In the early exchanges that trio of Hazard, Willian and Pedro had struggled to read each other’s darts, but their collective wavelengths were not scrambled for long. There was beauty to admire to their second, a culmination of crisp and accurate passes between Cesc Fàbregas, Pedro, Willian and Hazard. The goalkeeper would excel thereafter to deny Pedro, Willian and Hazard further reward, and should not have been given a chance by the substitute Álvaro Morata, who steered a shot wide. Fàbregas, his first effort ruled out for encroachment after a staggered run-up, scored and the crowd began to drift towards the exits. Chelsea will hope to deflate loftier opponents than these when the knockout phase begins next year.

Source: The Irish Times November 22, 2017 19:07 UTC