Chelsea put one foot into the quarter-finals of the Europa League after goals from Pedro, Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi gave them a comfortable 3-0 first leg victory over Dynamo Kyiv at Stamford Bridge.
It's been a well-documented difficult spell for Maurizio Sarri but things are looking up and he could yet end the season with some silverware with his side looking nailed-on to make the last eight of the Europa League.
Pedro fired Chelsea ahead early on after an outrageous flick from Olivier Giroud, but despite dominating the hosts could not find any further goals until after the hour mark when Willian fired in a brilliant free kick.
Substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek then set-up fellow replacement Hudson-Odoi for a third goal in the 90th minute that in all probability settles the tie in Chelsea's favour.
The only other time Chelsea have been in the competition they won it and they look as good as anyone else at this stage as Sarri targets a trophy and another route for Champions League qualification.
Round-up
Sarri's former side Napoli are also all-but through after they too enjoyed a 3-0 home win in their first leg against Red Bull Salzburg at the San Paolo Stadium.
Goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Ruiz Fabian and an own goal by Jerome Onguene put the Seria A side in total control.
Rodrigo scored twice as Valencia won 2-1 at home against FK Krasnodar, who gave themselves a chance back in Russia next week with an away goal by Viktor Claesson.
Europa League last 16 results
Chelsea 3-0 Dynamo Kyiv - Opta stats
- Chelsea have scored in each of their last 36 European games at Stamford Bridge, since a 0-1 defeat against Manchester United in quarter finals of the 2010-11 Champions League.
- Dynamo Kyiv have never won a European match on English soil, with the Ukrainians drawing three and losing 12 of their 15 previous visits.
- Chelsea have scored four goals via direct free-kicks in the Europa League this season, three more than any other side.
- Dynamo Kyiv have not won any of their last 10 first leg knockout matches in the Europa League (D6 L4).
- Pedro has scored two goals in his last three games for Chelsea in all competitions, as many as he managed in his 16 before that.
- Olivier Giroud has been directly involved in seven goals in his last six Europa League games for Chelsea, scoring six and assisting one.
- Since his Chelsea debut in September 2013, Willian has scored 11 direct free-kick goals in all competitions, more than any other Premier League player.
- Willian has been directly involved in a joint-high eight goals in the Europa League this season, scoring three and assisting five (level with Sébastien Haller and Munas Dabbur).
- Callum Hudson-Odoi has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven games in all competitions for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (4 goals, 3 assists).
