English champions Chelsea have joined Bayern, Beşiktaş, Manchester City, Paris, Real Madrid and Tottenham in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 after destroying 10-man Qarabag 0-4 on Wednesday.
The match played in Azerbaijan saw Chelsea pump in two goals after hosts captain, Rashad Farhad Sadygov was redcarded in the 19th minute for fouling Chelsea player Willian in the box.
Eden Hazard slammed the penalty in the net for the visitors first goal in the 21st minute. Fifteen minutes after, Willian struck, this time in a combination with Hazard, who sent him a back-heel pass in a tight spot in the box. The Brazilian made the finish clinical.
With Qarabg reduced to 10 men, Chelsea were on a dangerous mode in the second half, dominating possession 70-30 and having more efforts at goal than their hosts.
Their pressure paid off after Willian was fouled again for another spot kick in the 73rd minute.Fabregas took the kick for Chelsea’s third goal.
The best goal of the night came from Willian, who blasted a right-foot rocket low into the bottom corner of the net with five minutes left on the clock.
Chelsea now have 10 points in Group C, enough to qualify for the knockout stage and will play the last match on 5 December against Atletico Madrid as a mere academic exercise.
Roma are second with eight points and have a match against Atletico Madrid later in the night.
Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), David Luiz, Rudiger; Zappacosta, Kante (Drinkwater 75), Fabregas, Alonso (Cahill 58), Willian, Hazard (Morata 65), Pedro.
Unused subs Caballero, Christensen, Sterling, Drinkwater, Bakayoko.
Scorers Hazard 21 pen, Willian 36, 85, Fabregas 73 pen
Booked Alonso 53
Qarabag (4-5-1): Sehic; Medvedev, Rzezniczak, Sadygov (c), Agolli; Guerrier (Yunuszada 81), Almeida, Garayev, Michel, Madatov (Diniyev h-t), Ndlovu (Qunitana 85).
Unused subs Kanibolotskiy, Sheydaev, Amirguliyev, Ismayilov.
Sent off Sadygov 19
Booked Rzezniczak 41, Medvedev 70.
Referee Manuel De Sousa from Portugal
