Rennes vs Chelsea: Olivier Giroud scores as Blues record 2-1 win

- Chelsea have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League after completing the double over Rennes

- Substitute Olivier Giroud scored the winner late in the game when the scores were 1-1

- The Blues are top of Group E with 10 points, three ahead of Sevilla who also beat Krasnodar with a late goal in the other game

Chelsea are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League with two games to spare after completing the double over French outfit Rennes on Tuesday, November 24.

Olivier Giroud scored a dramatic late winner as the Blues climb to top spot in Group E with 10 points.

The visitors started the game on a high, creating some early chances, with Ben Chilwell finding an opportunity right at the start but his shot was blocked.

Minutes later and Timo Werner missed a sitter after the German was played in with a brilliant ball from the right by Callum Hudson Odoi only for him to somehow balloon it over the bar.

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Rennes were at times guilty of playing out from the back but they looked slightly comfortable than the two sides’ last encounter when they played a large chunk of the game with 10 men.

Mason Mount was a threat throughout the opening exchanges and he eventually made the hosts pay after winning the ball inside his own half in the 21st minute to feed a delightful ball over the defence to Odoi who made no mistake in front of goal.

Despite going behind, Rennes kept their shape and eventually settled into the game with some decent chances of their own.

Chelsea had a penalty appeal in the second half after Tammy Abraham appeared to be brought down by Gerzino Nyamsi but the referee instead awarded a free kick to Rennes.

The Blues went in search for that elusive second goal which would potentially guarantee qualification as Lampard brought on Oliver Giroud and N'Golo Kante in the place of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount.

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Rennes pushed for an equaliser and nearly got one in the 75th minute as a powerful header from Gerzino Nyamsi was parried away by the in-form Edouard Mendy.

An uncomfortable Chelsea eventually squandered their lead in the 85th minute as Serhou Guirassy rose unchallenged to head home a dramatic equaliser for the hosts.

Chelsea looked to be settling for a draw but substitute Olivier Giroud came up with the winner at the very tail-end of the game.

The Frenchman, who has been rumored to want a Chelsea exit in January, nodded home the winner from close range after Timo Werner was denied by the keeper.

Credit will also go to another substitute Hakim Ziyech, who was heavily involved in the build up to the goal.

Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how Olivier Giroud who plays as a striker for Premier League giants Chelsea has admitted that he is ready to leave the Stamford Bridge landlords due to lack of active playing time.

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So far this season in the English topflight, Olivier Giroud has not started a match for Chelsea and the striker has now expressed frustration.

Before the start of the ongoing season in England, Olivier Giroud almost left Chelsea with Tottenham and Crystal Palace said to be interested in the Frenchman.

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Source: Legit.ng