Europa League: Giroud Goal Sends Chelsea Through To Last 32

Olivier Giroud ended a run of 14 matches without a goal with a header in the Europa League clash at BATE Borisov, to send Chelsea into the last 32 of the competition.

The 32-year-old France international was yet to find the net under Maurizio Sarri’s tutelage in what is his first full campaign at Stamford Bridge.

But seven minutes after half-time in Belarus, Giroud broke the deadlock with a near-post header from Emerson Palmeri’s left-wing cross.

The victory means the Blues have won their seventh Europa League game in a row, and stay six points clear at the top of Group L. Their qualification for the next round is all but assured.

While BATE falls to the bottom of the group after MOL Vidi’s 1-0 win over PAOK in Budapest.