MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 15:56:01| >> :60:1930:1930:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 29, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
PAOK

4-0

Giroud (27', 37'), Hudson-Odoi (60'), Morata (78')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Olivier Giroud bags brace as Chelsea cruise past 10-man PAOK

Olivier Giroud, Alvaro Morata and Callum Hudson-Odoi all register for Chelsea as they brush aside PAOK with a 4-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Olivier Giroud scored two first-half goals as Chelsea beat 10-man PAOK 4-0 in Thursday evening's Europa League tie at Stamford Bridge.

The Frenchman netted twice in the space of 10 minutes following Yevhen Khacheridi's early sending-off for the visitors.

Giroud was joined on the scoresheet by youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi, who got off the mark with his first goal for the club on the hour, before setting up substitute Alvaro Morata for his side's fourth of the night.

Chelsea, already assured of top spot in Group L prior to the match due to BATE Borisov's 2-0 win over Videoton, have now won five from five in Europe under Maurizio Sarri.

Olivier Giroud celebrates after opening the scoring for Chelsea in their Europa League meeting with PAOK on November 29, 2018© Reuters

Brought back into the side as one of 10 changes from the 3-1 loss to Chelsea last weekend, Giroud made an immediate impact as he pounced on a stray pass and charged through on goal.

Khacheridi was forced to hack down the former Arsenal striker and was shown a red card by Kristo Tohver inside the opening seven minutes, making a tough task for PAOK all the more difficult.

Chelsea were having no problems turning possession into chances, as Giroud and Pedro both came close to netting with their efforts, while Hudson-Odoi also tested Alexandros Paschalakis on his first start since August.

The visiting keeper would also be needed to push aside a powerful drive from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who netted a hat-trick against BATE in Chelsea's most recent European outing here, but the breakthrough arrived before the half-hour mark.

Pedro slotted a pass through for Giroud, who tucked the ball out of Paschalakis's reach with a smart finish to make it three goals in three games.

That record was extended soon after as Giroud this time volleyed Cesc Fabregas's chipped pass past Paschalakis at the Greek keeper's near post.

Hudson-Odoi curled a shot against the crossbar between those two goals and Pedro had a couple of shots kept out in a dominant first-half showing from the hosts.

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates his first senior goal for Chelsea in the win over PAOK on November 29, 2018© Reuters

Another good stop from Paschalakis to thwart Loftus-Cheek kept the scoring down until the hour, at which point Hudson-Odoi got the goal he craved by working the ball onto his right boot and passing it into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Chelsea's next big chance led to the fourth goal of the contest, as Morata got between two opposition men to guide Hudson-Odoi's right-sided cross into the back of the net just three minutes after being brought off the bench.

Another second-half sub in Willian should have added to Chelsea's tally late on, only to meet his match in Paschalakis, and Barkley clipped the roof of the net from his free kick in the final minute of play as Sarri's men returned to winning ways with ease.

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa; Zappacosta (Ampadu 63'), Christensen, Cahill, Emerson; Barkley, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek; Pedro (Willian 66'), Giroud (Morata 75'), Hudson-Odoi

PAOK (4-2-3-1): Paschalakis; Matos, Khacheridi, Crespo, Vieirinha; Mauricio (Pelkas 79'), Wernbloom; Jaba, Shakhov, El Kaddouri (Varela 75'); Prijovic (Warda 46')

ID:342880: cacheID:342880:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6660:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is joined in celebration by his Chelsea teammates after netting in the 3-1 win over BATE Borisov on October 25, 2018
Read Next:
How Chelsea could line up against PAOK
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Lazio541013
2Frankfurt541013
3Anderlecht532011
4Galatasaray532011
5Lyon531110
6Rangers531110
7Ajax531110
8Spurs531110
9FCSB531110
10Ferencvaros53029
11Man Utd52309
12Plzen52309
13Olympiacos52218
14Fenerbahce62228
15Bodo/Glimt52127
16Real Sociedad52127
17AZ52127
18Midtjylland52127
19Braga52127
20Roma51316
21Besiktas52036
22Porto51225
23Union SG51225
24Hoffenheim51225
25Slavia Prague51134
26PAOK51134
27Elfsborg51134
28Malmo51043
29FC Twente50323
30M. Tel Aviv51043
31Qarabag51043
32Ludogorets50232
33RFS50232
34Nice50232
35Athletic Club00000
36Dynamo Kiev50050


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!