Caballero, Guehi, Pulisic, Batshuayi
Booked Jorginho, Giroud
Goals

Valencia Cillessen, Wass, Garay, Gabriel, Gaya, Coquelin, Parejo (c), Kondogbia, Cheryshev (Diakhaby 90+2), Rodrigo (Lee 90), Gameiro (Gomez 70)
Subs Not Used Domenech, Juanme, Guedes, Torres
Booked Coquelin
Goals Rodrigo 74

Attendance 39,469

Referee Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)