Perfect hat-trick for Giroud as Blues thrash Kiev 5-0 to cruise into Europa League quarter-final

A left footer, a right-footer and a header - the perfect hat-trick for striker Olivier Giroud who lead the forward line superbly for Chelsea as they overwhelmed Dynamo Kiev tonight to record an aggregate 8-0 victory.

Further strikes from Marcos Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi saw the west Londoners cruise into the quarter-final of the Europa League.

The draw for that and the semi-final tak place tomorrow.

By then Chelsea will be back in England and up in the North-East as they prepare for a tough Premier League encounter against Everton on Sunday.

Head coach Maurizio Sarri rested Eden Hazard, David Luiz and Emerson, while Gonzalo Higuain should ;also be available after being left at home to recover from a virus.

Sarri had complained about the state of the Olympic Stadium but his charges glided over the surface as if it was a snooker baize.

The home side had a short 15 minutes of pressure where they clipped the Chelsea post - but it was not enough to even knock the Blues out of their stride as they stayed in second gear for most of the 90 minutes.

Sunday will be different and sixth-placed Chelsea have a great chance to put pressure on Arsenal, Manchester United and Spurs, who are above them in the league - Liverpool and Manchester City are too far ahead and will contest the turtle while the other four battle it out for the remaining two Champions League berths.