Olivier Giroud’s late header has given Chelsea a knockout stage qualification in the Champions League from Group E.

We left it late, but it's THREE points in the #UCL secured...

..and a place in the last-16! ????#RENCHE pic.twitter.com/ylaVKSQAWy

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 24, 2020

The Blues won by 2-1 against Rennes on Tuesday night and tops their Group with 10 points after Sevilla scored a late winner against Krasnodar.

Lampard made four changes from the weekend win at Newcastle with Thiago Silva returning to the heart of the defence with Jorginho just in front of him. Hakim Ziyech was benched for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Rennes entered the game after sales of Mendy to Chelsea and Raphinha to Leeds. The French team were yet to win a Champions League game having lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Sevilla and Krasnodar.

Chelsea were dominant in the game at the first minute and saw majority of the ball on the side of the home team.

Hudson Odoi opened the scores in the 22-minute to put Chelsea ahead after a sensational from Mount in the opposition half. The Englishman showed superb tenacity to win the ball back deep in his own half and drove forward.

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Rennes were a little unorganized and Mount spotted Hudson-Odoi sprinting in behind. He found him with a fantastic 60-yard pass and the winger galloped through on goal before rolling a neat finish under Gomis.

Rennes almost responded in seven minutes time but  Abraham defended brilliantly in his own box after a corner was whipped into a decent area but the Chelsea striker beat Da Silva in the air to power clear. The hosts were at it again when Bourigeaud made a great run into the box but yet again his effort was well blocked away by Zouma. It fell very nicely to Lea Siliki about 10 yards out, but the sight of Mendy caused panic, and he flashed a wild effort over the crossbar.

Abraham and Mount were subbed for Giroud and Kante in the 680minute of the game. Olivier Giroud settled the Blues gameplay and his ability to hold the ball and win fouls took the sting out of Rennes.

Five minutes to end the game, the host struck to level the scores. It was a corner delivered by Bourigeaud. Guirassy beat the Chelsea defence in the air and nodded it home.

As the game entered into injury time, Olivier Giroud rose up to the task and won the game for Chelsea. Werner was earlier denied goal by the goalkeeper, but the ball looped high, and the Frenchman from nowhere beat the Rennes defender to nod home the winner.

They top Group E on goal difference and will play Sevilla on Wednesday, December 2.