Sevilla 0-4 Chelsea: Olivier Giroud scores four to put the Blues at the head of the group

Olivier Giroud scored all four goals in Chelsea’s sweeping victory over Sevilla that ensures the Blues take first place in Group E of the Champions League.

He completed the hat-trick with a header close to the post, then converted a penalty after being wrapped in the box.

With qualification for the round of 16 secured, Chelsea made nine changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Both Havertz and Christian Pulisic made their first Blues starts since October after illness and injury, while 19-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour came off the bench for his first appearance of the season.

Sevilla, also confident of their place in the round of 16, were left without several first-choice players and were forced to make their debut to goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor after Tomás Vaclik was injured in the warm-up.

There was little the 20-year-old could do about goals, and his saves ensured that Chelsea’s margin of victory was no greater.

Giroud makes his point – again

Giroud had had only one previous start for Chelsea this season, in the EFL Cup loss to Tottenham, but this loot came after he scored a stoppage time goal as a substitute against Rennes last week.

His path to regular Premier League football is blocked by Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham, but he couldn’t do more to seize the opportunity presented to him in southern Spain.

The former Arsenal player put in a full performance, not only displaying a clinical finish, but also a physical presence that tortured the home defense.

Chelsea found regular joy with runs from midfield and it was Havertz’s early outburst that ended in a layoff for Giroud, who cut inside and got inside the far post with his left foot.

The second goal was a joy, a right-footed shot over Pastor, while N’Golo Kante’s header from a cross from the right completed a ‘perfect’ hat-trick.

The penalty shot, punched with his left foot, was Giroud’s final act before he was recalled.

From the Chelsea coast to first place

While both teams made changes knowing their progress was already true, there was still the carrot of a theoretically easier draw in the last 16 to play.

Chelsea would not have expected such a simple night against Sevilla who are fifth in La Liga and earned a point from a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in October.

However, barring a period in the first half in which set-pieces from the left caused problems for the visiting defense, the Blues achieved a fourth consecutive Champions League victory for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2012. .

Havertz and Pulisic, who have seen Hakim Ziyech emerge during their time on the sidelines, were encouraged, while Callum Hudson-Odoi was a threat on the right.

Antonio Rudiger saw a header from a cleared corner of the line at the end of an even first period, before Chelsea dominated the second half as the hosts grew weary.

In the end, they had extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 15 games, during which time they have kept eight clean sheets.

Whats Next?

Chelsea host Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday (20:00 GMT), before completing the group stage of the Champions League at home to Krasnodar next Tuesday. Sevilla face Real Madrid in La Liga the weekend before a European appointment with Rennes.