Chelsea 4-3 Slavia Prague: balance, classification and reaction as the Blues reach the semi-finals with a spectacular victory

Chelsea scored a 4-3 win over Slavia Prague in their second leg of the Europa League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge, qualifying for the semifinal with a 5-3 overall victory against the Czechs.

After the discontent of the weekend's defeat at Liverpool, the Blues were eager to bury some of the league's demons with a strong starting performance in Europe, and they duly raced off the traps fervently.

This produced results in the first five minutes. Pedro opened the scoring after a wonderful partnership with Cesar Azpilicueta, then Olivier Giroud, who played nicely for the Spaniard to rush over the goalkeeper.

He was then spared some violent blushing when another fluid movement involving Giroud first, then Eden Hazard, who played well, allowed the winger to finish, but ended up facing a goal scored – only for him. to channel Prague defender Simon Deli and rebound in goal.

Perhaps fearing to repeat the trick, Pedro refused the chance to wear a splint after hanging on a beautiful balloon from N & # 39; Golo Kante. He preferred to play Giroud to allow the French to score his 10th goal of the competition.

The visitors then regained some dignity as Tomas Soucek nodded to the back of the post, but did not allow Chelsea to score a quarter of the night in the 63rd minute later. Hazard again played the ball on the front of the goal, while Giroud took the first unsuccessful touch of the cherry before Pedro found it in the back of the nets with a rough finish.

However, after an abundant first half for the Blues, Peter Sevcik found that it was in his power to produce not one, but two lightning strikes in the upper left corner of the first ten minutes of the second period to revive the link.

In the end, it was useless and the Blues remained firm to reach their 14th European semifinal.

Chelsea

Key discussion point

The match was not as good as the Champions League game Wednesday night between Tottenham and Manchester City, but it was almost as ridiculous.

There was no VAR to join the party, but there were still seven goals. Almost all of them were ridiculous, good or bad. For Maurizio Sarri, the evening will have been frustrating. For once, the Blues managed to try their luck with some conviction in front of the goal, but they still found a way to make it unnecessarily uncomfortable for themselves during this second period , with deficiencies of concentration much too common.

A semi-final is expected, but it will have to be more careful against Eintracht Frankfurt if the club wants to escape the cruel catch of any European championship next season.

Player ranking

XI of departure: Arrizabalaga (6); Azpilicueta (7), David Luiz (5), Christensen (6), Emerson (6); Kante (7), Kovacic (6), Barkley (5); Pedro (8 *), Giroud (8), Hazard (7).

replacements: Willian (6), Jorginho (6), Hudson-Odoi (N / A).

MAN OF STARS – Despite this inconceivable lack in the first half, Pedro played a key role in almost everything the Blues did well in the early stages. He was as usual, he harbaded the defenders with enthusiasm and launched into attacks with joy.

Of course, his finish was, uh, chance, but he was still the maker of differences, and his great European experience was essential to deal with a second disconcerting period.

Look to the front

Having booked their place in the semi-finals, Chelsea can now look forward to a break with their next unprecedented Premier League appearance before Monday at Stamford Bridge against Burnley. After that, it's the crucial trip to Old Trafford to face the top four rivals, Manchester United.