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Chelsea reached the final 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with two matches to spare after a late Olivier Giroud strike gave the Blues a 2-1 win over Rennes. The France ahead’s highly effective header in stoppage time snatched the factors for Frank Lampard’s aspect after Serhou Guirassy had levelled Callum Hudson-Odoi’s first-half opener. Chelsea had been joined within the subsequent spherical by Group E rivals Sevilla after the Spanish aspect gained 2-1 at Krasnodar. Both sides are on 10 factors, 9 forward of third-placed Krasnodar and can now do battle for first place come the top of the group stage.
Chelsea can think about home duties, with Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur visiting Stamford Bridge on the weekend, because of out-of-favour Giroud, who has been tipped to go away in January as he seeks extra common soccer forward of subsequent summer time’s European Championship.
“I have a problem because we have Tammy who’s playing well… I have two players in a similar position fighting for a place. That’s a good problem,” Lampard informed British broadcaster BT Sport.
“Olly (Giroud) will get his minutes because we have a busy schedule, we’re playing every few days.”
Chelsea began strongly and will have been forward as early because the seventh minute, when Timo Werner flashed Hudson-Odoi’s low cross over the bar with the purpose at his mercy.
Their early dominance was rewarded within the 22nd minute following excellent play from Mason Mount, who gained the ball close to his personal space earlier than recognizing the marauding Hudson-Odoi on the proper.
Mount picked out his fellow Chelsea academy graduate with a protracted move. The winger took two touches earlier than slotting previous Alfred Gomis.
England worldwide Mount was unfortunate to not double the away aspect’s lead eight minutes later when Gomis pulled off an excellent save to maintain out his close-range effort following a Ben Chilwell pull-back.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy had a quiet begin to his return to the membership from whom Chelsea signed him in the summertime, however the hosts acquired a foothold within the contest after a rocky opening interval.
James Lea Siliki shot over within the 32nd minute after the ball rebounded to him off Kurt Zouma. Rennes then started to trigger Chelsea some issues.
Mendy confirmed the distinction he has made to Chelsea with strong saves from Guirassy and Damien Da Silva in direction of the top of the opening interval.
Chelsea thought that they had added a second shortly after the break however Werner’s header was dominated offside and Rennes continued to pose them issues.
Mendy made the save of the night time within the 73rd minute when he acquired his physique in the way in which of a robust Gerzino Nyamsi header, after which pounced to cease a purpose on the rebound.
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Rennes thought that they had punished Chelsea with 5 minutes remaining when an unmarked Guirassy thumped a header previous Mendy.
But Giroud pounced lower than a minute into stoppage time after Gomis’ save from one other Werner miss bounced up, permitting the Frenchman to go Chelsea into the final 16.
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