Jose Mourinho's first Champions League tie since returning to Chelsea ended in disappointment as Swiss champions Basel earned a shock win at Stamford Bridge.
Oscar put the home side ahead with an angled first-time shot into the bottom corner at the end of the first half.
Basel's Mohamed Salah levelled when he fired across Blues keeper Petr Cech.
And the home crowd was left stunned as skipper Marco Streller won the Group E opener for the visitors with a late near-post header.
Chelsea have made their worst start to a Premier League season in a decade afterdrawing with Manchester United andlosing to Everton in their last two matches.
But the Blues, who have won the Champions League and Europa League in the past two seasons, expected a change in fortunes as they returned to European action.
Instead Basel consigned Chelsea to their first Champions League group stage defeat at Stamford Bridge since October 2003.
The shock loss came exactly six years afterMourinho took charge of the final matchof his first Blues spell, a 1-1 draw against Norwegian side Rosenborg.
The Portuguese, who returned from Real Madrid in the summer, has played down his youthful side's chances of winning the Champions League - describing them as "young eggs who need nurturing".
And perhaps Chelsea's inexperience showed as they dominated possession in the opening hour but had only Oscar's strike to show for it.
The home side forced six corners in a dominant first-half display, without being able to force Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer into a serious save.
Sommer did find himself in trouble when he fumbled an Oscar set-piece under pressure from Gary Cahill and home debutant Samuel Eto'o in his six-yard box, only to be rescued by referee Daniele Orsato who generously awarded a foul against the home players.
But Chelsea were finally rewarded just before the interval when Oscar fired a first-time shot into the bottom corner after latching on to a perfectly weighted throughball by Frank Lampard.
The Brazil midfielder also hit the crossbar after the break as Chelsea searched for the security of a second goal. But it did not arrive and Basel, dangerous on the counter-attack throughout, punished their hosts.
Salah, who scored on the same ground when the teams met in last season's Europa League semi-final, had repeatedly tested Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole and it was no surprise that he was the man to level the scores.
Neat build-up from the visitors ended in Streller picking out the unmarked Egypt international, who fired a first-time shot into the bottom corner.
Mourinho introduced Juan Mata and Demba Ba as the Blues pressed for a late winner, but they only looked more vulnerable as Basel grew in confidence.
The home side scrambled clear after midfielder Fabian Schar burst through the middle, before team-mate Marcelo Diaz had a shot blocked.
But the Swiss side continued to press and grabbed the decisive goal when Streller escaped two Chelsea markers to head home with eight minutes to go.
Basel and German side Schalke, who earned a comfortable 3-0 win against Romanian visitors Steaua Bucharest, top Group E after the opening round of matches.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Chelsea
- 01 Cech
- 02 Ivanovic
- 03 Cole
- 04 Luiz
- 24 Cahill
- 08 Lampard (Ba - 76' )
- 11 Oscar
- 16 Van Ginkel Booked (Mikel - 75' )
- 17 Hazard
- 22 Willian (Mata - 67' )
- 29 Eto'o
Substitutes
- 23 Schwarzer
- 26 Terry
- 28 Azpilicueta
- 10 Mata
- 12 Mikel
- 15 De Bruyne
- 19 Ba
FC Basel
- 01 Sommer
- 13 Ivanov
- 15 Voser
- 16 Schar
- 19 Safari
- 14 Stocker (Ajeti - 83' )
- 20 F Frei
- 21 Marcelo Diaz Booked
- 22 Salah (Xhaka - 88' )
- 09 Streller
- 30 Giovanni Sio (Delgado - 65' )
Substitutes
- 18 Vailati
- 04 Degen
- 05 Ajeti
- 26 Sauro
- 07 Degen
- 10 Delgado
- 34 Xhaka
Ref: Daniele Orsato
Att: 38,000
Live Text Commentary
90:00+4:10Full time
Full TimeThe referee blows the whistle to end the game.
90:00+2:11
The ball is crossed by Juan Mata. Kay Voser makes a clearance.
90:00+1:06
Samuel Eto'o takes a shot. Yann Sommer safely holds on.
89:09
Emboaba Oscar takes a shot. Yann Sommer safely holds on.
88:34
The ball is crossed by Eden Hazard. Clearance made by Marco Streller.
87:31Substitution
SubstitutionMohamed Salah goes off and Taulant Xhaka comes on.
86:57
Branislav Ivanovic produces a cross. Fabian Schar manages to make a clearance.
86:46
Branislav Ivanovic fouled by Mohamed Salah, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Branislav Ivanovic.
83:16
Marcelo Diaz takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Cahill.
82:59Substitution
SubstitutionArlind Ajeti on for Valentin Stocker.
81:04
The assist for the goal came from Kay Voser.
81:04Goal scored
Goal! - Marco Streller - Chelsea 1 - 2 FC BaselMarco Streller scores with a header. Chelsea 1-2 Basle.
80:48
Corner from the left by-line taken by Kay Voser.
80:21
Shot by Marco Streller went wide of the left-hand upright.
75:15Substitution
SubstitutionDemba Ba joins the action as a substitute, replacing Frank Lampard.
74:56Substitution
Substitution(Chelsea) makes a substitution, with Mikel coming on for Marco van Ginkel.
72:07
Unfair challenge on Samuel Eto'o by Marcelo Diaz results in a free kick. Juan Mata takes the free kick.
70:33
Marco Streller provided the assist for the goal.
70:33Goal scored
Goal! - Mohamed Salah - Chelsea 1 - 1 FC BaselMohamed Salah scores with a left foot finish. Chelsea 1-1 Basle.
69:30
Marco Streller is caught offside. Petr Cech takes the free kick.
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