Giroud Winner Puts Chelsea In Champions League Knockout Stages

Chelsea reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with two matches to spare after a late Olivier Giroud strike gave the Blues a 2-1 win over Rennes. The France forward's powerful header in stoppage time snatched the points for Frank Lampard's side after Serhou Guirassy had levelled Callum Hudson-Odoi's first-half opener. Chelsea were joined in the next round by Group E rivals Sevilla after the Spanish side won 2-1 at Krasnodar. Both sides are on 10 points, nine ahead of third-placed Krasnodar and will now do battle for first place come the end of the group stage.

Chelsea can concentrate on domestic duties, with Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur visiting Stamford Bridge at the weekend, thanks to out-of-favour Giroud, who has been tipped to leave in January as he seeks more regular football ahead of next summer's European Championship.

"I have a problem because we have Tammy who's playing well... I have two players in a similar position fighting for a place. That's a good problem," Lampard told British broadcaster BT Sport.