Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers: Guiu scores hat-trick, Cucurella and Hall score

Game is over and the final score is Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers. Enzo Maresca's high-flying Chelsea continue their run of good form on all fronts tonight after a dominant 5-1 win over Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge.

Match Report

The Blues took a justified lead in the 23rd minute through Spanish youngster Marc Guiu, who bagged his fourth goal of the competition with a close-range header after Rovers gave up possession in their half.

But Rovers would immediately battle back three minutes later through Markus Poom, with the Estonian ripping a half-volley from inside the box and past Filip Jörgensen after his effort deflected off Cesare Casadei.

Guiu would bag his brace soon after, however, after a second catastrophic error at the back gifted the youngster his brace on the night before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made it 3-1 five minutes before the half-time interval.

A former La Masia graduate, expectations are high for Guiu after his summer move to the Blues, and his performance tonight could give Maresca something to think about when he completed his hat trick in the dying minutes of stoppage time.

Marc Cucurella joined in on the actions alongside his compatriot after netting against Brentford last weekend, making it 5-1 with a right-footed effort from just inside the area in the 58th minute.

Mercifully for Rovers, the Blues were unable to find a sixth in the final minutes.

With tonight's result, Chelsea ends group play atop the pile while holding off Portuguese outfit Vitória de Guimarães, and looks primed to continue their run of form against Everton at the weekend.

As for Rovers, Bradley’s men face a playoff test before gaining passage to the knockout stage but thankfully for them, are in line to be one of the seeded sides.

Line-ups

Chelsea XI: Marc Cucurella, Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Noni Madueke, Filip Jørgensen, Cesare Casadei, Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George, Renato Veiga, Marc Guiu

Subs: T.Adarabioyo, Sancho, Robert Sánchez, Felix, Pedro Neto, Lucas Bergström, Harvey Vale, Sam Rak-Sakyi, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Kiano Dyer, Shumaira Mheuka

Shamrock Rovers XI: Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary, Gary O'Neill, Dylan Watts, Lee Grace, Markus Poom, Neil Farrugia, Léon-Maurice Pöhls, Josh Honohan, Darragh Burns, Johnny Kenny

Subs: Aaron Greene, Sean Kavanagh, Graham Burke, Aaron McEneff, Lee Steacy, Jack Byrne, Trevor Clarke, Daniel Mandroiu, Darragh Nugent, Conan Noonan, Cory O'Sullivan, Alex Noonan