Shevchenko has endured a miserable time since his club record 30-million-pound move from Italian giants AC Milan in the pre-season, but he was back to something approaching his best against the Bulgarian champions at Stamford Bridge.

The Ukraine forward opened the scoring in the first half before Shaun Wright-Phillips came off the bench to notch his first competitive goal for the Blues in the closing stages.

The London team's victory means they end their qualifying group ahead of holders Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Levski and have a chance of a slightly easier draw in the second round.

Now Chelsea fancy their chances of winning a first Champions League crown to go with their English Premiership trophies.

"I think we're equipped to win it, but it's no good talking about it, we have to put it into action," said the Blues' stand-in captain Frank Lampard.

"We feel we've got the squad, we think we've got the players, we've qualified through the toughest group.

"We've got to take that into the next stage and believe that we can win it this year."

Meanwhile Wright-Phillips rubbished suggestions that he might want to quit Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window to boost his chances of getting first-team football and a regular England place.

"I don't want to leave, why should I want to go anywhere?" he scoffed.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had been taken to hospital on Sunday after suffering from nausea and dizziness, but he was on the bench at Stamford Bridge and, if he was feeling any after-effects of his illness, his side's dominant display would have been the perfect tonic.

Shevchenko must have sensed a chance to shine against modest opposition and his astute pass gave Arjen Robben a chance to burst into the penalty area and round Levski keeper Bozhidar Mitrev in the eighth minute.

Robben played an astute cut-back to Shevchenko, unmarked 10 yards out, but he was denied as his shot was brilliantly pushed away by Mitrev.

Levski arrived in west London already eliminated after losing all five of their previous group matches but Stanimir Stoilov's side threatened to take a shock lead in the 10th minute.

Ricardo Carvalho gave Daniel Borimirov a sight of goal as he backed off on the edge of the penalty area and the midfielder flashed his shot just over.

Mourinho's team could have been forgiven for taking it easy as they were already safely qualified for the second round.

But, with a win guaranteeing first place, the English Premiership champions were in business-like mood and came close to taking the lead twice in quick succession.

Robben cut inside and forced a fine save from Mitrev with a long range effort, then Didier Drogba volleyed just wide from Shevchenko's cross.

Chelsea didn't have to wait long for the breakthrough as Shevchenko produced a superb strike in the 27th minute.

Dutch winger Robben started the move as he accelerated away from his marker and rolled a pass to Lampard.

The England midfielder picked out Shevchenko's clever run into space and the Ukrainian produced a lethal finish with the outside of his right foot to claim his first European goal for Chelsea.

Levski responded well to that setback and were unlucky not to equalise just moments later when Hristo Yovov whipped in a cross and Cedric Bardon volleyed narrowly over the bar.

Yovov tested Portuguese keeper Hilario, in for the injured Carlo Cudicini, with a fierce free-kick in the 38th minute as the Bulgarians tried to claw a way back into the match.

Levski keeper Mitrev almost presented Carvalho with a goal just before half-time when he made a hash of Lampard's cross, but the Portuguese defender's shot was blocked on the line by Stanislav Angelov.

With Sunday's crucial Premiership clash against Arsenal in mind and his side in total control, Mourinho took off Shevchenko and Robben midway through the second half.

Chelsea were unlucky not to get a penalty when Mitrev crashed into Drogba. But Wright-Phillips produced a fine low finish from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute as the visitors ran out of steam.