Olivier Giroud scored in stoppage time to clinch a 2-1 win at Rennes and book Chelsea's place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare.
Callum Hudson-Odoi put Chelsea ahead midway through the first-half, providing a fine finish after a lofted ball from Mason Mount.
And when Serhou Guirassy headed home unmarked six minutes from time to draw Rennes level, it lookes like the Blues would have to wait at least another week to confirm qualification for the knockout stage.
But substitute Giroud dug Chelsea out of trouble at the death, thundering home a header on the rebound after Timo Werner's initial shot was saved.
Frank Lampard’s men have now gone 13 matches unbeaten in all competitions and they travel to Sevilla on Wednesday, December 2 knowing a win would leave them favourites to top the group.
Chelsea should have been ahead before the hosts had even really had time to settle.
Timo Werner somehow blazed over the bar from mere yards out and with the goal at his mercy. Hudson-Odoi traded passes with Cesar Azpilicueta, cut clear on the right and delivered an inch-perfect low cross, but Werner blasted into the stands.
The relentless visitors pressed on undeterred however, and Hudson-Odoi capped an impressive first-half with a fine goal.
Mason Mount’s lofted pass set Hudson-Odoi clear and the young England forward drilled home in style to put the Blues into a fully-merited lead.
Goalkeeper Alfred Gomis pulled off a snap reactionary save to deny Mount’s stabbed effort that kept Rennes in the contest just past the half-hour.
And Guirassy wasted a golden opening for the hosts after latching on to Ben Chilwell’s shocking pass. The left-back’s no-look ball fell straight to Guirassy, who raced in on goal but dallied and his eventual pass across goal was swept away by Thiago Silva.
Chelsea still deserved their 1-0 half-time lead, and could have doubled that tally straight after the break.
Werner was worked free to nod into the net, only for a correct offside call to chalk off the effort.
A second goal continued to elude Chelsea however, with an emboldened Rennes grinding back into the contest.
And Guirassy punished them six minutes from time, heading home unmarked from a corner.
Just when the Blues were expecting to rue their earlier missed chances though, up popped super sub Giroud to nick a vital goal.
Werner should have buried the initial chance, but the ball looped up after his shot was saved, and the lurking Giroud reacted first to head in and seal victory.
Champions League round-up
Barcelona put their domestic struggles to one side with a 4-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv that sealed their progress through to the Champions League knockout stages.
Barca are three points ahead of Juventus, who left it late to clinch a 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros and are also into the last 16.
Victories for Chelsea and Sevilla put both teams through to the knockout stages from Group E.
The two teams have an identical record of three wins and one draw from four matches, and there was symmetry about their results on Tuesday, with both leaving it late to secure 2-1 wins, over Rennes and Krasnodar respectively.
Erling Haaland was on the scoresheet yet again for Borussia Dortmund, this time with a brace in a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge. The Norwegian’s goals sandwiched a fine free-kick from Jadon Sancho.
Dortmund lead Group F by one point from Lazio, who were 3-1 winners over Zenit St Petersburg in Rome.
Manchester United, who suffered a shock loss at Istanbul Basaksehir last time out, got their revenge with a 4-1 victory over the Turkish side at Old Trafford in Group H.
In the group’s other game, Paris St Germain secured a much-needed 1-0 victory over RB Leipzig with Neymar’s 11th-minute penalty the only goal.
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