Chelsea thrash Schalke 5-0 to reach last 16 (Highlights)

Chelsea qualified for the Champions League knockout phase with a group match to spare as they ruthlessly swept aside Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke.

The Blues, knowing a win would put them in the last 16, led through John Terry’s header after 86 seconds.

A slick move ended with Willian driving in the second, before Schalke defender Jan Kirchhoff headed into his own net as Chelsea led 3-0 at half-time.

Didier Drogba tapped in before setting up Ramires to head in the fifth.

Chelsea substitutes Drogba and Ramires netted in the last 15 minutes to cap a flawless performance that merited the emphatic scoreline for the visitors in Gelsenkirchen.

The Blues’ superiority in the Premier League, where they are unbeaten in 12 matches and lead by six points, has led some to ask whether they can go through the entire top-flight season without losing.

On this evidence, as the Blues starved Schalke of possession and then regularly sliced them apart in attack, Jose Mourinho’s men could also be a difficult team to beat for Europe’s elite.