Olivier Giroud’s first-half double set up a comfortable 4-0 home win over 10-man PAOK in which Callum Hudson-Odoi opened his Chelsea account, Maurizio Sarri’s side topping Group L after extending their run of wins to five matches.
BATE’s 2-0 home defeat of Vidi earlier in the day ensured Chelsea could not be caught in top spot, with Sarri making 10 changes from a crushing 3-1 loss at Tottenham that ended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season last time out.
Yevhen Khacheridi’s early red card gave Chelsea’s young guns plenty of chances to fire but it was Giroud’s well-taken brace before the break that put the Blues on track for victory.
And 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi hit his first Chelsea goal with a fine finish before substitute Alvaro Morata headed a late fourth, with Group L’s bottom side PAOK now unable to qualify.
