Striker Olivier Giroud scored 4 as a dominant Chelsea received 4-0 at Sevilla on Wednesday to safe high spot in Champions League Group E with a match to spare. The end result left Chelsea with 13 factors from 5 video games, three forward of second-placed Sevilla with a greater head-to-head document towards the Spanish facet after their 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge within the reverse fixture.
Chelsea supervisor Frank Lampard fielded an adventurous formation with three forwards behind Giroud and his daring transfer paid dividends because the Frenchman fired on all cylinders. Giroud opened his account within the eighth minute with a left-footed end from 10 metres after a darting run via the center by Kai Havertz, with Chelsea lacking two extra probabilities in a lop-sided first half.
There was extra one-way visitors after the break as Giroud doubled the lead within the 54th minute, beating goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor with a dinked right-footed end having side-stepped a defender after Mateo Kovacic’s intelligent go.
He made it 3-0 with a thumping 74th-minute header from substitute N’Golo Kante’s inch-perfect cross after which put the icing on the cake with an 83rd-minute penalty after he was fouled by Sergi Gomez.
Sevilla, who additionally booked a last-16 berth alongside Chelsea within the earlier spherical of video games, appeared toothless up entrance and solely had Nemanja Gudelj’s volley, which sailed over the bar, to indicate for his or her efforts.
Within the group’s different fixture performed earlier on Wednesday, Russian facet Krasnodar secured a berth within the Europa League final 32 with a 1-0 dwelling win over French rivals Stade Rennais.