If Chelsea have any real pretence that they can win the Champions League, then they are going to have to improve beyond recognition.
Sparta played deep, had ten men behind the ball all game but the Londoners failed to create sufficient pressure to break down the stoic defending of the Czech side.
The best of Chelsea's four efforts on goal came in the dying seconds when striker Adrian Mutu was sent clear by Eidur Gudjohnsen but the Romanian hitman's left-footed shot slid past Sparta keeper Jaromir Blazek but also past his right upright.
Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri was angry with the officials however saying: "I don't understand how the linesman disallowed Crespo's goal. From my point of view it was a good goal." Ranieri was referring to the 26th minute attack when Hernan Crespo's ten-yard header ricocheted off the crossbar. The ball fell back into play where Mutu forced the ball forward and Crespo tucked it away. But the linesman signalled offside.
So two good chances fell away and Chelsea, while qualifying for the knockout stage, now need to get a point at Besiktas to top the group.
"We want to win the group, because we will then play a side who finished second in their group," added Ranieri.
"But the Champions League is tough. Sparta are a good side, who play better away from home. They played really well." Sparta coach Jiri Kotrba was delighted with his side's performance saying: "I'm pleased with the point, especially as Lazio and Besiktas drew. It means that we can still go through." But the coach felt it was almost in vain as the final seconds saw Mutu run clear. "I shut my eyes when I saw him," he added.
"I prayed that he was offside, but in my heart knew it wasn't." Chelsea may have had the majority of possession and all the chances on goal, but Sparta still posed enough questions of the Chelsea defence which looked at times shaky.
Ranieri will now set his mind to the task of the Premiership and the arrival of Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
"Manchester, are of course a great side," he said. "We will respect them."