Audio By Carbonatix
Chelsea sealed their progress to the Champions League knockout stage with two games to spare as Olivier Giroud's late header secured victory at Rennes.
The French striker has played just 127 minutes for the Blues so far this season, but made the most of his time on the pitch here with an injury-time finish after Timo Werner's effort had been blocked.
Just six minutes earlier, Rennes looked to have denied Chelsea when Serhou Guirassy headed home from a corner to cancel out Callum Hudson-Odoi's opener.
Frank Lampard's side dominated the first half and could easily have led by more than just Hudson-Odoi's calm finish after he had been sent clear by a pinpoint pass from Mason Mount.
They invited the home side on in the second half and had to rely on a defence that included the returning Thiago Silva and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who made a couple of good saves against his former club.
A late winner for Sevilla means both they and the Blues have 10 points in Group E, nine more than both Rennes and Krasnodar.
Latest Stories
-
Christian Council of Ghana appeals to plaintiff in Wesley Girls’ case to seek amicable, out-of-court settlement
7 minutes -
Woman who blackmailed Son Heung-min gets four years in jail
8 minutes -
Kufuor’s non-consultation claim valid, but not constitutional duty – Haruna Mohammed
9 minutes -
OVR BLVK unveils debut single ‘Yes I Do’
11 minutes -
Hunt under way for Benin coup plotters and their hostages
12 minutes -
Reverse electricity and water tariff hike immediately – Minority descends on gov’t
14 minutes -
Tariff hikes a sign of failed leadership, suspend it – Minority to gov’t
19 minutes -
Tariff hikes will ‘completely wipe out’ 9% wage adjustment – Minority
23 minutes -
Daily Insight for CEOs: The CEO’s role in strengthening corporate governance systems
31 minutes -
New US security strategy aligns with Russia’s vision, Moscow says
31 minutes -
A new museum in Doha celebrates Indian art legend MF Husain
31 minutes -
Katy Perry goes Instagram official with Justin Trudeau
31 minutes -
Ghana makes moves to deploy troops for ECOWAS ission in Benin after failed coup – JoyNews sources
34 minutes -
Kufuor spoke the obvious truth – NPP defends critique of Akufo-Addo administration
34 minutes -
Interior Ministry orders probe into Sammy Darko’s claim of assault by 17 Police officers
40 minutes