Maccabi, who went into the game on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run, had their best chance on 31 minutes but top-scorer Eran Zahavi headed wastefully over.
The game was effectively put to bed in first-half stoppage time when Tal Ben Haim brought down substitute Diego Costa, allowing Oscar to convert with Chelsea’s second penalty of the night.
Chelsea, who were missing Pedro and Radamel Falcao, waltzed through a pedestrian Maccabi defence at will in the second half. They were quicker to the ball and more incisive and scored the goal of the game when Cesc Fabregas set up Costa for a imperious volley 13 minutes into the second half.
Fabregas completed the rout with a simple tap-in after 78 minutes.
Maccabi were grateful to hear the final whistle and also that discover that Dynamo Kiev, their next opponents on September 29, and Porto drew 2-2 in the group’s other match, but they will need to improve dramatically after their first group match in 11 years turned into a nightmare.
CHELSEA: Begovic, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill, Baba, Fàbregas, Loftus-Cheek (sub: Traore 77), Willian (sub: Costa 23), Oscar (sub: Ramires 65), Hazard, Remy. Subs not used: Blackman, Ivanovic, Terry, Matic
Scorers: Willian 15, Oscar (pen) 45, Costa 58, Fabregas 78
Booked: Loftus-Cheek
MACCABI: Rajkovic, Shpungin (sub: Peretz 71), Ben Haim, Tibi, Ben Harush, Alberman, Ben Chaim (sub: Micha 64), Mitrovic, Igiebor, Rikan (sub: Radonjic 64), Zahavi. Subs not used: Lifshitz, Itzhaki, Vermouth, Garcia Badias
Booked: Rajkovic, Ben Haim, Igiebor
Ref: Felix Zwayer
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MATCH STATS:
CHELSEA
Possession: 62%
Total shots: 15
On target: 5
MACCABI
Possession: 382%
Total shots: 7
On target: 1
GROUP B STANDINGS
1. Chelsea Pl. 1, Pts. 3
2. Porto Pl. 1, Pts. 1
3. Dynamo Kiev Pl. 1, Pts. 1
4. Maccabi Tel Aviv Pl. 1, Pts. 0
FORTHCOMING FIXTURE: Maccabi - Kiev (h) - Sept 29
