Chelsea’s win over Middlesbrough – in pictures
Chelsea are one more win from the title after crushing Middlesbrough 3-0 in a one-sided game at Stamford Bridge.
Diego Costa, Marcos Alonso and Nemanja Matic scored for the Blues, who moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League and will be crowned champions if they win at West Brom on Friday.
Costa strikes
Chelsea went ahead when Cesc Fabregas picked out Costa, who placed the ball between keeper Brad Guzan’s legs after Fabio had been unable to stretch far enough to clear.
Alonso makes it two
When another ball in behind Fabio, this time from Cesar Azpilicueta, found Alonso near the far post, the Spanish wide-man’s apparent attempt to hook the ball back towards goal struck the inside of Guzan’s left leg and ricocheted into the net.
Second-half onslaught
Chelsea continued to dominate in the second half. Pedro hit the bar, Azpilicueta fired narrowly wide, Alonso’s ball across the face of goal just evaded Costa, Guzan palmed away a powerful shot from Gary Cahill and Fabregas went close with a deflected effort.
Matic seals the win
When the third goal eventually arrived, Fabregas was again involved – and for the third time the ball squirmed through the legs of Guzan. Fabregas found space on the right and nudged the ball with the outside of his boot to Matic, who controlled on his chest before finishing.
Terry’s hero’s reception
John Terry, who is of course approaching the end of his glittering Chelsea career, again came on as a substitute – and was given a hero’s reception by the home crowd.
“Ant-oh-nio!”
The cheers were just as loud for boss Antonio Conte, whose name rang out loudly around the ground as his team produced another superb display, albeit against struggling opposition who never threatened an upset.
Bye Boro
The visitors, who brought former Chelsea forward Patrick Bamford on in the second half, were well beaten and their defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season in the top flight. The gulf between the two teams was certainly evident on another great night for Conte’s side.
