Sports

Chelsea reach Champions League knockout stages

Holders Chelsea thrashed Juventus 4-0 to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages with what Thomas Tuchel described as an "amazing performance" at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel's side, already three points clear at the summit of the Premier League, jumped above Juventus at the top of Group H with a display of utter dominance in west London.

The Blues took the lead midway through the first half when Trevoh Chalobah fired home from an Antonio Rudiger knockdown following a Hakim Ziyech corner (25), before ramming home their superiority with a rampant second-half showing.

The outstanding Reece James scored Chelsea's second, and his fifth of the season, with a stunning, angled drive from the right-hand side of the box (55), with Callum Hudson-Odoi becoming the third homegrown scorer of the night when he finished off a slick team move soon afterwards (58).

Substitute Timo Werner then completed the scoring in stoppage time when he converted Ziyech's cross from close range.

The emphatic victory puts Chelsea in pole position to reach the last 16 as group winners, meaning a potentially easier draw, but it came at a cost ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

The Blues lost N'Golo Kante to a knee injury in the first half, while Ben Chilwell was also forced off with a knee problem following a coming together with Adrien Rabiot in the second.

Tuchel admitted afterwards he is unsure whether they will be able to face United but their withdrawals certainly didn't slow Chelsea down against Juventus.

Source: Sky News