Chelsea player ratings against Rennes as Olivier Giroud secures win and Champions League progress
Olivier Giroud’s brilliant header in stoppage time saw Chelsea see off Rennes 2-1 to progress to the last 16 in the Champions League.
A fast start saw Callum Hudson-Odoi supply Timo Werner with a glorious chance from barely 10 yards out, which the German skied high over the bar.
It didn’t take long for the England Under-21 international to make another decisive impact on the game, this time racing clear after Mason Mount’s delightful pass to clinically dispatch the ball low past Alfred Gomis to break the deadlock.
The Blues let the Ligue 1 outfit back into the game with Benjamin Bourigeaud lively, but Frank Lampard was left furious when Ben Chilwell carelessly passed back towards his own goal with Sehrou Guirassy opting to cut back to an onrushing teammate, which allowed Thiago Silva to clear.
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Steven N’Zonzi’s powerful header was then well-saved by Edouard Mendy at a corner. The Blues failed to kill the game off and Guirassy found space at another corner, planting his header past Mendy to bring the hosts level.
And just as the game appeared to be ending in disappointment for Frank Lampard, Giroud capitalised on a rebound after another poor miss from Werner, heading powerfully past Alfred Gomis in stoppage time to clinch a place in the last 16.
Here are the player ratings from Roazhon Park:
Chelsea player ratings
Mendy - 7: Well set to deny Guirassy’s skidding shot down low. So brave to deny Rennes at a corner in the second half after N’Zonzi’s powerful header.
Azpilicueta - 6: Brave header in the wall to deny Bourigeaud.
Zouma - 5: Held his line well and covered space in behind with his pace, but lost N’Zonzi for a free header at a corner which should have resulted in an equaliser.
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Thiago - 5: Recovered well to clear after Guirassy sent through on goal by Chilwell’s sloppy passback, but also struggled at times to contain the Rennes striker.
Chilwell - 5: Effective on the overlap, where a superb Gomis save denied him an assist for Mount. Sloppy on the ball with a blind pass sending Guirassy through on goal.
Guirassy goes down under pressure from Jorginho
AFPJorginho - 5: Marshalled the midfield well early on but Rennes grew into the game with the midfield lacking organisation.
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Kovacic - 5: Guilty of not following his man after the first challenge, with Camavinga drifting into the box unmarked after shifting the ball wide after evading the Croatian’s challenge.
Mount - 8: Impeccable pressing and the quality to pick the pass when moving into space, gorgeous ball to set up Hudson-Odoi.
Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates
AFPHudson-Odoi - 8: Lively start and excellent give-and-go plus cross to set up Werner should have produced an opener. Then a cool finish after being found in behind, clinical.
Abraham - 6: Rotates well with Werner, little service, but tremendous work back in his own box too with some crucial blocks and headers.
Jorginho fights for the ball with Guirassy
AFPWerner - 4: Missed a guilt-edged chance early on and his touch was off throughout, then let off by Giroud’s rebounded finish in stoppage time.
Substitutes
Giroud - 8: Brilliant header, with no pace and spin from the rebound off Werner’s shot, planted with power past Gomis.
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