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Forward Olivier Giroud scored four in Chelsea’s victory in Seville to secure first place in Group E of the Champions League with a match to spare.
The result left Chelsea with 13 points from five games, three ahead of second-placed Sevilla, with a better head-to-head record against the Spanish side after their 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge in the reverse game.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard presented an adventurous formation with three forwards behind Giroud and his daring maneuver paid off as the Frenchman fired at full blast.
Giroud opened his account in the eighth minute with a left-footed shot from 10 meters after a quick run through the center by Kai Havertz, with Chelsea missing two more chances in an uneven first half.
FULL MATCH DETAILS
There was more one-way traffic after the break when Giroud doubled the lead in the 54th minute, beating goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor with a right-footed shot that had left a defender behind after a clever pass from Mateo Kovacic.
He made it 3-0 with a powerful header in the 74th minute from a perfect centimeter cross by substitute N’Golo Kante and then put the icing on the cake with a penalty in the 83rd minute after Sergi Gómez fouled him.
Sevilla, who also booked a place in the round of 16 alongside Chelsea in the previous round of games, looked toothless in front and only had the volley of Nemanja Gudelj, who went over the crossbar, to show their efforts.
In the other group match on Wednesday, Russian team Krasnodar secured a place in the Europa League round of 16 with a 1-0 home win over French rival Stade Rennais.
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