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Olivier Giroud scored twice and Callum Hudson-Odoi netted his first goal for Chelsea as the Blues cruised to a 4-0 Europa League victory over 10-man PAOK Salonika at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\nOlivier Giroud scored twice and Callum Hudson-Odoi netted his first goal for Chelsea as the Blues cruised to a 4-0 Europa League victory over 10-man PAOK Salonika at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
Yevhen Khacheridi was sent off for the Greek visitors after just seven minutes and Olivier Giroud scored twice before half-time, the second a brilliant volley from a Cesc Fabregas pass.<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi scored after 60 minutes before providing a goal for Alvaro Morata, on for Giroud, as the Blues responded from the loss to Tottenham with a fifth win from five European games.<\/p>\n
BATE Borisov\u2019s 2-0 win over Hungary\u2019s Vidi \u2013 Chelsea\u2019s final opponents on December 13 \u2013 in Belarus earlier on Thursday meant the Blues had achieved their goal of first place in Group L prior to kick-off.<\/p>\n
Sarri made 10 changes following last Saturday\u2019s loss to Spurs, after which the Italian questioned his players\u2019 determination following his first competitive defeat.<\/p>\n
N\u2019Golo Kante was singled out for criticism, but was rested along with David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta.<\/p>\n
Eden Hazard was also absent. The Belgian is expected to shake off an ankle problem in time for Sunday\u2019s league fixture with Fulham.<\/p>\n
This presented an opportunity for those selected to press their first-team claims, particularly for Giroud.<\/p>\n
PAOK\u2019s bid to preserve their 100 per cent record in London \u2013 they beat Arsenal in 1997 and Tottenham in 2011 \u2013 suffered a telling, self-inflicted blow after only seven minutes.<\/p>\n
Right-back Leo Matos\u2019 pass towards Khacheridi was woefully inadequate and Giroud intercepted.<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian defender lunged desperately at the France striker, bringing him down at the edge of the area before being shown an inevitable red card.<\/p>\n
Fabregas sent the resulting free-kick under the wall, but wide.<\/p>\n
Giroud fired over after a lofted pass from Hudson-Odoi, who next had two chances.<\/p>\n
The teenager, starting for the first time this season, shot wide and then straight at goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis after twice cutting in from the left.<\/p>\n
Paschalakis turned a Loftus-Cheek effort around the post and Gary Cahill headed the following corner wide.<\/p>\n
PAOK\u2019s meek resistance was breached when Fabregas found Pedro, who in turn passed to Giroud. He bent the ball inside the far post with a first-time shot.<\/p>\n
Moments later Barkley laid the ball off for Hudson-Odoi, who took one touch to get the ball out of his feet and curled an effort onto the bar.<\/p>\n
Giroud finished exquisitely for his second and fourth goal in three Chelsea games. Fabregas clipped a perfectly weighted pass over the PAOK defense and Giroud volleyed in left-footed from six yards out.<\/p>\n
Giroud leapt in an effort to meet a corner, but landed awkwardly and hurt his ankle before continuing.<\/p>\n
A Loftus-Cheek run finished with a shot which was turned round the post before Hudson-Odoi, on the left, cut in on to his right and his shot beat Paschalakis at the near post.<\/p>\n
Morata replaced Giroud with 15 minutes remaining, with the Frenchman\u2019s ankle, and perhaps Fulham, in mind.<\/p>\n
Morata, sporting a fresh no-nonsense buzz cut, used his head to convert Hudson-Odoi\u2019s cross within three minutes of his introduction to wrap up a comfortable win.<\/p>\n