The Blues sealed leading spot with their win in Spain.
Olivier Giroud finished a best hat-trick and after that fired a penalty to boot as Chelsea surged Sevilla 4-0 to win Champions League Group E with a game to spare.
Giroud provided left-foot, right-foot and headed surfaces for the best treble– and after that whipped a spot- kick into the top corner for good procedure.
Chelsea will host Krasnodar at Stamford Bridge next week, however sealed leading spot with their win in Spain, and a possibly simpler incorporate the last-16.
Giroud put the capture on Blues boss Frank Lampard to hand the France striker a Premier League start against Leeds on Saturday, as soon as again showing his clinical qualifications.
Full- time: Sevilla 0-4 Chelsea! @_OlivierGiroud_ scores FOUR as the Blues finish top of Group E in the @ChampionsLeague! #SEVCHE pic.twitter.com/MxcffmXoWt
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 2, 2020
The 34-year-old’s added- time header dug Chelsea out of a hole in Rennes last week, with the Blues taking a 2-1 win at the death in France.
And the former Arsenal player prospered once again in midweek European action at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Arena.
World Cup-winner Giroud might think about a move far from Chelsea in January in a quote to seal his place leading France’s attack at next summer’s European Championship.
Lampard is desperate to keep Giroud at Stamford Bridge, confessing last week in the wake of that late winner at Rennes that he remains main to his plans.
Olivier Giroud netted four goals against Sevilla (Angel Fernandez/AP)
However Giroud has slipped behind Tammy Abraham and ₤ 53million summer arrival Timo Werner in the chain of command of Chelsea’s strikers.
Lampard made 9 changes to handle Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla following Sunday’s Premier League stalemate against Spurs.
And the west Londoners totally vindicated that rotation– many of all Giroud– as Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches in all competitions.
New goalkeeping hire Edouard Mendy also claimed his ninth tidy sheet in his short Chelsea period, in additional proof of the growing assuredness penetrating this whole Blues squad.
Oli
— Ben Chilwell (@BenChilwell) December 2, 2020
Giroud offered the best start by scooping home a charming finish, topping a fast counter-attack with just 2 touches to find the net.
Kai Havertz swept through Sevilla’s soft centre prior to angling a reverse pass completely into Giroud’s course.
Giroud inspected the defence with a wise first touch, prior to calmly slotting home with his left foot.
The fit-again Christian Pulisic regularly upset to drag the Blues even more into the ascendancy, however the U.S.A. forward’s small rustiness stymied a variety of appealing openings.
Frank Lampard was pleased with Chelsea’s efficiency (Angel Fernandez/AP)
Pulisic’s aggravations were writ big throughout his face as the half endured and the possibilities were lost.
The former Borussia Dortmund winger saw a low shot conserved when Chelsea had a posse of men prowling in the centre of the box.
From the corner however, Nemanja Gudelj was required to clear off the line after an effective header from Toni Rudiger.
Chelsea brought that early lead into the break without ever coming under extended pressure.
Lampard’s men slipped off their early clinical speed, however were still in the ascendancy at the period.
What a night for this man … ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ #UCL #respect @_OlivierGiroud_ pic.twitter.com/eSyKFwQcH8
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) December 2, 2020
Gudelj required a good conserve from the ever-impressive Mendy to open the second half.
However just as with the first duration, it was to be the visitors who required an advancement.
And as soon as again the imperious Giroud provided the informing blow, this time dinking home with his right foot for a finish that even improved his opener.
Still not sated by his first 2 goals, Giroud then guaranteed he would head home with the match ball– nodding in from replacement N’Golo Kante‘s precise cross.
Giroud then discovered time to win and transform a late penalty, to add even further gloss to his night.
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