Hello and welcome to live text commentary from the Europa League, where Chelsea travel to Sparta Prague to begin their campaign. The first leg of the last 32 match-up begins at 18:00 UK time.

CLOSE! LAFATA! Zapotocny plays in a whipped cross from deep on the right, and it opens up for Lafata to try a volley - he stretches for it and knocks it high, but the visitors were exposed there.

Lampard looks to splash a long diagonal ball out to Mata, but that's a little ambitious even for a man in his form.

Ramires now gives away a foul as Matejovsky looks to move forward into the Blues' half.

Azpilicueta forced to go backwards and drop the ball back to Ramires. The game going nowhere fast at the minute.

Chelsea in control at the moment - very little shown from the hosts after some solid early passes.

Sparta Prague have won none of their last 10 clashes with English teams in Europe; losing seven. (Opta)

Marin cut off by Zapotocny just as he was going into the box. That sets up a tasty-looking free kick chance for Hazard on the corner of the area.

Torres wins a corner after his shot loops over the bar via a deflection.

HAZARD! Lovely move, made by Marin who ran in from the left on the counter and cut the ball back for Hazard - the shot flashes just across goal.

Matajovsky plays Kadlec in down the right, and the winger wins a throw in a useful position.

Chelsea just beginning to take control. Hazard down the right cuts the ball back to Mata, whose low ball very nearly slips in Torres. Corner.

Lampard tries a shot from all of 25 yards after Mata's run. Good first-time hit, and Vaclik has to deal with a ball that skids just in front of him. Typical Lampard.

Sparta Prague have not played a competitive match since December - they've had a couple of warm-ups but they should certainly be fresh.

"Chelsea will come out with a draw today," predicts Dawit Francisco on Twitter. Early stages at the Generali Arena, but the home side, playing in red, have settled well.

Away we go in Prague!

And for all the latest news as it happens in the world of sport, @EurosportCom_En has you covered.

I'm Mark Patterson, and I'll be taking you through this match. You can find me on Twitter and bend my ear on Fernando Torres, Sparta Prague or whatever else takes your fancy (within reason) @Mark_Eurosport

Big day for Petr Cech, of course, who returns to his former club. He broke a finger last week but is going to play regardless.

Chelsea and Sparta Prague met previously in the group stages of the Champions League in 2003/04. Chelsea won the match in the Czech Republic, with the London clash finishing in a draw.

Rafael Benitez: “The reality is that we are a team in transition. The priority is to finish in the top four or top three. After that, we have two more trophies that we can try with the FA Cup and the Europa League. In terms of flights and games it's like the Champions League, in terms of mentality, the first thought is ‘hmm, it's different’. But if you see the teams that are in the Europa League, you will see it could be quite difficult. I'm expecting that they will be focused."

Vítezslav Lavicka: "We want to build on our performances from the autumn part of the Europa League, when we fared well both tactically and technically against strong European opponents. It will be really nice for the fans and players to come up against Petr (Cech) in his old home. We have prepared well and have a lot of information about our rivals, They are the favourites, but the group stage matches showed that we can compete with anyone."