Chelsea and Sevilla Secure Champions League Knockout Spots with Late Victories

Sevilla FC saw red during the 4th matchday of the Champions League. While it had the game in hand, the Andalusian club was surprised by Brazilian Wanderson Maciel Sousa Campos who offered the equalizer to Krasnodar in the 56th minute of play. It took the fighting spirit of Moroccan Munir El Haddadi to give his club deliverance in the last seconds of stoppage time. With these three points snatched with difficulty, Sevilla FC will compete for the top spot in Group E with Chelsea, who also had a rather difficult victory.

The English club, weakened by the absence of their defender, Nayef Aguerd, was roughly manhandled by Rennes. The entry into play in the 74th minute of Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech will bring fresh blood to the team. While the French thought the game was already over, they will come back to reality on a pass from Ziyech missed by Werner in the 90th minute of play and on which Olivier Giroud rebounds to deliver his team.

Chelsea and Sevilla FC have thus won their ticket for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with two games to go. Next week, Sevilla will face Chelsea to compete for the top spot in Group E. Rennes, for its part, will try to snatch the 3rd place qualifying for the Europa League.