Chelsea has – with difficulty – done good business in the battle for a Champions League ticket. At Stamford Bridge, Norwich City, the final match and relegant, was defeated 1-0.
There was little to do in the opening phase of the game. Chelsea had the majority of the ball, but Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul barely had to take action. The first serious work for the Dutchman came after an effort by Olivier Giroud, but the closing post was learned and turned. Chelsea played smoothly and took the lead from scratch: Giroud headed Christian Pulisic’s cross against the ropes.
The Chelsea suppoters who hoped that the hit would be a prelude to a better second half got the lid on the nose in the second act. The game image remained exactly the same: Chelsea calmly combined without becoming really dangerous and Norwich had nothing to play for now that it has already been relegated to the Championship. The minutes went away in London and Chelsea managed to win the three important points.
The team of trainer Frank Lampard is now firmly in third place in the Premier League, although numbers four and five Leicester City and Manchester United have yet to come into action this round. The two pursuers can narrow the gap with Chelsea to one point. The numbers one to four in the Premier League will enter the Champions League next season, the number five must settle for Europa League football.
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