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Giroud late winner over Rennes seals Chelsea passage to knockout rounds

Chelsea have booked their place in the Champions League knockout stages thanks to Olivier Giroud's injury-time winner against Rennes.

Callum Hudson-Odoi got Chelsea off with a great start by scoring the opener at 22 minutes.

The England U21 winger was put through by a sublime through pass from compatriot Mason Mount, finishing with a crisp low shot past Alfred Gomis.

It looked as though Rennes had stolen a point when Serhou Guirassy headed home from a corner with five minutes remaining.

But it was substitute Giroud, having played only 127 minutes this season, who headed the winner after Timo Werner's effort was blocked.

Sevilla's win over Krasnodar still leaves Chelsea on top of Group E with 10 points and qualified for the last-16.

Speaking after the game, manager Frank Lampard said; "I'm very happy to qualify with two games to spare. It was a really tough match for us tonight.

"Rennes are a very good team. We played well for big spells of the game. It was a tough, had-fought win."

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