Despite never looking in serious danger after Nicolas Anelka scored his second goal of the competition this season, they were far from convincing victors.
The ever-dangerous Anelka tortured APOEL even before his 18th-minute strike, constantly pulling wide to support Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole, who was much more potent than stand-in right-back Branislav Ivanovic.
Ironically it was a cross from the right by Juliano Belletti - a full-back playing in midfield - that was pulled back to Anelka who made no mistake from 15 yards, netting in the far top corner.
It was a goal that looked to ease the away side's worries a touch too much. Their attacking drive died and that lethargy, combined with APOEL's inability to do much with the ball, dulled the rest of the half.
Only a minute before the break did the home side seriously worry Chelsea. Nektarios Alexandrou swung in a dangerous corner to the near post where Christos Kontis won his header but powered the ball over the bar.
The absence of Poland internationals Marcin Zewlakow and Adrian Sikora, both of whom missed out with injuries, was an excuse for the home side but a deeper squad than theirs is needed for a Champions League campaign.
Despite their clear inadequacies, Chelsea were unable to take the game by the scruff of the neck, even suffering a worrying period of second-half domination from the home side.
The introduction of winger Kamil Kosowski after an hour gave APOEL a surge and some added width, although it was striker Nenad Mirosavljevic that gave Petr Cech his only test with a low strike after 65 minutes which the Czech number one kept out with his left leg.
It was all too reminiscent of Chelsea's first Champions League group game, a 1-0 win over FC Porto two weeks ago, when the 2007-08 tournament runners-up at least had torrential rain to blame for their performance.
The Blues will have neither weather nor a weak opposition against them on Sunday when they host Liverpool, their first real test since facing Manchester United in the Community Shield in August, and an improvement will be required.