Bohemian Rhapsody (but mainly in Red) – Chelsea 4 : 3 Slavia

Chelsea became the first English club to win 11 European ties in one season after beating Slavia Prague 4-3 in London tonight. That gave them a 5-3 aggregate win and secured a semi-final berth.

The Czechs are now nine games without a win over English clubs since winning 2-1 at home to Leeds United in March 2000 in the UEFA Cup.

Ross Barkley entered the game on a yellow and it was a strong Blues line up.

Eden Hazard was first fouled in three minutes by Ondrej Kudela, and it wasn’t to be the last time he was battered. But the game will be remembered for its flurry of goals.

Chelsea opened the scoring in five minutes when Pedro was on the end of a delightful passing move, with Olivier Giroud the provider. The move involved Pedro, N’Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro, Cesar Azpilicueta (again), Pedro, Giroud and finally Pedro for the finish.

Four minutes later, it was 2-0 with Hazard providing Pedro with a tap in for his second of the night however the goal was awarded as an own goal to Simon Deli, after Pedro hit the post and the ball rapped Deli’s head as it came out.

Two became three in the 17th minute when Kante cut the Slavia defence open, finding Pedro running at pace and purpose. He supplied Giroud with a stroke in to make it 3-0.

Kundela fouled Hazard for the third time, and it seemed a good move to take the Belgian off for his own protection if nothing else. Slavia however hit back soon.

Tomas Souckek headed in a left wing corner from Petr Seccik from 11 yards with absolutely no marker, to make it 3-1 but seconds later, Pedro added his second after he fired in a rebound after Ondrej Kolar had saved Giroud’s initial effort.

After half time, however the Bohemian side really sprung into action.

Slavia’s second came out of nothing when  Petr Sevcik scored with a left footed wallop along the ground from a distance at Kepa’s nearpost. Seconds later, it was 4-3 when Sevcik scored his second with a cracker from just further out than the last one, this one flying through the air.

Jorginho and Willian replaced Barkley and Hazard as Sarri sought to tighten the back.

Slovak international Miroslav Stoch came on for Sevcik, fired over and perhaps followed the most humiliating moment of the night when Chelsea keeper Kepa was booked for time wasting. Hudson-Odoi came on for Pedro to kill some more of  it.

Slavia had one last go from a free kick on the edge of the Blues’ box on 88. It didn’t make it past the wall before Willian hooked it away. Alex Kral hooked the resulting chance over.

The match ended with the Blues through 5-3 on aggregate but the Slavia fans were the ones cheering. They serenaded their team loudly at the end and the Slavia players were warmly applauded off the pitch with the remaining Chelsea fans.

Chelsea will play Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi final and Sarri clearly has work to do. Slavia did themselves and Czech football proud tonight.

Chelsea’s season remains as ever confusing and full of more possibilities and uncertainties.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Chelsea XI vs. Slavia Praha: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Christensen, Emerson; Kante, Kovacic, Barkley (Jorginho  69′); Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 87′), Giroud, Hazard (Willian 64′).

Slavia: Kolaf, Zmrhai (Skoda 84′), Ngadeu-Ngadjil, Kudela, Boril, Deli, Souckek, Sevcik (Stoch 78′), Traore. Masopust, Kral