By David Awopetu
Olivier Giroud scored four goals in Seville as Chelsea breezed past Sevilla 4-0 to secure top spot in Champions League Group E on Wednesday.
Giroud delivered left-foot, right-foot and headed finishes for the perfect treble – and then whipped a spot-kick into the top corner for good measure.
It had been a more enjoyable occasion than many had expected. First place was a target – a “trophy”, according to Sevilla’s sporting director – but with both sides through to the knockout stage there was little to play for, except football itself.
And when it is like that, football is fun. Chelsea are too, even in the absence of their usual starters.
Blues boss, Frank Lampard made nine changes from the weekend but he insisted that the men coming in deserved to play, and they proved that.
Besides, that was what allowed Giroud to make this his night, leaving bare-chested with the ball under his arm. Climbing the stairs behind him, the manager wore the broadest smile.
The former Arsenal man put in a complete performance, not only displaying clinical finishing, but also a physical presence that tortured the home defence.
Chelsea found regular joy with runs from midfield and it was Havertz’s early burst that ended in a lay-off to Giroud, who cut back and tucked inside the far post with his left foot.
The second goal was a joy, a dinked right-footed finish over Pastor, while the header from N’Golo Kante’s cross from the right completed a ‘perfect’ hat-trick.
The spot-kick, drilled in with his left foot, was Giroud’s final act before he was withdrawn.
By the end, Chelsea had extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 games, during which time they have kept eight clean sheets.
