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Chelsea sealed their advance to the Champions League knockout stage with two matches to spare, as a late header from Olivier Giroud secured victory in Rennes.
The French forward has played just 127 minutes for the Blues so far this season, but he made the most of his time on the field here with an end in injury time after Timo Werner’s effort was blocked.
Just six minutes earlier, Rennes appeared to have denied Chelsea when Serhou Guirassy headed home from a corner to disallow Callum Hudson-Odoi’s first goal.
Frank Lampard’s team dominated the first half and could easily have led for more than the quiet Hudson-Odoi finish after it was cleared by a precise pass from Mason Mount.
They invited the home team in the second half and had to rely on a defense that included the return of Thiago Silva and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a couple of good saves against his former club.
A late winner for Sevilla means that both they and the Blues have 10 points in Group E, nine more than Rennes and Krasnodar.
Game management Lampard spoke before Tuesday’s game about Chelsea’s need to do their Champions League business early, and will be delighted with the result.
Almost as important as sealing the standings is the fact that Chelsea can now rest players for the final two games of the group stage, which come during a relentless December filled with difficult matches.
Their remaining matches, against Sevilla and Krasnodar, fall between league matches against Tottenham, Leeds and Everton as part of eight games in a month.
They will want to take the clash in Spain more seriously, as Julen Lopetegui’s team has equaled the Blues in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge and they are their only rivals for first place, which in theory brings an easier draw in the round of 16.
They will be full of confidence, however, having won six games in a row since following that Sevilla draw with another at Manchester United in late October.
Tuesday’s win could have been a little less stressful for them had they finished the other two clear opportunities that came their way during their initial dominance.
Yet on either side of Hudson-Odoi’s goal, Werner somehow found a way to land a shot from six yards over the bar and Mount saw a shot deflected by home goalkeeper Alfred Gomis.
Rennes deserved the draw as he came towards the end of a second-half display that was full of effort, but often without cruelty in front of goal.
It is clear why they had been without a goal for more than five hours before Guirassy’s header.
But Chelsea rallied to take the points thanks to the ever-reliable Giroud, who was sent in by Lampard in the 69th minute and awarded his boss in the 91st with his 30th goal for the club.
“A tough and close win” Chelsea manager Frank Lampard told BT Sport: “I am very happy to qualify with two matches to spare.
It was a very tough game, it is a very good team.
Their recent form doesn’t reflect how good they are, it was a tough and close victory.
On the team’s balance with Spurs over the weekend: “We have to prioritize the game ahead of us, but we are aware of where we are in the league and that Sunday is a great game.
“It will always be because of the rivalry and they are a great team and now it’s just about preparing well.”
They will have a day off tomorrow and then Thursday morning we will start to think about the Spurs correctly.
“Chelsea is 16 out of 17 Rennes have won only one of their last 11 matches in European competition (D2 L8).
Chelsea have reached the round of 16 in 16 of their 17 Champions League seasons (only failing in 2012/13).
Rennes have only managed a clean sheet in their last 14 matches in European competition (2-0 against Lazio in December 2019 in the Europa League).
Chelsea have won three consecutive Champions League games for the first time since December 2015.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, their longest unbeaten streak since November 2018 (18).
Since his first European appearance with Chelsea in October 2018, Callum Hudson-Odoi has scored six goals in European competition, a haul surpassed only by Olivier Giroud for the Blues in that time (12).
Since the start of last season, Mason Mount has recorded eight assists for Chelsea in the entire competition, a record among players still at the club (also 8 for Azpilicueta and Abraham).
Olivier Giroud is only the fourth player to score for both Chelsea and Arsenal in the Champions League (also Anelka, Fabregas and Gallas).
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